Every living U.S. president but Carter mocks Letterman to kick off final show

Every living president but Carter mocks Letterman to kick off final show — (Image credit: Late Show)

A deceased president, Gerald Ford, actually kicked off the mockery, declaring, "Our long national nightmare is over." But George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and President Obama made that line personal, kicking off Wednesday's Late Show finale with a little executive privilege. (Jimmy Carter is known to be sick, which might explain his absence.) David Letterman tried to get in on the joke at the end; Obama didn't let him. Self, deprecated. Watch below. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.