Al Smith Dinner 2024 Date And Time Chicago. Here's why her absence breaks tradition. The smith dinner, first held in 1945 to honor new york's former governor and the first catholic presidential candidate, al smith, has become a cornerstone of u.s.

Here’s why her absence breaks tradition. Phoenix (ap) — vice president kamala harris will skip this year’s al smith charity dinner in new york, breaking with presidential tradition so she can campaign instead in.