The Best Presidential Impersonations Ever
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
The POTUS should expect parody! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at presidential impersonations through the years. We'll have a look at early radio impressions, "The Ed Sullivan Show", SNL and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at presidential impersonations through the years. What’s your favorite presidential impersonation? Let us know in the comments.
Since George Washington was first sworn in, few positions have commanded more authority and respect than President of the United States. Throughout the centuries, though, there have been instances and even entire terms when the president seemed more like a ringmaster in the circus of clowns we call Congress. Even history’s best presidents had questionable moments, making POTUS one of the easiest targets for satire. In some cases, we remember the impersonations more than the presidents themselves. Although commonplace now, comedic impressions of the president were once considered edgy, even taboo. Comedy has evolved over the past several decades, ironically mirroring the devolution of our standards for commander-in-chief.
Comedian Will Jordan, himself a famous impressionist, did a fair deal of research into the history of presidential impersonations. Based on his findings, the first president to be impersonated onstage was Teddy Roosevelt… in a minstrel show. On a wider scale, Will Rogers was arguably the first performer to gain significant attention for mimicking a sitting president. During a 1928 radio broadcast, Rogers’ impression of President Calvin Coolidge proved so convincing that listeners thought it was the real deal. Rogers, who supported Coolidge, issued an apology to the president and first lady days later, promising it would never happen again. Rogers didn’t exactly keep his word, as he’d go on to poke fun at Franklin D. Roosevelt over the radio, followed by another apology.
Although FDR had a great sense of humor about it, presidential parodies carried the risk of igniting controversy. That’s not to say they were outlawed. Performers like Dean Murphy and Arthur Blake could be heard imitating FDR in clubs. Before lending his voice to characters like Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound, a young Daws Butler impersonated Roosevelt (among others) in front of crowds. Actor Art Gilmore voiced Roosevelt in multiple films, most notably 1942’s “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Yet, the idea of basing one’s comedy career around impersonating a president didn’t take off until the early 60s when Vaughn Meader hit the scene. Meader didn’t have to drastically change his Massachusetts accent to sound like President John F. Kennedy, amounting to fifteen game-changing minutes of fame.
Meader’s Kennedy impression was at the center of the 1962 comedy album, “The First Family.” An unprecedented hit, it sold millions of copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Meader soon started making the rounds on radio and television programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Barely a year into Meader’s newfound superstardom, tragedy struck when President Kennedy was assassinated. Lee Harvey Oswald inadvertently killed Meader’s career in the process. Not only were his booked appearances canceled, but “The First Family” was removed from circulation. Being synonymous with Kennedy, Meader struggled to find work. Even when he moved away from Kennedy, his subsequent albums proved unsuccessful. Although Meader’s time in the spotlight was brief, his Kennedy impersonation changed comedy for future generations.
With the country mourning Kennedy, comedians weren’t quick to lampoon his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. As the next election approached, though, Johnson became ripe for parody. Disney animator Ward Kimball made an independent 1968 short entitled “Escalation,” in which Johnson’s nose grows like Pinocchio’s… or maybe something more suggestive. Johnson was portrayed by Paul Frees, who voiced characters like Ludwig Von Drake and Boris Badenov. Comedian David Frye also gained prominence with his Johnson impression. Of course, Frye became even more associated with Johnson’s political opponent and ultimately the next president, Richard Nixon. If anyone could rival Frye as the quintessential Nixon impersonator, it would be the Man of a Thousand Voices. No, not Mel Blanc, the other Man of a Thousand Voices, Rich Little.
Little also impersonated Kennedy, which got one of his comedy albums pulled. Unlike Meader, though, Little had more than one presidential impression up his sleeve. From Kennedy onward, this Canadian-born comedian has mimicked every U.S. president, but Nixon made his career. Between Billy West on “Futurama” and Dan Hedaya in 1999’s “Dick,” Nixon remains one of the most popular presidents to parody. However, nobody can compete with Little’s tenure, still playing Nixon well into his 80s. Nixon only gave comedians more to work with thanks to the Watergate scandal, paving the way for Vice President Gerald Ford to take his place. A little over a year into Ford’s only term, a sketch comedy series premiered, becoming the primary source of presidential impressions ever since.
In June 1975, Ford tripped down the last few stairs while exiting Air Force One. This minor incident might’ve gone overlooked in a pre-“SNL” world. Thanks to Chevy Chase’s accident-prone take, it became the defining moment of Ford’s presidency. Although Ford initially didn’t appreciate Chase’s clumsy caricature, he eventually found the humor in it, appearing on “SNL” in 1976. Sometime after losing the presidency, Ford said, “Chevy definitely cost some votes, but I had to admit he was damn funny.” Just as Ford exited the White House after one term, Chase didn’t stay at Studio 8H long. Presidential parodies remained an “SNL” staple with Dan Aykroyd as the definitive Jimmy Carter and a revolving door of Ronald Reagans, most notably Phil Hartman.
