Mimicry, being comedy's sharp elbow in the ribs, usually depends on the mimic's being at a safe distance from his subject —or victim; the more dignified and honored the subject, the greater the advisable distance. But an appealing showman named Elliott Reid flew down to Washington a fortnight ago with nothing less in mind than mimicking President Kennedy for the pleasure of the capital's press corps, most of the Cabinet officers, and the President himself. The result: Kennedy was convulsed, and Good Trouper Reid was once again "discovered."
Reid had finely polished...