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Good evening at this time we bring you a special broadcast of the Al Smith Memorial dinner which took place last week among the speakers were President Johnson Governor Rockefeller Mayor Lindsay life President Humphrey former Vice President Nixon Archbishop cook and James A Farley here now by transcriptionist the chairman former president of the Board of Education Charles H. Silber Mr Silver. Your excellence on friendship Corp. President Johnson. Vice President Humphrey Vice President Nixon that's the falling. Down with Governor Rockefeller Maryland's governor don't worry. Mrs Warner reverend clergy most honored guest and all of you whose presence lend things great occasion. His Eminence Francis Spellman has been trusted to. Heritage and a sacred mission which we carry on tonight at this time my friends. Please rise inside in prayer and tribute to his eminence. Thank you. It was called a little Spellman on the set of this annual convocation of minds and hearts he recalled from the first. Time. Happy Warrior. Continue his crusade of hope and courage against ignorance and hate the dream cherished impossible. Peace among. Others he called the common people the victories against bigotry even. The confident he made. Compromise. And humbly. And justly and. Today. Many decades. We. Caught that great American and whose name is foundation was blown and we can take pride. Example and inspiration ideals. For which he lived. As long as we gather. He spent. Many a momentous page and the last quarter century the. Tragedy. We have the stench of genocide. We have raised the screams of the in a sense we have seen rockets arise to nudge them over and even as our world products on the brink of destruction we're with the struggle of civilization to redeem itself in areas of social justice health education and intellectually mancipation. As they have been and what men have been waged from them such leaders of thought and action as great as tonight they are leaders in the human race. That fuses men of all faiths and sites for a way of life to ease the tensions of today and to meet the trials up tomorrow they are leaders and followers to all those who minister to the human spirit those men of God give us the strength to carry on despite seemingly overwhelming odds despite the rage and riot in the streets and the betterness on bloodshed between men and nations. It is a shining symbol. The part of Prince. His office. Friends and exam vision. Such men. Clean a line between the freedom and the. Demagogues. Whether it be. On the smoldering barricades up. On the pavements of city. Let us peered into the gathering darkness to discover the cause. And stand and say. Come. To choose between progress and the extinction the time must not pass when making that choice. And if we fail. We can. We have seen the fruits of violence on every hand we have lived terror created by weapons of. Consequence. Which no adequate defense exists and yet this fear. Have been made a stepping stone to the ultimate exhortation of humanity. This leaves the days ahead damn the world to destruction let it took place. And when peace comes again. Let us be sure that the billions which went from playing. Well go into medical research and housing in schools and every project. And replace poverty with opportunity and prosperity for all. Create a bridge for the merging of minds and hearts Brotherhood must become something more sincere than mere words and politics education must become something more than the help. Of violent men and constant strikes and politics. Policy must become something more than subsidies and politics against crime. We must erect barriers of reserve and intelligence and understanding. When each and every. Conscience Reflektor in hope rather than this path courage rather than fear decision rather. There is a famine in the world today more serious than. Men's bodies are still many places yes where the greatest is in the sun. And there is a hunger in the soul of America our nation was conceived by men of vision to be an example of the better life that liberty and democracy can offer today frustrations on the days injustice and insecurity sure to mind is that we might get. It must again. It's a big job and not an easy one but it does it make in this country what it was meant to be we have strayed from our ideals it is time to read. It it's time to protect the prior. Nations but it's up freedom to fight. On the right about. The. Courage to reach. Us thank you. My friends. Range of responsibilities that command the daily attention of the city. What's a less gifted at. Least a daily challenge in a civil government every area public welfare and civic betterment must at some time come to his personal attention and we are fortunate to have this as a man or really can and this plays an intimate consign but the vast and complex problems of education health and the wellbeing of a million citizens it isn't it is almost impossible. For us to comprehend the trials of this task. Reflected in each morning's headlines there is probably the responsibility which brings with it a similar season. And demand for the session the problem of the cities has become so sensitive so dangerous and so significant that a time when the very. Is at stake. Few of us remember to wipe away the crust of criticism and see that. The limit of time and energies and. To make of the finest. Penzias. Biggest city ladies and gentlemen the Honorable John Bolton's the mayor of the Certainly all. Best shot silver Your