Mark Katz

Mark Katz is a speechwriter and humorist whose unique background makes him a sought-after expert in the world of politics: for the eight years of a previous administration, he worked directly with President Bill Clinton on his annual series of humor speeches to the Washington press corps. He is also the author of CLINTON & ME, a White House memoir like none other. His book tells the tale of an eventful presidency as seen from a unique vantage point: a lone humorist embedded deep inside a chaotic West Wing. Published by Miramax Books in the spring of 2004, CLINTON & ME has been hailed by Publisher's Weekly as "very laugh-out funny" and "a comic delight."

Under the banner of his Sound Bite Institute, Mark continues to generate humor for himself and his clients, a hodgepodge of political and corporate titans and various VIPs. His humor essays have been published in the New York Times, the New Yorker and aired on NPR and is a frequent guest on national news programs to discuss the topic of political and presidential humor. His recent book tour brought him to the sets of the Today Show, ABC News' This Week, CNBC's Tim Russert, as well as to the stage of the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival. Mark has spoken at numerous academic institutions (including Harvard's Kennedy School of Government) and is also a featured performer at The Moth, a popular storytellers' forum that airs on the Trio arts & entertainment network.

A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in government, Mark first made his name in politics as the person who made Mike Dukakis so funny. From there, he went on to a series of careers and misadventures in advertising, television sitcoms and on the front lines of the "Clinton Comedy War Room." Altogether, his myriad of experiences at the crossroads of politics, humor and strategic communications give him unique insights into our national political scene that he shares in his own engaging style.