President Obama appears on The Tonight Show to Talk About Economy

When late-night television features a sitting president, it's usually as material for a stand-up routine. But on Thursday, President Barack Obama toppled another barrier when he tried to sell Jay Leno on his economic recovery plan. White House officials said beforehand that President Obama would not spend his whole time joking with Mr. Leno, particularly given the nation's economic woes. It can be tough to be dignified though, when introduced by a stand-up comedian. For President Obama, the appearance on "The Tonight Show" is something of a gamble. The president himself acknowledged earlier Thursday at a town-hall-style meeting in Los Angeles that he was getting some flack from critics who said he should be spending his time fixing the economy and not going on late-night television. In his appearance with Mr. Leno, Mr. Obama walked a tightrope between projecting good humor and projecting a presidential air.