Excellency Archbishop cook Reverend pledging Mr President. In abbreviated form is a set in the old country my lords temporal and spiritual. Mr President is the chief executive of our city of New York allow me to extend you the most hearty welcome to our city. We are proud and pleased to have you here tonight and we're deeply honored that you took the time in your busy schedule to come visit with us at this time on this occasion in our city of New York. I trust Mr Preston that you should also act as the referee for tonight's proceedings. Should be also happy to have you mediate some other little problems that we have. Mr Vice president allow me to welcome you also was equal arms to our city of New York to Vice President Nixon and we welcome you also to our great city of New York. Notwithstanding all of this gentlemen I still have a little traffic problem in the cars will be duly towed away. Tonight for the first time in twenty three years this dinner takes place without the presence of this New Yorker who made the occasion one of the most significant in the life of this great New York City for Francis Cardinal Spellman the Al Smith Dinner combine two of his greatest pleasures dinner combined with close and old friends and the companionship of man in public life Cardinal Spellman provided the inspiration and the leadership for his successor in the archdiocese His Excellency Terence Cooke. Again as the chief executive one who needs counsel inspiration and guidance constantly if I may be permitted to personal note rarely in my twelve years in public office have I had contact with a man who has provided to me and I believe also this community around us with greater inspiration his friendship and his advice and his leadership has meant to much to Mrs Lindsay and to me he has already personalized his office and to me that at all levels of government state and federal. We also need to personalize and to humanize. Government like most of our huge institutions has gotten away from the people it represents and serves and I think we need to bring it back to give Americans a very real sense that their government to hold our loyalty our institutions may be able to. To be moved by this I think is the foremost challenge before our society and our way of life and it is easily described but as we have seen all through the country and in our city it is enormously difficult to put into practice it will require discipline and compassion flexibility and strength but if we're going to have that kind of democratic institutions that can lead this country into a new day government alone cannot come and go it will have to have the help of those institutions religious educational business and professional that can direct their enormous talents to the task of bringing America home again and those institutions will be guided by a few men of good will and conscience those with the characteristics of the men we honor. They must be men with the heart of a smith the skill of a Spelman. The humanity of a crock and they will. Be men like the story of great faith they will be men who are unafraid to accept the thesis as voiced by Al Smith that. Democracy can be cured by Democracy thank you. To make a. Gratitude is in my. Example. An eloquent. And. We thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen human. Name. The chief executive. Empire State. His family has left a glowing eminence and the industrial history. Nation is own record the public service to the people. To the difficult task of. Whatever the problem. The challenge whatever the cause. Of the people. Sincerity and ability. The way of life and save God of the rights of every resident of the state in the fields of education. Public health and welfare he has and a greater investment to underwrite the security of those generation and of many generations to come as also made a lasting mark upon the political scene of all nations and the diplomatic pattern of the world that distinguish government of the state of New York my friends Nelson Iraq about. Thank you very much Charlie just the whole family is near. Your Excellency Archbishop. Robin Clare Jean President Johnson we need your kids are honored by your presence here this evening we know the tremendous burdens that you have been carrying for all of us and the people of this great state I deeply grateful the years. I. Spent in Humphrey. Thank God you are here. I spend the next in your lives here so we're very glad to have you here. And I had two great senators from New York senator Jack Javits and. Senator Charlie get out. Always nice to welcome Governor Hughes across the river. Thanks. John Lindsay and we're grateful to you for all that you carry for all of us in the way of responsibility and believe me ladies and gentlemen then audiences. This is WARNER This is really your evening and Mrs Marston you made it possible. Thank. God in the time doing great figures of our country Jim folly another great figure and again. Honored guests ladies and gentlemen the wheel of history has turned once again and so tonight we meet in loving memory of two great men Alfred Emmanuel Smith and Francis Cardinal Spellman thanks. But more than two decades is eminence made Al Smith's memory at all Al Smith Spirit continued and living reality not in words but indeed of health and healing I suggest the cardinal the cardinal best depicted the noble soul the both man when he spoke this at the dedication of the Al Smith prevented in at St Vincent's Hospital in May one thousand nine hundred fifty and I quote his people where the