Vice President Harris has decided not to attend the upcoming Al Smith charity dinner in New York, breaking a long-standing tradition in presidential politics. The event is known for raising millions of dollars for charitable organizations and has historically involved light-hearted roasts between major party presidential nominees.
This will be the first time since 1984 that a major party’s presidential nominee will not be present at the dinner. The event, which began hosting presidential candidates in 1960, has become a significant part of the presidential election year calendar. Last year, the dinner raised $4.3 million for various charitable causes.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Al Smith Dinner did not feature a presidential roast in person in 2020. The last roast took place in 2016 when Secretary Clinton and President Trump shared some humorous moments together. For example, Trump jokingly recalled an encounter where Clinton bumped into him and said, “pardon me,” which elicited laughter from the audience.
While a spokesperson for Vice President Harris did not provide a specific reason for her absence, it is worth noting that in 2020, Presidents Biden and Trump participated virtually in the event due to the pandemic. Their speeches were notably devoid of any jokes or light-hearted banter.
The Al Smith Dinner is named after former New York governor Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential nominee of a major party in 1928. The event is usually led by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and the late governor’s grandson, Alfred Smith IV, who passed away in 2019.
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, which organizes the dinner, donates millions of dollars annually to various charitable causes. Despite its charitable nature, the event has sometimes been a source of tension, particularly for Catholic leaders and Democratic nominees due to the party’s stance on abortion rights.
In conclusion, Vice President Harris’s decision to skip the Al Smith charity dinner marks a significant break from tradition in presidential politics. The event, known for its charitable contributions and light-hearted roasts, has been a staple in the presidential election year calendar. Harris’s absence adds a new chapter to the history of this longstanding event.
