The Stand-Up Comedian Who Wrote Jokes For JFK

By the time Sen. John F. Kennedy ran for president in 1960, a young comedian named Mort Sahl had established himself as one of the country’s top political satirists. Sahl was what some would call an equal opportunity offender, going after both Democrats and Republicans in his act. Kennedy, for one, was fond of the comic’s approach and respected Sahl for what he called “his relentless pursuit of everybody.” When Kennedy said “everybody,” he wasn’t exaggerating; Sahl had no qualms about taking aim at the aspiring commander-in-chief or his political opponent at that time.