common people of the world the needy the sick and the care Laden the very old and the very young to them he gave his greatest devotion his most fervent prayers and his loving help. A point he composed for the same occasion included the powerful message God made us all God loved us all and we as brothers must within these troubled years protect maintain else heritage and are as devotedly in service to our fellow man we might say much much the same in respect to our dear departed friend and his Eminence Cardinal Spellman no privilege of my lifetime I treasured more than his friendship a friendship which began between his eminence and my father Francis Cardinal Spellman was a man of deep concern and devotion to the spiritual and human values which underlie all this that is great for one nation it was a man of vision of courage of high spirit and of compassion what extraordinary good fortune that this great churchmen should have been succeeded by another so why the beloved and respected a man of deep devotion and understanding Archbishop Terrence J. cook. Through this annual dinner as in so many other ways Archbishop Cook has become in effect the trustee of a know where the spiritual heritage the heritage of service to mankind so implicit in the lives of Al Smith and Cardinal Spellman we just mark the memory of two great man and rejoice that their spirit lives on through this new leader. Continuing to touch the hearts of all of us thank you. My friends. This is an evening. Of the joy and sadness but it is with pride in the high regard that I present our beloved host the archbishop of New York is excellent C. turns J. Cox. Mr President Mr Mr Fali vice president. Vice President Nixon governor right about. Mayor Lindsay Mrs want to and other members of the Smith family. Members of Cardinal Spellman family. Benefactor was and guests of the affray Smith Foundation ladies and gentlemen before all else and above all else I wish to express my gratitude. To all who have helped make this Alfred E. Smith. A success my heartfelt thanks. My heartfelt things to Mr Charles Feldman. Luke. The is has given so freely of his time. Energy and talent to these dinners My thanks to Governor Rockefeller who has been so gracious. My special thanks to Mayor Lindsay for being with us and retiring. And we deeply appreciate hearing from them and we know we have something special in the young to both I am deeply grateful I want to express also my appreciation to Mr Cornell MacNeil and to Mrs surely for their goodness in coming tonight to sing for us they were simply mom and. Profound appreciation. To Lydia Maurice and following her mother's wonderful example has generously contributed the cost of this didn't Mrs Marston wish to do so this year in memory of Cardinal Spellman And so once again we are all the guests let you would you stand up please. I express heartfelt thanks to the other kind benefactor was made large gifts to the foundation this year. Notably Louis Rosenstiel who is here. John Coleman. Leon Lowenstein. On two eighty six Leon and Robert best. And Morton wells. I appreciate very much the dedicated efforts and efficient efforts of mine senior Patrick grant three and his staff will arrange things so well. And I thank each and every one of you for coming to the dinner and for all the good that you have done by your support of the Smith Foundation and through the is I know that many of you feel as I do that this is not just another dinner but a homecoming of old friends from near and far and you come from great distances many times a great sacrifice and so you're most welcome to this homecoming I am sure you know that through the Is your help has meant the assistance and care to thousands of the sick and the poor. In addition to a gift to St Vincent's Hospital the Smith Foundation is making contributions as Charlie Silva mentioned to Beth Israel Hospital. To hillside hospital Misericordia St Elizabeth. St Vincent's Hospital in Staten Island Columbus hospital United Hospital fun and the Cardinal Spellman program for retarded children thus Thank you. Once again great goodness and charity. Appreciation and as many grateful people this dinner as we. Speak is already have mentioned. It was something very special. Cardinal Spellman and so I am very happy tonight that we are honoring his memory together with that of Alfred E. Smith it seems to me that these two men. And the government. In many ways joined ideal. For us a powerful and most useful example each in its own way. And the governor lived in an American spirit deep patriotism each in his own way was a truly dedicated public servant and each expressed his love of country and of his fellowmen not merely in words but more especially in practical day to day service of country and fellow man and each. And the governor was a happy man I think this kind of example is most helpful to us today. I think that today we need a very strong note to Miss and hopefulness public life and even in regard to our national purpose I will not attempt to elaborate on this point but I would like to quote a few lines written by his Eminence Cardinal Spellman. Applicable. To the cardinal himself as well as. I am aware God made me. And fight a higher cause than any I had seen. And having found my course I shall not turn again to petty things. No I change my plan of life. My papers with his. And shall I whisper with my dying breath. It is sweet to die as it were good to live to strive for the United States which in your wisdom you should be a beacon to the world a living shrine of