Birth Name: Alfred Emanuel Smith
Date of Birth: December 30, 1873
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: October 4, 1944
Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*25% Italian
*25% German
*50% Irish
Al Smith was an American politician and statesman. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 8th President of the New York City Board of Aldermen, from January 1, 1917 to December 31, 1918, and the 42nd Governor of New York, from January 1, 1919 to December 31, 1920, and again from January 1, 1923 to December 31, 1928.
Al was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1928. He was also a candidate for the Democratic Party’s 1920, 1924, and 1932 presidential nominations.
Al was the son of Catherine (Mulvihill) and Alfrede Emanuele Ferraro, who changed his name to Alfred E. Smith. His father was of Italian and German descent. His mother was of Irish ancestry. Al was a prominent spokesperson for the Irish-American community.
Al was the first Roman Catholic nominated for President of the United States by a major American political party.
Al’s paternal grandparents were Emanuel Ferraro and Magdalena/Magdaline Kolbe/Colby. Emanuel was born in Genova, Italy. Magdalena was German.
Al’s maternal grandparents were Thomas Mulvihill and Maria Marsh. Thomas and Maria were from County Westmeath, Ireland.
Al was the first person of significant Italian heritage to win a caucus, primary, and/or nominating ballot for a major American party’s Presidential nomination. The other winners of significant Italian heritage are:
*Michael DiSalle (1960; Democratic; won 1 state, Ohio)
*Rick Santorum (2012; Republican; won 11 contests; Santorum also sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Santorum is of three quarters Italian descent)
*Ted Cruz (2016; Republican, won 11 contests; Cruz’s maternal great-grandfather was Italian)
Other people of significant Italian heritage who have mounted major campaigns for President of the United States are:
*John A. Volpe (who sought the 1968 Republican nomination)
*James Traficant (who sought the 1988 Democratic nomination; Traficant’s father was of Italian descent)
*Rudy Giuliani (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*Tom Tancredo (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*Chris Christie (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Christie’s mother was of Italian descent)
*George Pataki (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Pataki’s maternal grandfather was Italian)
Geraldine Ferraro, who was of Italian descent, was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1984.