Presidents and Candidates on Talk Shows—PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

Updated: October 25, 2011 | 2:52 p.m.
October 25, 2011 | 12:56 p.m.

President Obama is in Southern California to record a segment with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. Obama's stop on a talk show is hardly a presidential first. Here's a look at presidents and candidates over the years who've gone on talk shows, variety shows, and other popular TV programs.

This file photo from May 7, 2008 shows Republican presidential candidate John McCain waving to the audience while speaking with host Jon Stewart at a taping of The Daily Show in New York.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks with host Jay Leno during a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 2, 2007, at NBC studios in Burbank, Calif.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are pictured with Oprah Winfrey during a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show at Harpo Studios in Chicago, on April 27, 2011.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

In this March 19, 2009 file photo, President Obama appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in Burbank, Calif.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File

President Obama appears on ABC's The View in New York on July 28, 2010. From the left are Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, the president, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Then-Sen. Obama dances to the song "Crazy In Love" with Ellen DeGeneres before a show taping on Oct.17, 2007.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Mike Rozman/Warner Bros.

Richard Nixon appeared on Laugh-In on Sept. 16, 1968 and said in an incredulous tone, "Sock it to me?"

PHOTO: YouTube.com/Champion 1970

Presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., makes his entrance by driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onstage to a welcome from Jay Leno, at right, at NBC studios in Burbank, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2003.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Reed Saxon

Then-Gov. Bill Clinton, sitting with the band, turns out an impressive version of "Heartbreak Hotel" as Arsenio Hall gestures approvingly in the musical opening of The Arsenio Hall Show taping at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on June 3, 1992.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Reed Saxon

President Clinton speaks at the Enough Is Enough: Forum With The President, sponsored by MTV, on April 19, 1994, in Washington.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Dennis Cook

From the Christian Science Monitor: President Gerald Ford announced 'Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" at the start of the April 17, 1976 episode of 'Saturday Night Live' in its first season.

PHOTO: Christian Science Monitor/Screen Grab

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