Jon Stewart Appointed to 9-11 Memorial Board

The comedian led the drive to push Congress to pass legislation giving health benefits to 9-11 rescue workers.

Stewart has always maintained he’s a comedian and not a political activist, but during the final weeks of the 2010 legislative session, he regularly fumed on air that Congress could not stop bickering long enough to enact legislation giving much-needed health benefits to 9-11 first responders. His on-air campaign, ultimately successful, caught the attention of the organizers of the planned 9-11 museum and memorial, who appointed him to the 48-member board of their foundation Thursday. Stewart hosted the foundation’s benefit last year and is expected to be the public face of the foundation’s fundraising efforts. Stewart said he was “humbled” by the appointment, and would do anything to help. “I’m like their intern at this point,” he said.