Mark Katz
Encyclopedia
Mark Katz is an American
humorist, speechwriter
, author
, and humor consultant to politicians, executives and media
personalities.
. The second son of a suburban orthodontist, he received a B.A. in Government at Cornell University
in 1986. From 1981-82, he served as president of the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta
, at Clarkstown High School North
. Though he has been known to use the fragrance,he has never appeared in an Old Spice commercial.
, then on the “rapid response team” of the Michael Dukakis
presidential campaign of 1988. Katz moved from there to work as an advertising copywriter at the Sawyer/Miller Group, Hal Riney & Partners/SF and McCann-Erickson/NY. From 1993-2000, he was a creative consultant to the Democratic National Committee, assisting then-President Bill Clinton
with his annual series of humorous speeches to the Washington Press Corps. These speeches were given, among other places, at the White House Correspondents Association, the Gridiron Club
, and the Alfalfa Club
. Katz has also written humorous speeches for then-Vice PresidentAl Gore
, James Wolfensohn
of the World Bank
, Madeline Albright, Tom Freston
, and Barbra Streisand
.
Katz’s humorous essays have been published in Time Magazine, The New Yorker
, The Washington Post
, and Washington Monthly; he is also an occasional op-ed contributor to The New York Times
. He has published two books (see below), including one on his experience as the in-house humorist of the Clinton White House
. He has appeared on NPR
’s Fresh Air
and the stage of the HBO Aspen
Comedy Festival. He is also a frequent storyteller at The Moth
, a popular storyteller’s forum based in New York City
.
On January 25, 1984, he appeared on the “Stupid Pet Tricks
” segment of The Late Show
with David Letterman
, with Wally, his piano-playing toy poodle.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
humorist, speechwriter
Speechwriter
A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are used by many senior-level elected officials and executives in the government and private sectors.-Skills and training:...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and humor consultant to politicians, executives and media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
personalities.
Background
Mark Katz was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Rockland County, New YorkRockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
. The second son of a suburban orthodontist, he received a B.A. in Government at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1986. From 1981-82, he served as president of the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
, at Clarkstown High School North
Clarkstown High School North
Clarkstown High School North is a high school located in Rockland County, New York educating students in grades 9 through 12. Clarkstown North or simply "North," as it is referred to by students and staff, is one of two high schools in the Clarkstown Central School District...
. Though he has been known to use the fragrance,he has never appeared in an Old Spice commercial.
Career
Mark Katz’s career began in journalism: he first worked as a news clerk in the Washington bureau of the New York Times. He then worked in politics, serving as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick MoynihanDaniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
, then on the “rapid response team” of the Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
presidential campaign of 1988. Katz moved from there to work as an advertising copywriter at the Sawyer/Miller Group, Hal Riney & Partners/SF and McCann-Erickson/NY. From 1993-2000, he was a creative consultant to the Democratic National Committee, assisting then-President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
with his annual series of humorous speeches to the Washington Press Corps. These speeches were given, among other places, at the White House Correspondents Association, the Gridiron Club
Gridiron Club
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has...
, and the Alfalfa Club
Alfalfa Club
The Alfalfa Club is a Washington, D.C. social organization that exists only to hold an annual banquet on the last Saturday of January. The club's membership, which numbers about 200, is composed primarily of American politicians and influential members of the United States business community, and...
. Katz has also written humorous speeches for then-Vice PresidentAl Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, James Wolfensohn
James Wolfensohn
Sir James David Wolfensohn AO KBE FKC was the ninth president of the World Bank Group.-Early life:James Wolfensohn was born in Sydney, Australia, on 1 December 1933...
of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, Madeline Albright, Tom Freston
Tom Freston
Thomas E. Freston is an American entertainment industry executive. He currently is a principal in Firefly3 LLC, a consulting and investment company. Currently he consults Oprah Winfrey, among others....
, and Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
.
Katz’s humorous essays have been published in Time Magazine, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and Washington Monthly; he is also an occasional op-ed contributor to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He has published two books (see below), including one on his experience as the in-house humorist of the Clinton White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. He has appeared on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
’s Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
and the stage of the HBO Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
Comedy Festival. He is also a frequent storyteller at The Moth
The Moth
The Moth is a non-profit group based in New York City dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It was founded in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate the feeling of sultry summer evenings in his native Georgia, when moths were attracted to the light on the...
, a popular storyteller’s forum based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
On January 25, 1984, he appeared on the “Stupid Pet Tricks
Stupid Pet Tricks
"Stupid Pet Tricks", and, subsequently, "Stupid Human Tricks", are well-known segments on Late Night with David Letterman, and, later, The Late Show with David Letterman....
” segment of The Late Show
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
with David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
, with Wally, his piano-playing toy poodle.