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Speaking at the Al Smith Dinner on the eve of Veterans Day, former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg took time from his humorous political remarks to remind guests “there are a lot of places around the world where joking about the government is no laughing matter.”
“We really do live in the greatest country in the world, and it’s up to us to preserve and protect our rights by defending them always and everywhere,” Bloomberg said in his keynote address at the 70th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
He called on the 800 guests at the Nov. 10 charity dinner to “give a big round of applause to all the men and women who have put their lives on the line for this great country.”
Bloomberg, seated on the dais beside Cardinal Dolan, who served as host of the dinner, also called for applause for the Smith Foundation for sponsoring the event, which “supports some of the neediest children and their families in New York City.”
“We have an obligation to help others share in the great American dream,” he said, “and that’s why we’re here tonight.”
The elegant dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel supports organizations that help needy children in the archdiocese. With tickets at $2,500—and all funds going to the charities because the foundation pays the other expenses—the event raised more than $2.6 million.
The dinner honors Al Smith, a legendary New York governor who, as the Democratic candidate in 1928, was the first Catholic to run for president on a major party ticket. It is held each year during election season and traditionally attracts New York’s movers and shakers in politics, business and the media as well as prominent local Church figures.
Cardinal Dolan, in closing remarks, said the dinner was, as always, a special event for the speakers and for the prominent leaders who attend. “But this Al Smith Dinner is especially significant because of who we help: women and children in need. Al Smith reminded us that “how we spend this life determines how we spend the next,” the cardinal said.
Alfred E. Smith IV, great-grandson of Al Smith, was master of ceremonies.
Keeping to dinner tradition, Bloomberg kept most of his speech light, poking fun at the politicians present and those running for office and at his own political aspirations and great wealth.
Joking about speculation that he is planning a presidential run, Bloomberg said, “Everyone knows that the Al Smith dinner has hosted many presidential nominees.
“From what I’m told, though, no one has ever come here one year before the election and announced that he or she would run for president—at least not yet.”
Bloomberg, whose net worth is said to be more than $37 billion, also made fun of his fellow billionaire and candidate, Donald Trump. “Now, Donald keeps saying that his net worth has reached the $10 billion mark. Some experts say, ‘No way!’ Me?” he said, shrugging, “been there, done that.”
The Happy Warrior Award was presented posthumously to James B. Lee Jr., a vice chairman of J.P. Morgan & Chase and co-chairman of its investment bank. Lee, who died in June, was a major supporter of the Inner- City Scholarship Fund, which helps low-income families pay tuition in archdiocesan Catholic schools.
