According to the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize web page, the "Prize
recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar
to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark
Twain." If that is the case, why is it that the prize has never been awarded
to anyone known primarily for writing? 

So long as the prize helps keep Mark Twain's name before the public, I
suppose it is for the good However, I'd feel a lot better about it if it had
at least been offered to Kurt Vonnegut. (Does anyone know if it was?)

Kent Rasmussen

P.S. While Googling to see if I could find an answer to my question about
Vonnegut, I found a page hypothesizing that he is the reincarnation of Mark
Twain! I don't believe in reincarnation, but if it really happens, that
hypothesis is certainly intriguing.

http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=mark-twain-kurt-vonnegut-reincarnation-past-life-lives-kevin-ryerson-walter-semkiw&hl=en_US

P.P.S. Can someone explain to me in what ways Will Ferrell's impact on
American society has been similar to that of Mark Twain?