Al Smith - Button

Alfred Emanuel Smith, Jr. (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944), known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American politician who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York four times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928. He was the first Roman Catholic to run for President as a major party nominee. He lost the election to Herbert Hoover. He then became president of the Empire State, Inc. and was instrumental in getting the Empire State Building built at the onset of the Great Depression. He gave Franklin Roosevelt a come-back opportunity by nominating Smith for President; FDR gave his famous "Happy Warrior" speech. Reproduction of public domain materials.