A History of Politicians on ‘Saturday Night Live'

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump will host "Saturday Night Live" on November 7.

It won't be Trump's first time hosting—he took the reigns back in April 2004 during his time on "Celebrity Apprentice"—but it will be his first appearance since crossing the entertainment divide to become a full-time politician. 

Trump is part of a long list of real-life politicos who have faced the comic players—and occasionally themselves (see Hillary Clinton, below)—on the weekly sketch show which includes Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, George Pataki, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, Alan Stuart "Al" Franken, Bob Dole, George McGovern, Ed Koch, David Paterson and George P. Shultz. 

Here, some memorable moments when political players met the Not Ready for Primetime Players:

Barack Obama The 44th President (usually impersonated by "SNL" players Fred Armisen or Jay Pharoah) appeared on the "Halloween Party" cold opening sketch Nov. 3, 2007 and uttered the famous line: "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" In the episode, Obama (at the time a U.S. senator vying for the Democratic presidential nomination) attended a Halloween party at Hillary Clinton's (Amy Poehler) house where she was portrayed winning the presidential nominee nod.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been impersonated by players and guests including Jan Hooks, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Drew Barrymore, Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Bayer and most recently by Kate McKinnon. Clinton appeared in the Oct. 3, 2015 scene as bartender Val, who listens to the woes of McKinnon-as-Clinton. The former secretary of state also appeared alongside Poehler in a 2008 sketch.

Al Gore made a cameo on May 13, 2006, appearing twice during the episode. The vice president did the cold opening and then an alternate universe sketch where he is president and catches Osama bin Laden. It was not Gore's first time on "SNL," he made his debut in the 2002 opener alongside his wife Tipper in which the couple have a two-minute make-out session. The cast has to pull them apart before Gore suffocates his wife.

Jesse Jackson The former Democratic presidential candidate appeared on the show in 1984. During one sketch he praises "SNL's" diversity after witnessing a control room filled with black technicians and producers. When the Reverend leaves the room, the black workers depart and the white producers return.

Sarah Palin Tina Fey's unforgettable portrayal of the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential nominee became a breakout topic of the 2008 presidential race. Palin herself appeared on the show in 2008 and watched Fey's impersonation. Alec Baldwin remarks in the episode that Palin is "way hotter in person."

Rudolph Giuliani The Mayor of New York City appeared on Jan. 13, 1996 and was seen fighting with Janet Reno, portrayed by Will Ferrell. Giuliani participated in perhaps the most poignant "SNL" moment when, surrounded by firefighters and police, he opened the show that aired Dec. 15, 2001—the first episode to go live after the September 11 terrorist attacks. "SNL" Producer Lorne Michaels asks Giuliani if it's OK to be funny. His reply: "Why start now?"

John McCain first hosted in 2002 and then again in 2008,  just days before voters were asked to choose between him and Obama. The opening sketch features McCain appearing on QVC because he can't afford air time on the networks. Fey, impersonating Palin, hawks "Palin in 2012" T-shirts.

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