. >> [cheers and applause] last, our host for this evening, his eminence, timothy michael cardinal dolan, archbishop of new york. now i turn the evening over to our master of ceremonies, al sm ith iv. >> [applause] >> please be seated. good evening, ladies and gentlemen. my name is al smith iv. >> [cheers and applause] tod like to welcome you the 71st annual al smith dinner. in case you were worried, this isn't a microphone malfunction, is a neck malfunction. i will be fine, and the show must go on. >> [applause] ask everyone i'd to turn off their phones. secretary clinton has told me that donald is welcome to keep away. [laughter] al: apparently, when donald tweets, it makes both of them happy. [laughter] likeefore we proceed, i'd to invite everyone at this event of the san francisco 49ers to stand for the national anthem. and remain standing for the invocation. by anthem will be performed the metropolitan opera soprano. i turned down the job. the invocation will be delivered by the bishop. sing, don't get lost. [laughter] >> i'm here. [laughter] say o, can you see by the dawn's early l