Al Franken (b.1951,) fully Alan Stuart Franken, is an American comedian and writer, a Democratic politician, and a political commentator. He represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate 2009–18.
Born in New York City, Franken attended Harvard College, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in political science in 1973. He rose to fame as a writer and performer on the television show Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the 1970s and 1980s, known for his sharp wit and satirical commentary on politics and culture.
Franken’s career transitioned to writing, where he authored several best-selling books, including Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations (1996,) a critique of conservative media personalities, and Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right (2003,) which dissected political misinformation.
In 2008, Franken launched his political career by successfully running for a U.S. Senate seat representing Minnesota. Serving 2009–18, he prioritized legislative work on healthcare, education, and consumer protection, but his tenure ended abruptly in early 2018 amid controversy over misconduct allegations, prompting his resignation.
Franken’s memoir Giant of the Senate (2017) provides a candid reflection on his career in politics, offering insights into his time as a U.S. Senator and the challenges he faced.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Al Franken
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.
—Al Franken
Topics: Mistakes
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