Obama and Letterman discuss plans for the ends of their careers

Obama and Letterman discuss plans for the ends of their careers

President Obama talks about a series of topics on his last appearance on David Letterman's talk show.

President Obama and David Letterman are both at the ends of their careers. In his last visit on Letterman’s show, Obama talked about Baltimore, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and his plans after his last term.

Letterman is retiring after 33 years in late-night TV on May 20. President Obama has appeared on Late Night with David Letterman eight times. He joked with Letterman about how they could both spend their downtime in retirement.

“I was thinking, you and me we could play some dominoes together,” quipped Obama. “We could go to the local Starbucks and swap stories.”

“I know you think I’m no good at dominoes … but I’m pretty good at dominoes. And I plan to teach law at Columbia,” answered Letterman with an obvious reference to Obama’s possible future plans.

“I’d be interested to sit in on that class”, shot back Obama.

Both Obama and Letterman seem to share a similar deadpan sarcastic humor. Obama’s lighter side was definitely on display during the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. When Letterman asked whether he wrote the dinner’s jokes himself, Obama said, “No. I came up with all that stuff.”

The jokes are actually written by Saturday Night Live writers, but Obama’s sharp humor was evident in his appearance on Letterman’s show.

Obama told Letterman that he knew that Letterman liked First Lady Michelle Obama better than him. Michelle Obama appeared on Letterman’s show last week.

Letterman turned serious when he asked President Obama about the recent unrest in Baltimore following the police brutality that caused Freddie Gray’s death. Obama expressed optimism that the city could overcome its racially charged history.

“One thing I know about America is that when we decide to solve a problem, we can. This problem is solvable. … We have to come together and say what works and how we’re going to make it better,” said Obama.

Obama also exercised caution when talking about the murder charges against six police officers after Gray’s death.

“It is important that now that charges have been brought in Baltimore that we let the process play itself out,” said Obama. “Those officers have been charged and they deserve to be represented and to let the legal system work its way through. We don’t have all the facts yet and that’s going to be presented in a court of law.”

He also addressed the topic of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, saying the deal would create American jobs.

After the serious discussion, Obama thanked Letterman for his years on TV.

“We’ve grown up with you,” said Obama. “The country, I think has after a tough day at the office or coming home from work, knowing you’ve been there to give us a little bit of joy, a little bit of laughter, it has meant so much. You’re a part of all of us.”

“After a tough day at the office or coming home from work, knowing that you’ve been there to give us a little bit of joy and a little bit of laughter, it has meant so much. You’re part of all of us. You’ve given us a great gift and we love you,” added Obama.

The usually stoic Letterman returned the affection and thanked the president at the end of his interview with Obama.

“I don’t know quite what to say by expression of gratitude here. It’s particularly meaningful to me because, I think, like most Americans, we feel we know you,” said Letterman. “You’ve been kind enough to be here on many occasions. Your wife has been here on many occasions, and you hosted us at your home in Washington, D.C., and all of these have been very meaningful to me and to my family, and I can only wish you all the best in life.”

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