Liberty and charity and peace is. What America means to me I am sure. Smith would agree with them and I am sure to. The sentiments that have made America great and that they are the very convictions that will keep America great. It is my privilege. An honor to present at this time a great public servant a good friend of Cardinal Spellman and the our A Smith in the I'm. Richard M. Nixon. Well. Thank you very much. Mr President Mr Vice President. Was excellent say archbishop. Of Iraq of our Mayor Lindsay chairman solver all of the distinguished guests in the platform all the distinguished members of this great audience it's a very great honor for me to leave the campaign trail and to return again to this dinner for the fourth time and as I said. As I said it and I had my thoughts go as I'm sure yours do to his eminence and how delighted he would have been to have seen this dinner. He would have been delighted first to know that the man who was chosen as his successor is one that we all knew who had seen him with this man. That we all know he himself would have chosen the respect the affection they had for our special cook and he is carrying on that great tradition in the way. Of life. And his eminence too with that twinkle in his eye that captivated us all would have been so excited about those who had come to this dinner all of those in the audience from all over the nation and those who are here speakers looking back over the years his eminence has had candidates for president both of them in one nine hundred sixty I will recall. He also has had President a dinner a president of the United States and a former president but tonight is the first this is the first dinner in this great series in which there is president a president of the United States a vice president of the United States and more than that three men who have served as vice president the United States directly. And I know too that his eminence would have been delighted that the find that had been selected as the dinner speaker because he would realize that first have finally filled that qualification from two standpoints because he was known as a great and intimate friend of his eminence but also because half Farley was certainly as loyal a friend as Al Smith ever had and I put it in terms of political loyalty if I may be permitted a political nonpartizan comment I would call so well at our convention. In Miami that Governor Rockefeller and I were counting our delegates and I'm sure that he had perhaps the same test about loyalty of delegates that I had if you thought it all I could would say with you on one ballot he was pretty loyal if you thought he would stay with you on to a balance he was very loyal if you thought he might stick with you on three ballots that was the ultimate There could be no greater loyalty This however is half our league record in one thousand nine hundred twenty four he voted for Al Smith on one hundred two ballots that is the ultimate and Lilias So I imagine. Mr President I welcome this opportunity to say to you personally what I have said on the political stump many times during this campaign there are occasions when we in politics must be critical of each other's record but there are other occasions when we do have the opportunity to speak about those issues that are above politics and I say here what I think every American should hear about their president during this time he is the hardest working president we have had in this century and the United States. He is a president who is devoted to peace he is a president who is deeply concerned about the lives and welfare of five hundred thousand fighting men in Vietnam including two of his own sons and was. At this time when in Paris delicate negotiations may be going on which might bring some progress in bringing this war quick conclusion I say again. That all of us should remember we have one president at a time let none of us say anything that will undercut his chance to bring that war to it and. Now. My friend and former colleague Vice President Humphrey we all know that during the next three weeks we will be engaging in the final blows of the campaign and. We will have to judge the results of that on November the fifth I do however want you to know that when you think of our differences we have several things in common we both come from other humble backgrounds regard most of what some others may call us he's a son of a drug and I'm a son of a grocer. He's a former senator and I'm a foreigner senator he is a vice president and I was the vice president and just won three weeks from today either he or I will be seeing receiving congratulations as the winner of the election and the others will be seated receiving the condolences of the loser I've been in both positions and winning is a lot more fun I can assure you. But just thinking in terms of the compensations for the man who may lose will you please remember this the man who wins for most of the months of his life for the next four years will have to struggle to get into a white tie for state dinners. Who loses will have to do it perhaps only once a year when we all gather again at the next Al Smith Dinner. Alone during the original. Vice President Nixon thank you very very much for your wonderful words we deeply appreciate your presence as evening during these extremely busy days and. You always thank you thank you. I am privileged and honored. To present to you another. Friend of Cardinal Spellman. Alfred E. Smith. And a distinguished public servant the Honorable. H. Humphrey. During