Give Him a Ron of Applause
After last year's event, the White House Correspondents organization kowtowed to Trump and decided not to get a comedian this year because, well, gee, comedians are so mean and it’s so divisive.
Meanwhile, Trump still didn’t show up and ordered those on his administration staff not to show up.
Instead they got historian Ron Chernow.
And Chernow was…masterful. Often as funny as a comedian. Often as scathing. And overloaded with rich substance based on historical reality.
What was interesting was reading comments about his speech on YouTube from people marveling at this guy they didn’t know – unaware that he was the person wrote the Alexander Hamilton biography that Lin-Manuel Miranda based his musical on. I haven't read that, but did read his biography of George Washington which was wonderful.
If you didn't see Chernow's speech, here it is. It's about 25 minutes and eminently watchable. Often very funny, as I said, and even self-effacing, but mostly about the historic relationship between the press and President, filled with fun and fascinating stories to support his points. He's blunt and charming, and what's interesting, as well, is seeing the people there who clearly do not like his bluntness. But he speaks with a gravitas that gives it all so much more more support.
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