BURBANK, Calif. (March 19) - President Barack Obama told Jay Leno on Thurday that he was stunned when he learned of the bonuses that bailed-out insurance giant AIG was paying its employees.
Obama told "The Tonight Show" host the payments raise moral end ethical problems — and vowed again to try to recoup the cash for taxpayers.
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Political Machine: Obama's 'Special Olympics' Slip-Up
"We're going to do everything we can to get these bonuses back," he declared.
Leno asked Obama what he thought when his staff first advised him of the payments, many made to traders in the very division that brought American International Group to ruin.
"'Stunned' is the word," Obama replied in a taped appearance on "Tonight." He said he found it hard to fathom how anyone would accept lavish payments in those circumstances. "People just had this sense of entitlement. We must be the best and the brightest."
But Obama staunchly defended Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who's increasingly come under fire for failing to block the bonuses.
"I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job," Obama said. "He is a smart guy. He is a calm and steady guy. I don't think people fully appreciate the plate that was handed him."
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A Presidency Begins
As President Barack Obama nears the 100-days mark in his presidency, he has a 69 percent approval rating, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Here, he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base to play golf on Sunday. Click through the gallery to see more moments from the first months of Obama's presidency.
Jason Reed, Reuters
Jason Reed, Reuters
Obama added Geithner's carrying on "with grace and good humor. He understand that he's on the hot seat."
Too many in Washington are trying to figure out who to blame for things — when they should be focused on fixing them, Obama said.
According to NBC, Obama was the first sitting president ever to appear on "The Tonight Show." He'd already appeared twice as a candidate.
Obama spoke with little interference or challenge from Leno, who clearly was enthused about snaring the president as a guest and pronounced it "one of the best nights of my life."
Leno veered away from politics and into the personal toward the end of the 35-minute interview, asking, "How cool is it to fly on Air Force One?" and when Obama daughters Sasha and Malia would get their pet dog.
"This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," Obama replied to audience laughter. "No, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."
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Latest Obama Photos
At a press conference on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama tied health-care reform to economic recovery, and assailed critics of his plan. "This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer," he said.
AP
AP
The new pet will be in place after he returns from a NATO meeting, Obama said.
The White House bowling alley remains in place, Obama said, bragging that he rolled a 129-point game ("Like the Special Olympics or something," he said), but a basketball court is a priority.
In his opening monologue, Leno said lots of people were surprised Obama would come on NBC — figuring he'd be tired of big companies on the brink of disaster with a bunch of overpaid executives.
Leno also joked about the dismal state of the economy, saying it's so bad Obama flew to California on Southwest Airways — making nine stops.
In recent years, a "Tonight Show" appearance has become a key humanizing touch for aspiring presidents. But its history of such appearances goes back to 1960, when then-Sen. John F. Kennedy came on the show to chat with Jack Paar.
Obama himself has already made two non-presidential appearances — on Dec. 1, 2006, and Oct. 17, 2007.
The White House scheduled the appearance as part of a broader outreach to promote Obama's agenda — one that's already had him on ESPN's "SportsCenter" this week and includes a "60 Minutes" interview airing Sunday, plus a prime-time news conference Tuesday.
But on ESPN, the talk was mostly about basketball. The First Fan filled out an NCAA tournament bracket — picking North Carolina to defeat Louisville in the final. But recalling he picked the Tar Heels last year, he joked, "This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I'm counting on you."
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