The Al Smith Dinner: Clinton and Trump's Most Memorable Jabs
— -- The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner isn't officially a roast, but that didn't stop Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump from delivering a series of zingers -- some of which received roars of laughter and applause, while others (namely those delivered by Trump) elicited boos from the gathering of well-heeled guests.
Even though Clinton and Trump seemed displeased at times with some of the remarks, the pair did shakes hands at the end of the dinner, which is hosted by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
But it is a time-honored tradition at the annual white-tie dinner -- a fundraiser for Catholic charities supporting children in need held at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan -- for dueling presidential candidates to take jabs at each other. In 2012, for example, President Barack Obama and then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also exchanged quips.
Here, some of the most memorable zingers from the dinner:
HILLARY CLINTON
"People look at the Statue of Liberty and they see a proud symbol of our history as a nation of immigrants, a beacon of hope for people around the world. Donald looks at the Statue of Liberty and sees a 'four.' Maybe a 'five' -- if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair."
"I said 'no' to some jokes that I thought were over the line, but I suppose you can judge for yourself on WikiLeaks in the next few days."
"Let's embrace the spirit of the evening, let's come together, remember what unites us, and just rip on Ted Cruz."
"Donald, after listening to your speech, I will also enjoy listening to Mike Pence deny that you ever gave it."
"Donald will tell us after the benediction whether he accepts that this dinner is over. He has to wait and see."
"We'll either have the first female president or the first president who started a Twitter war with Cher."
"Here's another similarity: The Republican National Committee isn't spending a dime to help either one of us."
"It is great, also, to see Mayor Bloomberg here. It’s a shame he’s not speaking tonight. I’m curious to hear what a billionaire has to say."
"Getting through these three debates with Donald has to count as a miracle. So I guess I'm up against the highest, hardest stained glass ceiling. But your eminence, you do deserve great credit for bringing together two people who have been at each other's throats, mortal enemies, bitter foes. I've got to ask, how did you get the governor [Andrew Cuomo] and mayor [Bill de Blasio] here together tonight?"
"I am so flattered that Donald thought I used some sort of performance enhancer. Now, actually, I did. It's called preparation."
"I have deep respect for people like KellyAnne Conway. She's working day and night for Donald, and because she's a contractor, he's probably not even going to pay her."
DONALD TRUMP
"Hillary believes it's vital to deceive the people by having one public policy, and a totally different policy in private ... For example, here she is tonight in public, pretending not to hate Catholics."
"Last night, I called Hillary 'a nasty woman.' But this stuff is all relative. After listening to Hillary rattle on and on and on, I don't think so badly of Rosie O'Donnell anymore. In fact I'm actually starting to like Rosie a lot."
"Now, if some of you haven't noticed, Hillary isn't laughing as much as the rest of us. That's because she knows the jokes, and all of the jokes were given to her in advance of the dinner by [DNC interim chairwoman] Donna Brazile."
"And even tonight, with all of the heated back and forth, between my opponent and me at the debate last night, we have proven that we can actually be civil to each other. In fact, just before taking the dais, Hillary accidentally bumped into me and she very civilly said, 'pardon me.' And I very politely replied, let me talk to you about that after I get into office."
"In fact many people tell me that modesty is perhaps my best quality. Even better than my temperament."
"You want the proof? Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it. It's fantastic. They think she's absolutely great. My wife, Melania, gives the exact same speech, and people get on her case! And I don't get it!"
"It's great to be here with a thousand wonderful people, or as I call it, a small, intimate dinner with some friends. Or as Hillary calls it, her largest crowd of the season."
