Changes

'''Al Smith''' (1873-1944) was the dominant Democratic politician in [[New York State]] in the 1920s and was elected governor five times. He was defeated for president in 1928.  Smith was a leader of the [[Progressive Era]] because of his efficiency-oriented, growth-promoting pro-business policies as governor.  He moved from a leader of liberals in the 1920s to a leader of conservatives in the 1930s.

'''Al Smith''' (1873-1944), a Democrat,  was the dominant Democratic politician in [[New York State]] in the 1920s and was elected governor five times. He was defeated for president in 1928.  Smith was a leader of the [[Progressive Era]] because of his efficiency-oriented, growth-promoting pro-business policies as governor.  He moved from a leader of liberals in the 1920s to a leader of conservatives in the 1930s.

Smith was defeated in 1924 for the Democratic Party's nomination for president, but won the nomination easily in 1928. He was the first [[Catholic]] to win a presidential nomination<ref> John F. Kennedy was the second, in 1960. John F. Kerry, a Catholic, was the Democratic nominee in 2004, but lost.</ref>, Smith's was a highly visible Catholic and religion rallied millions of new Catholic voters, while alienating Southern Baptists and German Lutherans. Smith lost the 1928 election to Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] because of national prosperity, and Smith's leadership of Catholics and wet opponents of Prohibition. Although he was personally honest, people distrusted his close ties with the notoriously corrupt [[Tammany Hall]] Democratic machine in Manhattan.    Smith was a model [[Progressive Era|Progressive]] reformer in his ability to master the technical details of government as an expert, and pursue constitutional, statutory, and administrative changes to make government more efficient. Smith reached out to Republicans including Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Joseph Proskauer, John Raskob, and others when it furthered these goals, and he won their genuine admiration for his intellectual ability.  He broke with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] after 1928, lost the Democratic nomination to Roosevelt in 1932, and helped form the [[American Liberty League]] to rally conservative Democrats in opposition to the [[New Deal]] and in favor of [[Jeffersonian Democracy]].   

Smith was defeated in 1924 for the Democratic Party's nomination for president, but won the nomination easily in 1928. He was the first [[Catholic]] to win a presidential nomination<ref> John F. Kennedy was the second, in 1960. John F. Kerry, a Catholic, was the Democratic nominee in 2004, but lost.</ref>, Smith's was a highly visible Catholic and religion rallied millions of new Catholic voters, while alienating Southern Baptists and German Lutherans. Smith lost the 1928 election to Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] because of national prosperity, and Smith's leadership of Catholics and wet opponents of Prohibition. Although he was personally honest, people distrusted his close ties with the notoriously corrupt [[Tammany Hall]] Democratic machine in Manhattan.    Smith was a model [[Progressive Era|Progressive]] reformer in his ability to master the technical details of government as an expert, and pursue constitutional, statutory, and administrative changes to make government more efficient. Smith reached out to Republicans including Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Joseph Proskauer, John Raskob, and others when it furthered these goals, and he won their genuine admiration for his intellectual ability.  He broke with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] after 1928, lost the Democratic nomination to Roosevelt in 1932, and helped form the [[American Liberty League]] to rally conservative Democrats in opposition to the [[New Deal]] and in favor of [[Jeffersonian Democracy]].   

[[Category:New York Governors]]

[[Category:New York Governors]]

[[Category:Democrat Governors]]

[[Category:Democratic Governors]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Al}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Al}}