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'''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.

'''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]].   

 

Although personal resentment was a motivating factor in Smith's break with Roosevelt and the New Deal, Smith was consistent in his beliefs and politics. Finan (2003) argues Smith always believed in social mobility, economic opportunity, religious tolerance, and individualism

Although personal resentment was a motivating factor in Smith's break with Roosevelt and the New Deal, Smith was consistent in his beliefs and politics. Finan (2003) argues Smith always believed in social mobility, economic opportunity, religious tolerance, and individualism

==Civilian life==

==Business leader==

After the 1928 election, he became the president of Empire State, Inc., the corporation which built and operated the [[Empire State Building]]. Smith cut the ribbon when the world's tallest skyscraper opened in May 1931, built in only 13 months.  As with the Brooklyn Bridge, which Smith witnessed being built from his Lower East Side boyhood home, the Empire State Building was a vision and an achievement constructed by combining the interests of all rather than being divided by interests of a few.  Smith, like most New York City businessmen, enthusiastically supported World War Two, but was not asked by Roosevelt to play any role in the war effort.

After the 1928 election, Smith became the president of Empire State, Inc., the corporation which built and operated the [[Empire State Building]]. Smith cut the ribbon when the world's tallest skyscraper opened in May 1931, built in only 13 months.  As with the Brooklyn Bridge, which Smith witnessed being built from his Lower East Side boyhood home, the Empire State Building was a vision and an achievement constructed by combining the interests of all rather than being divided by interests of a few.  Smith, like most New York City businessmen, enthusiastically supported World War Two, but was frozen out by Roosevelt and not alllowed to play any role in the war effort.

Smith died on October 4, 1944, at the age of 70, broken-hearted over the death of his wife from cancer five months earlier.  

Smith died on October 4, 1944, at the age of 70, broken-hearted over the death of his wife from cancer five months earlier.  

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]

[[Category:Former Liberals]]

[[Category:Former Liberals]]