Presidential parodies don’t get much more iconic than Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush, who’d invite the “SNL” cast member to the White House’s holiday party. Carvey juggled candidates during the 1992 election, playing Bush and Ross Perot while Hartman impersonated Bill Clinton. With Clinton’s ascension to office, Hartman won over audiences with his down-to-earth impression, portraying him as the kind of president you’d like to grab a Big Mac with. Leaving “SNL,” Carvey kicked off his short-listed sketch comedy show with a controversial Clinton impression, complete with breastfeeding and a duck’s rear end. At the time, this was seen as shocking. Following the Monica Lewinsky scandal two years later, though, Clinton became more susceptible to savage parodies with Darrell Hammond leaving his mark.
“SNL” wasn’t much kinder to George W. Bush with Will Ferrell depicting him as a clueless oaf who got the job because of who his daddy is. Insert your own punchline here. Beyond “SNL,” this era gave way to Bush impersonators like Steve Bridges and Timothy Bottoms. Yet, none quite had Ferrell’s cultural impact, introducing the word “strategery” into the zeitgeist. On the heels of two divisive presidents, “SNL” had a harder time satirizing Barack Obama, especially compared to his competitors. The real challenge was finding somebody to play Obama with Fred Armisen feeling out of place for a few obvious reasons. Meanwhile, Reggie Brown broke out as a professional Obama impersonator. Comedians like Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key also turned in memorable Obama parodies.
“SNL” finally found a spot-on Obama in Jay Pharoah, who’d curiously leave after the president’s term ended. Where Obama was one of the trickier presidents to parody, Donald Trump practically gift-wrapped material to comedians. Before Trump got involved in politics, actor John Di Domenico made a living mimicking the “Home Alone 2” star. Darrell Hammond had played Trump on “SNL,” but throughout his presidential campaign and term, Alec Baldwin took the nation by storm with his Emmy-winning portrayal, much to the real Trump’s annoyance. Jim Carrey, who previously impersonated presidents like Reagan, faced off against Baldwin’s Trump as Joe Biden. We’re headed for a 2024 rematch, although this time, James Austin Johnson and Alex Moffat will leave Americans asking, “Really, these are our best options?”
Between Will Rogers’ innocent radio broadcast and the modern late-night landscape, presidential impersonations have come a long way… even if Washington, D.C. has taken several steps backward. Now more than ever, it’s hard to find the line between parody and reality with many presidents feeling like caricatures of themselves. And yet, people still put them on a pedestal, ignoring the elephant and donkey in the room. With every president having loyal followers, we need satire to remind us that nobody is perfect, especially politicians. Who knows what impressions await us in 2028 and beyond? We may fear for the future, but as long as the First Amendment remains intact, the Rich Littles, Dana Carveys, and Will Ferrells of the world will keep us laughing.
Part One: You Can’t Do That on Radio
Since George Washington was first sworn in, few positions have commanded more authority and respect than President of the United States. Throughout the centuries, though, there have been instances and even entire terms when the president seemed more like a ringmaster in the circus of clowns we call Congress. Even history’s best presidents had questionable moments, making POTUS one of the easiest targets for satire. In some cases, we remember the impersonations more than the presidents themselves. Although commonplace now, comedic impressions of the president were once considered edgy, even taboo. Comedy has evolved over the past several decades, ironically mirroring the devolution of our standards for commander-in-chief.
Comedian Will Jordan, himself a famous impressionist, did a fair deal of research into the history of presidential impersonations. Based on his findings, the first president to be impersonated onstage was Teddy Roosevelt… in a minstrel show. On a wider scale, Will Rogers was arguably the first performer to gain significant attention for mimicking a sitting president. During a 1928 radio broadcast, Rogers’ impression of President Calvin Coolidge proved so convincing that listeners thought it was the real deal. Rogers, who supported Coolidge, issued an apology to the president and first lady days later, promising it would never happen again. Rogers didn’t exactly keep his word, as he’d go on to poke fun at Franklin D. Roosevelt over the radio, followed by another apology.
Part Two: JFK, LBJ, & Dick
Although FDR had a great sense of humor about it, presidential parodies carried the risk of igniting controversy. That’s not to say they were outlawed. Performers like Dean Murphy and Arthur Blake could be heard imitating FDR in clubs. Before lending his voice to characters like Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound, a young Daws Butler impersonated Roosevelt (among others) in front of crowds. Actor Art Gilmore voiced Roosevelt in multiple films, most notably 1942’s “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Yet, the idea of basing one’s comedy career around impersonating a president didn’t take off until the early 60s when Vaughn Meader hit the scene. Meader didn’t have to drastically change his Massachusetts accent to sound like President John F. Kennedy, amounting to fifteen game-changing minutes of fame.
Meader’s Kennedy impression was at the center of the 1962 comedy album, “The First Family.” An unprecedented hit, it sold millions of copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Meader soon started making the rounds on radio and television programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Barely a year into Meader’s newfound superstardom, tragedy struck when President Kennedy was assassinated. Lee Harvey Oswald inadvertently killed Meader’s career in the process. Not only were his booked appearances canceled, but “The First Family” was removed from circulation. Being synonymous with Kennedy, Meader struggled to find work. Even when he moved away from Kennedy, his subsequent albums proved unsuccessful. Although Meader’s time in the spotlight was brief, his Kennedy impersonation changed comedy for future generations.
