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Hillary Rodham Clinton made an unplanned trip to the headquarters of the nations largest teachers union Saturday morning to lock down its endorsement and calm the jitters of union leaders under pressure from members to withhold support.

National Education Assn.leaders say Clinton came to the board meeting at their request, as the endorsement vote loomed and the 175-member body felt it needed to hear more from her. Such unscheduled appearances by a presidential candidate are exceedingly uncommon. The NEA represents 3.2 million teachers.

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NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said in an interview she could not recall another time a candidate has appeared at the endorsement meeting.

It was very dramatic, Eskelsen Garcia said. People were saying to me, I need to hear from her. I said, I dont know what I can do.' But I called the campaign and [Clinton] said let's do it."

Eskelsen Garcia said Clinton stayed for more than hour, answering questions from board members who lined up at the microphone in the basement auditorium of NEA headquarters in Washington. They grilled her on the school accountability and student testing policies the union has been fighting over with the Obama administration. They demanded Clinton explain with specificity her position on charter schools, the growth of which they see asan existential threat to the union.

The endorsement is a major victory for Clinton, who has been struggling to impress a restive organized labor movement that feels Obama has not done enough to lift its fortunes, and worries there will be more of the same in a Clinton presidency. Earlier in the week, the International Assn.of Firefighters, one of the countrys most politically influential unions, abandoned its plans to endorse Clinton, according to the New York Times.

At the firefighters union and at the NEA, a large segment of the rank and file is vocally supportive of independentSen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. His crusade against Wall Street and support for European-style social programs plays well with union audiences. At least 30,000 NEA members have pledged their support to Sanders.

But in Washington on Saturday, the unions leadership voted overwhelmingly to back Clinton. Eskelsen Garcia said 75% of the board members voted to endorse the former secretary of State.

She was able to talk so passionately, and so specifically, Eskelsen Garcia said. She made space in an incredibly difficult campaign to say, I know you have a decision to make, I am not taking it for granted, I want that support, it is important to me."

Still, some influential NEA leaders had lobbied against the vote. Chapter presidents in New Jersey and Massachusetts said the union would be better served by waiting. They wanted to hear candidates be more specific about their plans, and see if they would committo walk back some of the contentious policies the Obama administration has put in place.

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Eskelsen Garcia had warned waiting would hurt the union.

The argument that won the day was when one of the board members got up and said, I need a good reason why we would not do it today. I need a good reason why would not start as early as possible impacting this race, said Eskelsen Garcia. We want a candidate who will make this a centerpiece for her campaign If you dont get in where it counts, it doesnt count when you get in.

@evanhalper

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton spoofed her reputation for caution and slow adoption of liberal positions during a cameo on Saturday Night Live.

Clinton gamely played a bartender named Val alongside cast member Kate McKinnon, who regularly plays Clinton on the show. McKinnon plays the character as comicallystrident and fiercely ambitious.

Imjust an ordinary citizen who thinks the Keystone pipeline willdestroyour environment, Clinton deadpanned.

McKinnon, playing Clinton as a downtrodden candidate, noted that the position on Keystone was a long time coming.

Later in Saturdaysskit Clinton, as Val, praised the candidates support for gay marriage.

I could have supported it earlier, McKinnon, playing the candidate, said ruefully.

Fair point, Clinton said.

In both instances, Clinton adopted positions popular among the liberal Democratic base but did so later than other candidates, opening her to criticism that she is overly scripted and poll-conscious.

McKinnon, playing Clinton, told the bartender she is easy to talk to and cool.

Thats the first time Ive ever heard that, Clinton, playing thebartender, replied.

I wishyou could be president, McKinnon said.

Me too, said Clinton.

Anne Gearan is a national politics correspondent for The Washington Post.

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Hillary Clinton spoofs her caution, likability on SNL ...

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pictured here on Tuesday, March 3, has become one of the most powerful people in Washington. Here's a look at her life and career through the years.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Before she married Bill Clinton, she was Hillary Rodham. Here, Rodham talks about student protests in 1969, which she supported in her commencement speech at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Rodham, center, a lawyer for the Rodino Committee, and John Doar, left, chief counsel for the committee, bring impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the U.S. Capitol in 1974.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton helps first lady Rosalynn Carter on a campaign swing through Arkansas in June 1979. Also seen in the photo is Hillary Clinton, center background.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton embraces his wife shortly after a stage light fell near her on January 26, 1992. They talk to Don Hewitt, producer of the CBS show "60 Minutes."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

