ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at how and why late night comedy programming is seen as a virtually mandatory stopover on the road to the White House. The precedent for what has become a virtual "parade of stars" of presidential candidates on late night talk shows was set by two very different presidential contenders—Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Richard Nixon was not good on television. His close loss to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election has been linked by many commentators to his appearance on the first of three televised debates between the candidates. Bill Clinton's presence as late night talk show comedy fodder predates his run for the presidency. It began in 1988, when then-Governor Clinton was selected to officially introduce Michael Dukakis as the Democratic nominee for president at the Democratic National Convention. Although Bill Clinton successfully used late night talk shows to rehabilitate his image and promote himself in 1988 and 1992.