With the country mourning Kennedy, comedians weren’t quick to lampoon his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. As the next election approached, though, Johnson became ripe for parody. Disney animator Ward Kimball made an independent 1968 short entitled “Escalation,” in which Johnson’s nose grows like Pinocchio’s… or maybe something more suggestive. Johnson was portrayed by Paul Frees, who voiced characters like Ludwig Von Drake and Boris Badenov. Comedian David Frye also gained prominence with his Johnson impression. Of course, Frye became even more associated with Johnson’s political opponent and ultimately the next president, Richard Nixon. If anyone could rival Frye as the quintessential Nixon impersonator, it would be the Man of a Thousand Voices. No, not Mel Blanc, the other Man of a Thousand Voices, Rich Little.
Little also impersonated Kennedy, which got one of his comedy albums pulled. Unlike Meader, though, Little had more than one presidential impression up his sleeve. From Kennedy onward, this Canadian-born comedian has mimicked every U.S. president, but Nixon made his career. Between Billy West on “Futurama” and Dan Hedaya in 1999’s “Dick,” Nixon remains one of the most popular presidents to parody. However, nobody can compete with Little’s tenure, still playing Nixon well into his 80s. Nixon only gave comedians more to work with thanks to the Watergate scandal, paving the way for Vice President Gerald Ford to take his place. A little over a year into Ford’s only term, a sketch comedy series premiered, becoming the primary source of presidential impressions ever since.
Part Three: Live From New York…
In June 1975, Ford tripped down the last few stairs while exiting Air Force One. This minor incident might’ve gone overlooked in a pre-“SNL” world. Thanks to Chevy Chase’s accident-prone take, it became the defining moment of Ford’s presidency. Although Ford initially didn’t appreciate Chase’s clumsy caricature, he eventually found the humor in it, appearing on “SNL” in 1976. Sometime after losing the presidency, Ford said, “Chevy definitely cost some votes, but I had to admit he was damn funny.” Just as Ford exited the White House after one term, Chase didn’t stay at Studio 8H long. Presidential parodies remained an “SNL” staple with Dan Aykroyd as the definitive Jimmy Carter and a revolving door of Ronald Reagans, most notably Phil Hartman.
Presidential parodies don’t get much more iconic than Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush, who’d invite the “SNL” cast member to the White House’s holiday party. Carvey juggled candidates during the 1992 election, playing Bush and Ross Perot while Hartman impersonated Bill Clinton. With Clinton’s ascension to office, Hartman won over audiences with his down-to-earth impression, portraying him as the kind of president you’d like to grab a Big Mac with. Leaving “SNL,” Carvey kicked off his short-listed sketch comedy show with a controversial Clinton impression, complete with breastfeeding and a duck’s rear end. At the time, this was seen as shocking. Following the Monica Lewinsky scandal two years later, though, Clinton became more susceptible to savage parodies with Darrell Hammond leaving his mark.
“SNL” wasn’t much kinder to George W. Bush with Will Ferrell depicting him as a clueless oaf who got the job because of who his daddy is. Insert your own punchline here. Beyond “SNL,” this era gave way to Bush impersonators like Steve Bridges and Timothy Bottoms. Yet, none quite had Ferrell’s cultural impact, introducing the word “strategery” into the zeitgeist. On the heels of two divisive presidents, “SNL” had a harder time satirizing Barack Obama, especially compared to his competitors. The real challenge was finding somebody to play Obama with Fred Armisen feeling out of place for a few obvious reasons. Meanwhile, Reggie Brown broke out as a professional Obama impersonator. Comedians like Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key also turned in memorable Obama parodies.
“SNL” finally found a spot-on Obama in Jay Pharoah, who’d curiously leave after the president’s term ended. Where Obama was one of the trickier presidents to parody, Donald Trump practically gift-wrapped material to comedians. Before Trump got involved in politics, actor John Di Domenico made a living mimicking the “Home Alone 2” star. Darrell Hammond had played Trump on “SNL,” but throughout his presidential campaign and term, Alec Baldwin took the nation by storm with his Emmy-winning portrayal, much to the real Trump’s annoyance. Jim Carrey, who previously impersonated presidents like Reagan, faced off against Baldwin’s Trump as Joe Biden. We’re headed for a 2024 rematch, although this time, James Austin Johnson and Alex Moffat will leave Americans asking, “Really, these are our best options?”
Epilogue: Presidents & Parody, What’s the Difference?
Between Will Rogers’ innocent radio broadcast and the modern late-night landscape, presidential impersonations have come a long way… even if Washington, D.C. has taken several steps backward. Now more than ever, it’s hard to find the line between parody and reality with many presidents feeling like caricatures of themselves. And yet, people still put them on a pedestal, ignoring the elephant and donkey in the room. With every president having loyal followers, we need satire to remind us that nobody is perfect, especially politicians. Who knows what impressions await us in 2028 and beyond? We may fear for the future, but as long as the First Amendment remains intact, the Rich Littles, Dana Carveys, and Will Ferrells of the world will keep us laughing.