the during those. To President Governor Rockefeller and. My friend Mr Nixon Vice President Nixon and distinguished ladies and gentlemen. And Senator McCarthy wherever you are. Charlie. You're actually on scene for a while I thought that the suggestion that had been made here tonight as the president of the United States might serve as referee was somewhat within what I thought was fair play from my side of the stance. But after having listened to Richard Nixon I'm not so sure that I'm going to trust the president tonight to be referee. But you made me feel very good dick when you described this winner and loser I've been reading the polls. Done if you don't make it seem almost worthwhile Wow the. And I'm happy that my mother isn't here tonight much as I'd love to have are here because my father once told me that mother was sweet wife he loved her dearly he didn't manage his sons to respect their mothers but he said Son I've got to confide in you she's politically unreliable. And I'll tell you if you keep talking like that you're apt to get mother's vote cut out. I thought I have that one nailed down. My dear friend is to fire Lee Jim friend of my father's friend of mine this is a wonderful wonderful even. This is truly an ecumenical occasion both spiritual and political I might add. Sort of what they call one of those ecumenical political happenings and we live in a wonderful country my lathe is a wonderful country. We've already been told that there are three men you served in the office of vice president of Dick Nixon and I know that this is a kind of a country where any poor boy can grow up to be vice president. Is just one of those chances he have to take. That way but they get it. And. I'm delighted also to be here at this great dinner on ours your pardon me a great Democrat that's the only partisan reference I shall make for a moment. But also great churchmen and I'm also very pleased as my friend Mr Nixon is on the same platform with me almost within camera range. It's all in good fun don't worry about it. We plan on talking to each other after November. Just depends upon where we're live and. But I really thought better of my friend I never knew that he to speired live in public housing. Whatever the what the television networks United States Congress my telegrams please Archbishop Cook has accomplished. And I want to congratulate. In fact I'm about to make a great political announcement I wish I had Archbishop cook as my campaign manager. And my advanced band. And my finance chairman. Richard Nixon I'm going to call him affectionately if you'll permit me so because we address each other is that can you Burt You'd be surprised if we do talk to each other. He remembers that some eight years ago when he was on this platform with another candidate for president Jack Kennedy. That night to some of the differences that were evident in the audience and I want to say that I think it's a wonderful wonderful thing to be able to bring people of such basic different philosophies together. So that they can discuss their differences and I had really looked forward to what Governor Rockefeller and Marilyn Z. and Dick Nixon had to say tonight. His Excellency may even perform a real miracle tonight in fact I think he's already done it he may be able to hold my speech down to about ten or twelve minutes. There's only one other man that's ever been able to do that. He's to my left and your right. But tonight we join in and they're great in common cause we join together is one great American family and we are all here in the cause of charity and they I suggest that in a few moments that the ushers will pass among you for contributions. To the Democratic Party. In my present position in light of what you all know that heard I take a little heart from Harry Truman's campaign in one thousand nine hundred eighty eight fact that I have to. And I say that in all respect to one of the best friends that I have a New York Governor Thomas Dewey one of the great men. I feel a little better because I remember another political year and if any of you do not. Share my enthusiasm for in one thousand nine hundred forty eight I'm very sure that you will and share your share my enthusiasm and admiration for the Democratic candidate of one thousand nine hundred twenty eight I'm going to make an announcement here that no other candidate in this election can make my father was Al Smith Scottie chairman and Spink County South Dakota. And they I say that and in those precincts if it wasn't illegal and immoral at least it was incredible. Now the Democratic candidate is that year that man that they call the happy warrior. He warned that prosperity was fragile he said then that disarmament was essential and he said to us that the world scene was fraught with danger of profit before his time listened to he spoke then as he did all of his life of building a stronger and a better America strengthening of our economy and above all of our moral purpose and in his acceptance speech he spoke for men of goodwill of both parties when he said these words government should be constructive not the struct of progressive not reactionary and then he said I am entirely on willing to accept the old order of things as the best lesson on tell I become convinced that it cannot be made better but I think everyone here knows that the story of America is that we can make it better that we're willing to accept change and that we're willing to direct its course and when the Ku Klux Klan in those days burned its crosses as he campaigned Al