as the journalist theodore white put it, the al smith dinner is a ritual of american politics. so for those keeping track, the american rituals are this dinner and the republicans sacrificing 2014 to ted cruz's ego. it was a pretty republican crowd last night. he went on to recognize the contributions he and hez fellow catholics have made to politics over the years. >> this event has an illustrious history. it began in 1945 to honor al smith, a man who fought for government housing, public schools, labor laws to protect women and children, and went on to become the first presidential candidate of a major party who was catholic. and since he first shattered the stained class ceiling, america has seen a flood of catholic presidents from john kennedy to jfk to jack kennedy. [ laughter ] you could got have found a more perfect keynote speaker tonight