17 Of The Greatest Political Impressions On "Saturday Night Live"

39 years of presidential parodies, debates, and other political lunacy.

17. Jay Pharoah as Barack Obama

NBC / Via youtube.com

The most recent addition to the pantheon of SNL impressions, Pharoah debuted his Obama impression in the 38th season premiere in 2012.

16. Fred Armisen as Barack Obama

NBC

Armisen portrayed Obama from his time as a Senator through the first term of his Presidency.

15. Seth Meyers as John Kerry

Seth Meyers played the 2004 presidential candidate during the election season, shown here trying to avoid a feared endorsement from Al Gore.

14. Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton

NBC

It was only fitting that Tina Fey's BFF join her for her most iconic SNL moment - but more on that later, of course.

13. Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush

NBC

Carvey's impression was so renowned he was joined by the President himself when hosting SNL for the first time in 1994.

12. Jason Sudeikis as Joe Biden

NBC

Jason Sudeikis has played VP Joe Biden consistently since the 2008 election up to leaving SNL this season.

11. Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan

Via NBC / Yahoo

Although Reagan was played by 5 different members of the SNL cast, Hartman's impression is the most well known for portraying the outwardly amiable Reagan as a secretive, ruthless mastermind.

10. Darrell Hammond as Al Gore

NBC

Hammond, a prolific creator of political impressions for SNL, is most remembered in this role for his parody of the Al Gore Medicare 'lock box' presidential debate.

9. Hammond has also played Senator John McCain...

NBC

8. And Vice President Dick Cheney.

NBC

7. Dana Carvey as Ross Perot

Dana Carvey played third-party candidate Ross Perot in the early 90s. This clip shows him taking a joyride with his Vice Presidential candidate.

6. Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter

NBC

Ackroyd played President Carter on 27 different occasions between the years 1976 and 1979. After his Presidency, Carter has been played by four different SNL cast members.

5. Dan Aykroyd as Richard Nixon

Aykroyd portrayed Nixon 10 times for SNL. The above sketch was written by former comedian and current Senator for Minnesota Al Franken.

4. Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford

NBC / authentichistory.com

Chevy Chase was the first to impersonate a President for SNL. His version of Gerald Ford appeared in almost every episode of the first season, with the running joke that Ford was just not very bright. The clip below shows a Christmas with Ford at the White House.

3. Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton

In his most long-lived role, Hammond played President Clinton a total of 84 times between 1995 and 2009. This clip shows his sexed-up take on the Clinton deposition.

2. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

NBC / Via giphy.com

In the 2008 election, Tina Fey did just as much to cement Sarah Palin as a political lightningrod and media figure as Palin herself. See video of her first appearance below.

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1. Will Ferrell as George W. Bush

NBC / Youtube

In his appearances on SNL, Will Ferrell brought us the 'strategery' of President George W. Bush as he tackled important issues like the Axis of Evil, Global Warming, and frisbee golf with Condoleeza Rice.