Smith warned this nation that he could lose its soul and it came close to it and then I remembered too that in one nine hundred sixty there was another man of Catholic faith John Kennedy and as the campaign began it was said that his religion would hurt him but to his everlasting credit Richard Nixon his opponent that ear and my opponent this year that Claire that religion. Could not be an issue in the American political scene. So the fires the bigotry which burned fiercely in nineteen twenty eight were dampened in one nine hundred sixty S. We salute you sir. But there are those of the extreme right of the extreme left of the extremes who are trying to fan those fires of bigotry once again in one thousand nine hundred eighty eight religion was the issue in one thousand nine hundred sixty eight it is race and we hear slurs against both black and white from irresponsible voices but I do not believe and I do not believe that you believe that the extremists will succeed I believe that America is brave enough to reject appeals to fear and it's compassionate enough to reject repression and I believe that it is wise enough to reject bigotry from any source in this land. And I believe too that America is strong enough and its people when inspired are great enough to reject the spirit of suspicion and to replace it with that wholesome spirit of trust and I know when every man of this platform knows that the world is watching us and here is that very essence of the question that is before this nation this year shall our nation be divided by fear or shall it be one today by faith. We trust one another can we create the dream of every dreamer in this land and every patriot of one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Can we vote our hopes and. Not our hates. Can we see a new day where opportunity for every American is a fact and not a fiction and can we judge a man can we judge a man not by his race or by his last name or by his religion but rather will we judge him by his merits and by his performance you see I believe we can in fact I know we must I know that the world awaits our answer there waiting to find out we give to humanity inspiration our will we again simple. Desperation the alphabet foundation is dedicated to this great work this great work of human understanding of helping the poor the disinherited in the disadvantaged and Leyton beloved friend that noble spirit Cardinal Spellman whom we remember tonight and revere he fully understood this because he devoted his life to it and I ask you my fellow Americans can we do less so this is the American credo and there is nothing wrong in these days of sophistication and being above it all. Have a little baby fundamental patriotism This is our Credo this compassion. This faith this will it can light our way in the difficult and dangerous days ahead and I tonight take heart O'Shaughnessy. The Irish poet who in his own way once sang these words. Each age is a dream that is dying. That is coming to birth you see I believe that the American dream is coming to birth and I say. America the last best hope of this earth thank you so much. Vice President. We deeply appreciate your time being with us and. Thank you very much. Speaker was closely associated with governess Miss. Spelman over a long period of time as a friend and coworker. He was in fact intimately involved in the first Freddy Smith twenty three years ago. I am very pleased to present the honorable James Collins. The archbishop. President Johnson. President. Vice President Nixon the mayor. The governor Governor doing governor. Of the distinguished guests as the head table ladies and. My appearance as a speaker here tonight because of an instant I witnessed in nineteen twenty. When Governor Smith was a candidate for the nomination for the presidency of the. State of New York he was defeated in the. Harding landslide in one thousand nine hundred nineteen when it was brave that Commissioner Murphy leader of time involved. Committed themselves in favor of the nomination of wooden markers for governor the county chairman in the leaders of the state and downstate to. Lose as sickly in favor of Governor Smith again and again today. Well the nomination for governor there was much tension around the hotel in Syracuse where the delegates that gathered because most of the delegates. There were faced with the possibility of having to make a decision between Murphy and Smith and that is something they did not want to. I was a governess meds bedroom. With a number of other leaders and word came that former Congressman Mark Cochran was calling on the governor. He came and stood at the foot of the bed and delivered one of the most famous already sins. Ever heard Governor Smith listen don't. Said nothing finally. Then used his argument after he had done so. Governor Smith started to talk. And he delivered the best our nation I ever heard and the language the fitting the occasion fully explained to Congressman Cochran why he wouldn't support Mr Hersh to. Commit him to have a place on the ticket with it. I think inclusion of the governor's remarks. Left the room. Open the door in the hallway and then closed very shortly the door opened again. And there was a conference standing in the doorway. Looked at governors met and was smiling and said I want you to distinctly understand Governor. That I did not come here of my own volition. Indicating to the governor that certainly agreed that the position the governor had taken. And the cars he had expressed and the end of ended which everyone knew