President Barack Obama made an appearance on "The Tonight Show" for the sixth time on Tuesday. His conversation with Jay Leno ranged from the serious when the president denied the existence of a domestic spy program to the silly as the president described his "bro-mance" with John McCain, according to USA Today.
Although many presidents have appeared on late-night television while running for office President Obama became the first sitting president to do so when he sat on the couch across from Leno in 2009. White House spokesman Jay Carney told USA Today that the White House thinks that it's important to appear on programs like "The Tonight Show."
"We're trying to communicate with Americans where they are," Carney said. "And the viewers of late-night shows are not necessarily the readers of newspapers or wire services, or necessarily viewers of cable or broadcast news shows."
Despite appearing in such a light hearted venue the president managed to discuss important topics such as the National Security Agency information collection program that was revealed by Edward Snowden.
"We don't have a domestic spying program," President Obama said. "What we do have are some mechanisms that can track a phone number or an email address that is connected to a terrorist attack. That information is useful."
Leno gave President Obama an opportunity to address Russia granting asylum to Edward Snowden for the first time publicly. The president said that he was disappointed in Russia's decision but that he will not be cancelling his trip to Russia in order to attend the G-20 summit in September, according to NBC News.
"There are times when they slip back into Cold War thinking and Cold War mentality," President Obama said. "What I continually say to them and to President Putin, that's the past."
President Obama also criticized Russia for recently passing laws to oppress gay rights activism. The president said he has "no patience for countries that try to treat gays and lesbians and transgendered persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The conversation wasn't completely serious though. Leno asked if former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been "measuring the drapes" during the much publicized lunch she had with the president last month.
"Keep in mind she's been there," President Obama said. "She doesn't have to measure them."
The president also described how he and former rival John McCain have been able to mend fences over the years.
"(It's like) a classic romantic comedy...initially you're not getting along and then you keep bumping into each other," President Obama said.
Since Leno is turning over the reins of "The Tonight Show" to Jimmy Fallon early next year President Obama did not show up on the program empty handed. Since Leno is known to have an enormous car collection President Obama gave him a Matchbox-size version of the presidential limo, according to Politico.
"Cool!" Leno said. "I assume the real car will be in my garage after."
