Essay: Why Reagan is Funny and Watt Not

Then there's the one about the prisoners who were so familiar with the jokes told in the penitentiary that all they needed to do was call out the number of a particular knee-slapper to keep themselves in stitches. Offering a demonstration for a visitor, the warden called out 61-37-4. The prisoners howled and guffawed. "Now you try one," invited the warden. The visitor called out 53, then 89 and finally 2. No laughter, not a chuckle. The warden shrugged: "I guess it depends on how you tell it."

But seriously, folks: What about James Watt? Is it simply a matter of...