1927–2023 · American comedy writer, gag-file publisher, and director of Gerald Ford’s White House speechwriting staff
Robert Orben was a professional gag writer and magician who ran Orben’s Current Comedy, a topical joke newsletter he edited from 1958 to 1989 and mined for dozens of one-liner collections. He supplied material to comedians and, increasingly, to executives and public speakers who wanted a laugh line to open a speech — the exact market in which this quip first surfaced. He crossed into politics in 1973 as speechwriter to Vice President Gerald Ford, and in January 1976 became director of the White House speechwriting staff, serving to the end of Ford’s term.