Alfred Emanuel Smith

Governor of New York

December 30, 1873 New York City

October 4, 1944 New York City

Catherine Ann Dunn

Alfred Emanuel “Al” Smith was an American politician who served as the Governor of New York for four times and became the first ever Catholic nominee for President. He was a very popular Governor and is credited to have brought about a wide range of reforms during the 1920s. He was a strong opponent of Prohibition and found loyal supporters in the citizens who themselves were against Prohibition. He hailed from a humble family and had struggled much through life. This enabled him to connect with the plight of the common working-class people and he strived to work towards their betterment by implementing reformatory policies while he was the governor. His story is a typical rags-to-riches tale. After losing his father as a teenager, he worked as a newsboy and a fishmonger for years before he could enter the world of politics. Blessed with a charismatic personality and powerful oratory skills, he soon worked up his way to become the Governor of New York. His successful stint as the governor endeared him to the people and he was re-elected to the post three more times. He was an ambitious man and had lofty dreams, however, he could not achieve his dream of becoming the President in spite of being a much loved and respected figure in American politics.