Barack Obama's 2006 Interview On "Late Night With Conan O'Brien"

Thank you very much for being here. The people of Chicago love you. I love you. Yes, they are pretty, they are pretty. They are good people here. They are wonderful people. You have a wonderful state here. Absolutely. First of all, I want to say... (laughs) I want to say that I'm a big fan of your name. Your name, you have the best name. Barack Obama. When I first heard it, I thought I was sure he was Irish. It's... There's an apostrophe after the o. He knew it, he knew it. And Barack is actually an ancient Celtic name.

Very pretty. So we're old cousins, is what you're saying. That's exactly right. You and me, we are there. Someday I will take you to Ireland. This is my brother here. (Audience laughs) Now, I have many things to ask you. First of all, you guys live in Chicago, your wife is from here, any advice for me? I'm a boy, I don't know the area, what would you say to a boy? Well, you know... Where should I go? That I have to do? The key is to get into the neighborhoods. You know, Millennium Park is beautiful, and Wrigley Field everyone knows about it, but you know, going out into the neighborhoods, visiting some local restaurants, for example, my favorite restaurant in Chicago is a place on the west side called MacArthur's. (Audience applauds) Some people know MacArthur is here.

Some of the best soul food in Chicago. Food for the soul. And I mean, you'll stand out a little bit. (audience laughing) I won't do it. There aren't that many, six guys in the restaurant. It's about time they saw a giant red pompadour there. I want food for my soul. Go ahead. Now, is it true that you've been going to the same barbershop, is it true, here in Chicago, for 20 years? The Hyde Park Barber Shop. Hyde Park Hair Salon. Hyde Park. Hyde Park? Well. Do you tell people that I'm going to the barbershop or that it's time to go to the hairdresser?

No, no, the... It's called a hair salon, but when you walk in there, it's more of a shop than a salon. Good? And it sounds like a nice place, down to earth, not too demanding. You know, sit down... The first time I went there was with a guy named Wally. He's a grumpy old man. And he is the day: "Sit down, what do you want?" And I was like, "Well, I'm not sure." Okay, shut up. And I would start cutting your hair. That's a great service technique, just shut up. But now I have a guy who...

He and I have been together for about 10 years. Very brave of you to say this. Listen, let me tell you, the relationship between a man and his barber, that's... It's sacred, it's a real bond. It's a serious matter. Where do you get your hair cut, Conan? I don't know, this isn't real. I mean, scientists are working on this. (Audience applause) This is a high-density polymer that NASA invented. Hair. Hair is for the weak. This has robotics, it can do things. Ah, there you go. (Audience laughs) I'm an idiot, by the way. I want to talk about something.

The first time he had really intense national exposure, and the first time I think he caught a lot of people's attention, at the 2004 democratic national convention, he gave the keynote address. You left everyone speechless. People still talk about that speech. Brilliant speech. (audience applause) Thank you. And I was thinking, do you ever use... Do you have such oratorical power? Have you ever gone home to your family and tried to use that oratorical power? I'll tell you a quick story. You know, we had dinner together, my wife asked my two daughters, seven and four, Malia, how was your day?

She'll say, "Tell us." Sasha, four years old, how was your day? They ask my wife how was your day? Finally, my wife says, "Well, let's ask Dad how her day was." And my four-year-old son will say, "Boring." And my wife will say, "Well, that's not nice. People actually come and listen to Dad talk." And they both fall out of their chairs. They think that's the most fun. The idea that someone would be interested in what their father has to say. Kids just don't care, yeah. But have you ever been tempted to just jump behind a podium in front of your kids to tell them, you know, to go to their room?

Using Barack Obama's great voice. My fellow Obamas. The time has come. I'll try. That would work for you. You will clean your room in this century. Have you always been a talented speaker? Have you always...? No no. Was that something you developed over time? No, you know, I've failed many times. I think it's like being a comic, you know, you wake up and every... And sometimes it works for you, but you know that moment where everyone just... I don't know what you're talking about. You start to have some kind of hot flashes and... No. No? (laughing) Yes, yes.

Is this one of those moments? No no no. I know exactly what you are talking about. Whatever... So how do you handle it when...? Because I think people just assume that you're such a talented speaker, that you've never had those moments. Describe what it's like for you when you're up there and you feel like it's not working, like you're not understanding them. It doesn't work, and the biggest mistake we all make, and I do the same thing, is to keep talking, right? ' Because you think, well, eventually I'll come up with something they like, and that makes it worse, because what happens is that not only are you bad, but you're very long-winded.

Well well. Do you just throw out random words at a certain time? Corndog, onion, cranberries. Is there something here, people? Yes Yes. But I think that's what's been happening

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ly in the White House. (Audience cheers and applauds) Throw anything at the refrigerator, see if it sticks. Yes. Well, let me ask you something. I know that President Bush is famous for his nicknames. Has he tried giving you a nickname? He loves to give everyone... You know, the thing... I don't know if he's trying to give me a nickname or if he just can't pronounce my name. (Audience laughs) Give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sometimes he calls me Bama. Bama? Mother. Sometimes he calls me Rock. He calls you what? Rock. Rock. Rock is great. Rock is not bad. Bama, Rock. I like that, yes. Yes. (laughs) I imagine him becoming Bama. Get Bama, get Bama, get Rock. Mr. President, is he okay? They're going to think he's having a seizure or something. Now, I'm curious, you've had a lot of success, you've had a lot of success and a lot of adulation. I think he's been very successful at staying humble and having a sense of humor about himself. Does that come naturally to you?

Is my wife. She is your wife. She's nice when someone else does it for you. Yes, exactly. She speaks to me from my ears. She talks a lot about my ears. How big they are is an old standard. Oh really? How nice. So your kids say it's boring and she says, "Yeah, big ears." The home life you have is horrible. It's basically, you know... I often come home feeling very proud of myself and I get knocked down pretty quickly. Yes. I think that's what our loved ones are for. That's why we got married. I feel good, oh yeah?

Thanks Mom. Now I have to ask you, I wouldn't be doing my job, that's not true, I'm a comedian, not an expert, but I'm going to ask anyway. Many people are speculating, they hear that Barack Obama will be a presidential candidate in 2008 or he will be on the list. And I just want to say... (audience applause) I just want to say, if there's something you'd like to say here, there's probably never a better place than right now. This is the kind of thing you want to say right after Chewbacca made out with George Wayne. (laughing) He was thinking of you as my running mate.

Oh hello. (Audience applauds) Conan and me. Sounds good, Obama O'Brien. Obama O'Brien sounds amazing, yes. Obama O'Brien. It would be the worst thing you've ever done. You'd think it was funny and a day

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r you'd be like, "This guy is an idiot." Barack, come, let's talk. It's been an exciting week for us, but it was a true honor to have you at our last show here in Chicago. And I know you're a busy person, but we were excited when you said you'd be stopping by. Listen, I love Conan O'Brien and, most of all, I love the audience here. (Audience cheers and applauds) The guy is a professional.

Thank you very much, Senator Barack Obama. Coming soon, we'll be back.