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Charity, Comedy and a Break From Barbs Expected at Al Smith Dinner
Highlights of Clinton and Trump at Al Smith Dinner
(about 9 hours later)
With the final presidential debate finished, Americans awoke on Thursday to the happy prospect of an electoral reprieve — seemingly rid of the grim specter of candidate interactions on the same stage.
Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump appeared together Thursday night for a ritzy gathering, delivering remarks at the white-tie Al Smith charity dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan.
Not so fast.
On Thursday night, Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump will appear together again for a ritzier gathering, delivering remarks at the white-tie Al Smith charity dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan.
In most presidential campaigns, the dinner, which benefits Roman Catholic charities, functions as a welcome respite, a forum for levity and self-deprecation in the throes of a heated election.
In most presidential campaigns, the dinner, which benefits Roman Catholic charities, functions as a welcome respite, a forum for levity and self-deprecation in the throes of a heated election.
This year’s may be more complicated.
This year, it just so happens that two New Yorkers can also be found at the top of the ballot.
Convened less than 24 hours after the caustic final debate on Wednesday, the event would appear, on paper, to be nothing less than a high-society nightmare for Mr. Trump.
Here are the highlights:
Even under the best of circumstances, Mr. Trump is not known for an eagerness to laugh at himself. A flagging presidential campaign — most polls now place him several percentage points behind Mrs. Clinton nationally — is unlikely to help.
• And so they came, in tails and fuchsia. The introduction of Melania Trump (sans pussybow), then Mrs. Clinton (to cheers and applause), then Mr. Trump (to slightly less effusive cheers, and scattered boos).
Then there is the guest list. Mr. Trump will be surrounded on the dais by assorted adversaries from his political and professional life. Those expected include: Mrs. Clinton; Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor who has vocally opposed Mr. Trump’s bid; and Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, whose office has opened an investigation into Mr. Trump’s foundation.
But the silver lining, at least to start: Mr. Trump was greeted far more warmly than Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was booed like Santa at an Eagles game.
At least one Trump ally, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, is also expected to attend what is, during even typical election seasons, a quintessentially New York event, packed with political leaders and power brokers.
• Just like in the last two debates, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump did not shake hands. Instead they beamed and ignored one another, until the evening’s emcee, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, performed a veritable act of God — inserting himself between the two rivals, with no physical altercation.
This year, it so happens that two New Yorkers can also be found at the top of the ballot.
• Alfred E. Smith IV, the chairman of the dinner, seemed to offer a preview of what may await Mr. Trump as he tries to return to New York society life should he not win the White House in November.
The evening will be presided over by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, with whom Mr. Trump met privately this month as the candidate faced accusations of sexual assault from several women.
“Before the dinner started, Trump went to Hillary and asked how are you,” Mr. Smith said, setting up the punch line. “She said, ‘I’m fine — now get out of the ladies’ dressing room.’”
Though white Catholics have for decades flocked to Republican nominees, often because of their stances on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, Mr. Trump has proved a trickier case.
• After the king crab and tournedos had been served, Mr. Smith returned to his favorite comedic villains — The Trump team.
His behavior toward women and a tussle with Pope Francis have not served his cause. (In February, after Francis suggested that Mr. Trump was “not Christian” if he preferred building barriers to building bridges, Mr. Trump called the pope’s remarks “disgraceful.”)
On former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is now a senior advisor on Mr. Trump’s campaign: “We have the lights just right to make sure you’ll be in Donald Trump’s shadow all night.”
The Clinton campaign has in recent days been forced to navigate its own turmoil after the hacked correspondences of top aides appeared to include messages criticizing Catholic conservatism.
And on Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who is running Mr. Trump’s transition effort: “Governor Christie was supposed to be here but he got stuck in bridge traffic.”
Mrs. Clinton is a veteran of the dinner, including as a Senate candidate in 2000, when George W. Bush poked fun at himself weeks before his election.
Finally, he turned the podium over to Mr. Trump. No matter how the coin toss ended, our next speaker was going to say it was rigged,” Mr. Smith said, to laughter. “Donald, the microphone is yours and it’s working.”
“This is an impressive crowd,” he said. “The haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite. I call you my base.”
In 2012, Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, charted a similar course, alluding to his own wealth, which had come to define much of the campaign.
“It’s nice to finally relax,” he said to the well-heeled attendees, “and wear what Ann and I wear around the house.”
President Obama did not mind reinforcing the trope. “Earlier today, I went shopping at some stores in Midtown,” he began. “I understand Governor Romney went shopping for some stores in Midtown.”
