A Stab At The Hart
Carson managed to have huge influence in the 1980s presidential election. Candidate Gary Hart ran against Michael Dukakis for the democratic ticket in 1987. After his affair was exposed, Johnny Carson and other late night hosts mocked him and the scandal. Following this, Hart dropped out of the running altogether.
Some Monkey Business
Carson made fun of Gary Hart’s affair on air. He especially focused on the fact that Hart and his mistress were pictured on a boat called “Monkey Business.” TV critic Greg Dawson commented: “Isn’t it reassuring to know that the identity of the next president of the United States could be decided in large part by Johnny Carson’s joke writers? It this a great democracy or what?”