that he was there to deliver a message from Mr Murphy is last point is my first because I too did not come here of my own volition is excellent the archbishop cook indicated that sense both governors mayors and Cardinal Spellman. Among my oldest and best friends. That I speak as much in view of reminiscence. As another friend as a great statesman and a great religious leader. I first met I'll Smith and nineteen eighteen. Over fifty years ago as Rockland County Democratic chairman. I am own others are just does not candidacy of the governorship with Mr Murphy. He was nominated at the Saratoga convention. And should then I was a delegate to every convention where he was nominated for governor I first read Cardinal Spellman in nineteen twenty three on my late wife and I are there not a chance with pork pies the eleventh I recall Falwell listening to the reading and for going to nine o'clock mass on the Sunday morning in nineteen twenty six. Forty six and heard the announcement viage visual spell it was elevation as a cardinal with three other American archbishop Lennon of St know as mony of Detroit and stretch of Chicago after mass that morning I called on the archbishop residence to offer congratulations. And he invited me to join his party for the Consistory. I should ever be grateful he was laid eminence for making the President me to be president. Never to be forgotten. In history this characteristic of a Cardinal Spellman become a member a governess which devotion to his fellow man a new public service instituting the governor out pretty remarkable dinners I shall remember it is. As already stated I was the chairman of the committee in nineteen forty five and I have attended every dinners except one thing forty six when I was abroad on business down to the various. They have resulted in the raising of millions of dollars for St Vincent's Hospital and they are all men of charitable activity. Kind of the greatest there one of the greatest honors there for. Carrying on Governor's. Noble idea is. To pay tribute. And dear friends of the cause for which they so entirely work I am satisfied as I know you are the work they started moving forward with undiminished vigor the tremendous energy. And determination of his ex. And his the voters assistance. I am confident through the memories of the governor the cardno will be carried on by generations yet unborn your actions say I'm grateful to you. For inviting me to address this gathering tonight many of our departed friend and I hope you will extend to. Me as much and as often as you like the efforts of this humble servant. Of the cause of God's mercy. And as long as you're going to be all right. Thank you very much last December second President Johnson came to St Patrick's Cathedral. On with. Spelman. On April fourth much to my surprise the president returned to the cathedral on the day of my installation as archbishop of the. He has been with us. It is a tremendous honor and privilege to have him with us this evening he comes as our friend as the first citizen of a great country as the dedicated president. People. I had the honor to present he doesn't need to be present to because he's right at home here our President Lyndon B. Johnson. Louis. For. Your excellence a Archbishop cook. As President Humphrey. In the mid next and. Drop the mayor and Mrs Lindsay. You governor good senator Javits Senator good I'll state which members of Congress Mr Silver as Warner as Martian ladies and gentlemen. I was sitting here this afternoon thanking and whoever put this table together. Let it be President. Because I can tell you that we could. Use a good consensus politician in the white out. This is the first time that I have heard of Armistice Day being celebrated enough to have an. Abortion all remember we call it that NS. But you could still bumi. With some of the old campaigners who are here tonight. Even so I don't take any better and could appreciate my feelings on this night except maybe General Custer. And I don't know any chief executive otherwise. Who has ever been surrounded by so many Indians. It kept me awake all last night. And finally around four A.M. this morning the ghost of our Smith. Paired at my bedside. And he said Mr President I have seen the guest list for that dinner too. And I can't sleep either. And then Al Smith gave me a tape he told me to handle you like he had watched Hamilton of the audience soon after his first election as governor of New York Al Smith went to visit the state prison at Sing Sing. And he was asked to speak to the him eight but he did not know quite how to start or what to say and finally he began my fellow citizens. And then he was reminded that to be a guest of the state's prison meant that you were no longer a citizen. So Al Smith was even more embarrassed and then he said my fellow convicts. And that did not sound quite right either so governor spent then waved his arms in a grand gesture and said well in Al I'm glad to see so many of you here. And that is my style your Taishan to all of you. Are now but as the resident president. Of the big White House. I do anticipate. The very great pleasure. Absolute ing one of you soon with the Greetings fellow convicts. I am so honored to have the pleasure of being here with my good friend His Excellency Archbishop Cooke tonight although looking at the company that he is keeping. I was tempted to lean over and ask him aren't you really in the wrong. I resisted the temptation the call of the ecumenical nature of this gathering. To be completely fair would have