Historian Ron Chernow poked fun at politicians at the White House Correspondents' Dinner with some help from Mark Twain


Don't let stereotypes fool you — historians can be funny, too.
The White House Correspondents' Association broke with tradition this year when they asked a non-comedian to deliver the keynote address at the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday evening. Instead, historian Ron Chernow, who wrote the Alexander Hamilton biography that inspired the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, addressed the crowd. Chernow has also written books about former presidents George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant, so he knows a thing or two about the office.
While the event was reportedly more serious than in years past, with Chernow and other speakers talking poingantly about press freedom, Chernow found the time to crack a few jokes, as well. They mostly came in the form of subtle jabs at President Trump, who did not attend the event for the third street year. He was in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at a rally for Trump supporters, instead.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One of Chernow's strongest jokes was a veiled dig at Trump's reported befuddlement over the fact that Washington did not name Mount Vernon after himself.
Chernow closed his speech with a remark from the king of quips himself, Mark Twain. In this instance, it seems like Trump was far from the only target. Tim O'Donnell

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.