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How Jerry Seinfeld Helped President Obama Live Out a Childhood Dream

By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
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By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
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December 31, 2015, 10:40 AM ET
Jerry Seinfeld and Barack Obama, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Photography courtesy of Crackle

President Obama got to live out a childhood dream thanks to Jerry Seinfeld, who invited the President onto a segment of his deadpan video series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” which airs on Sony Pictures’ (SNE) Crackle network.

Seinfeld drove a 1963 Corvette Stingray to pick up the President—a car that Obama said was his childhood dream to drive. “A friend of my grandfather had this when I was 7 or 8 and I remember seeing this thing and thinking, ‘If I was ever able to get me one of these, I’d be set,'” the President says.

The comedian and the President—who Seinfeld said “has gotten off just enough funny lines to qualify for being a guest”—riffed about Obama’s morning routine and adjusting to life in the White House. But unlike in most “Comedians in Cars” episodes, which feature Seinfeld driving on public roads and sharing coffee with his interviewee, the two weren’t allowed to leave the White House grounds.

You can watch the segment here:

Obama talked about missing the ability to be anonymous in public. “That’s not something you think about as being valuable,” he said. (Seinfeld, for his part, said he thought being famous was just fine.)

Obama also touched on his favorite President: Teddy Roosevelt. “He may be the guy who would be the most fun to hang out with,” the President said, describing him as a fellow “cool character.” Roosevelt is credited with inventing the modern presidential vacation when he uprooted key staff and established communications links with the White House during his summer trips to Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Obama’s drive with Seinfeld might remind viewers of his previous appearances on not-quite-mainstream media. Last year, the President appeared on the YouTube video series “Between Two Ferns” with Zach Galifianakis, enduring the host’s awkward questions in order to plug HealthCare.gov to a younger demographic. And earlier this year, Obama sat down for live-stream interviews with three stars of Google’s (GOOG) YouTube.

About the Author
By Claire Groden
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