then had to put the same question to the mirror off of. Our. Lenses I can guess the smith setting up there tonight Saint Peter maybe even with her because of her. Chuckling at all the secret thought of this head table. When they look over at Archbishop cup. Mr Nixon of course is hoping that the Archbishop. Has come here to witness a resurrection. He appears to be so confident these days that he is already planning to change the name of Washington D.C. to Resurrection City. And Vice President Humphrey he's moving a little closer all the time he's sitting here hoping that the archbishop perhaps will pay off the collection plate a second time. He even suggested to me as I can man that I used my good offices to ask another little favor of the archbishop just a small miracles of loaves and fishes. I'm Governor Rockefeller sitting over there smiling and thanking Well they almost got made to the church on top. And Marilyn's it to his left on our left. Always looking far ahead is offering up a slightly different prayer yet made to the charge get made to the church next time. And there's only one man missing tonight from this very happy scene and I think it's a shame erections. And Gene McCarthy has refused to come to church. He has chosen to go off and fast in the desert instead. I am happy to say I never did we have another famous American here to consult he is an emigrant son plays made good so good that tonight his name is almost a household word we're all proud of spirit. For. These days my friends I also find myself saying on occasions a nonpartisan prayer watching the race from the sidelines I remember a story that Lincoln once told after he became president that concerned the man who had once stood right up on the gallows before he got a last minute were pretty a year later he was on the way to the gallows again for another crime and he rode in a slow moving way while hundreds of townspeople rushed to get a front seat at the ceremony the prisoner stuck his head out of the way and shouted You needn't be in such a hurry as. I've been there. And there won't be any fun and yes. Well. And. Then I won't say I want to stay that I will be sorry to leave there to leave it to Canada. But I will say that this could be my last press to. Pretty soon you won't have Lyndon Johnson to kick around anymore. But I am very grateful that I could be here in this coming in tonight I do appreciate more than I can say that statements of. Warmth and welcome by Marilyn's in gun the Rockefeller. Very generous references by Vice President Nixon and the constancy and devotion of Vice President Humphrey I want to keep my comments as nonpartisan as possible so I will include you missed archbishop in that final benediction just the other day one of our foremost newspapers quoted some of those famous inside sources to charge that a certain importance archdiocese suffered from government by crony Well as I've said before these are the New York Times. That. Man so. In all seriousness my friend it's a great honor to appear at this traditional charitable event in honor of that great American Al Smith Dinner. That was sponsored so long and so faith and so well by the great American Francis Cardinal Spellman the men and women who are here tonight to support the philanthropic efforts of the Archdiocese of New York. They know the voice of suffering and they know that good man must work and good man much care if we are to have a just society so tonight we can look back eight years when Vice President Nixon John F. Kennedy appeared at this dinner and we can all recall how Americans who cared about the poor and the black in the culture or their pride were very much out of the mainstream and we know how dramatically and I think how profoundly times have changed and our country is king and the world is changing tonight tens of millions of Americans are deeply concerned about the welfare. Of the less fortunate tell us to the signs tonight most all Americans care that itself I think. Is a great accomplishment and I would only leave you both the candidates and citizens with one thought the calls of those deprived and discriminated against is not a call those that can be abandoned or exploited are maligned. And in man our party their cause and their problem cannot be kicked under run over by a car not if you want America to survive. Not if you want American democracy to remain alive and to remain mean. Yes there can and. Legitimate difference about the tactics used to help the poor among us but one tactic can never be acceptable that the problem be pasted over by those in either public or private positions of great influence and responsibility. That resources and answers be left only to a few dedicated American charity to the kind of people who gathered here tonight because. I'm proud to say you here about America and you demonstrated by your press the gold or private philanthropy can only be reached by base public concern all across America and I'm led to believe that Americans here tonight and all of us must continue to care and whichever of you gentlemen are elected. And I believe and hope and I pray that you will see that commitment thank you and. The owner that concludes this special broadcast of the Al Smith Memorial dinner which took place last week the speakers included President Johnson Governor Rockefeller Mayor Lindsay Vice President Humphrey former Vice President Nixon Archbishop cook and James A Farley Charles H. silver presided this transcribed special broadcast was presented by your city station in the public interest.