With Hillary, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton waves to the crowd at his victory party after winning the Illinois primary on March 17, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Al Gore, Tipper Gore, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton wave to supporters at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, after they gave speeches on family values on August 23, 1992.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton gestures at a campaign rally November 3, 1992, in Denver. After taking office, President Clinton chose his wife to head a special commission on health care reform, the most significant public policy initiative of his first year in office.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill and Hillary Clinton have a laugh together on Capitol Hill in 1993.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton pours herself a cup of tea in 1993 while testifying to the Senate Education and Labor Committee about health care reform.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at George Washington University on September 10, 1993, in Washington during her husband's first term.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the media on January 26, 1996, as she arrives at federal court in Washington for an appearance before a grand jury. The first lady was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the investigation of the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton looks on as President Clinton discusses the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 26, 1998.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton arrive at Foundry United Methodist Church on August 16, 1998, in Washington. He became the first sitting president to testify before a grand jury when he testified via satellite about the Lewinsky matter.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands during a St. Patrick's Day parade in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens, New York, on March 5, 2000.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves to the crowd as she arrives on the stage at the Democratic National Convention on August 14, 2000, in Los Angeles.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns for a Senate seat October 25, 2000, at Grand Central Station in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton is sworn in as a senator of New York in a re-enactment ceremony with, from left, President Clinton, nephew Tyler, daughter Chelsea, brother Hugh Rodham, mother Dorothy Rodham and Vice President Al Gore on January 3, 2001, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Andrew Cuomo, Eliot Spitzer and Clinton celebrate with a crowd of Democratic supporters after their wins in various races November 7, 2006, in New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks during a post-primary rally on January 8, 2007, at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

The Clintons pay a visit to the 92nd annual Hopkinton State Fair in Contoocook, New Hampshire, on September 2, 2007.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks at a campaign rally September 2, 2007, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton addresses a question during a debate with other Democratic presidential candidate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, on September 26, 2007. Also pictured are U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, left, and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Felipe Bravo, left, and Christian Caraballo are covered with Hillary Clinton stickers in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 8, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton campaigns in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with her daughter, Chelsea, on January 1, 2008, two days ahead of the January 3 state caucus.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton waves as she speaks to supporters at the National Building Museum on June 7, 2008, in Washington. After pulling out of the presidential race, Clinton thanked her supporters and urged them to back Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama and Clinton talk on the plane on their way to a Unity Rally in Unity, New Hampshire, on June 27, 2008.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama watches Clinton address the Democratic National Convention on August 26, 2008. The two endured a long, heated contest for the 2008 nomination.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Sen. Charles Schumer, left, looks toward Secretary of State designate Clinton as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. John Kerry, center, looks on during nomination hearings January 13, 2009, on Capitol Hill.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton testifies during her confirmation hearing for secretary of state on January 13, 2009, in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton, as secretary of state, dances with a local choir while visiting the Victoria Mxenge Housing Project in Philippi, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, on August 8, 2009.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks through binoculars toward North Korea during a visit to an observation post July 21, 2010, at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton walks up the steps to her aircraft as she leaves a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on July 23, 2010, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary and Bill Clinton pose on the day of their daughter's wedding to Marc Mezvinsky on July 31, 2010, in Rhinebeck, New York.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

U.S. President Barack Obama and Clinton observe a moment of silence before a NATO meeting November 19, 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton listens as Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu makes a brief statement November 29, 2010, before a bilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with a child during an unannounced walk through Tahrir Square in Cairo on March 16, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton and members of Obama's national security team receive an update on the Osama bin Laden mission May 1, 2011, in the Situation Room of the White House.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton checks her personal digital assistant prior to departing Malta on October 18, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton dances while in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton enjoys a beer at Cafe Havana in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton appears with little makeup during an event in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 6, 2012. She tells CNN, "I feel so relieved to be at the stage I'm at in my life right now ... Because you know if I want to wear my glasses, I'm wearing my glasses. If I want to wear my hair back I'm pulling my hair back. You know at some point it's just not something that deserves a lot of time and attention."

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton speaks as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai listens during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 7, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on July 15, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton looks on as Obama makes a statement in response to the attack at the U.S. Consulate in Libya on September 12, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton applauds Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a ceremony where Suu Kyi was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal on September 19, 2012.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Bill Clinton kisses his wife after introducing her at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting on September 24, 2012, in New York City.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Clinton shakes hands with Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, while attending a reception with Prince William, second from right, in New York in December.

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Hillary Clinton's career in the spotlight

Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures before speaking to supporters Saturday, June 13 on Roosevelt Island in New York, in a speech promoted as her formal presidential campaign debut.

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Hillary Clinton on Saturday mocked Republican presidential candidates Ben Carson and Ted Cruz over their positions on gay rights during remarks to the Human Rights Campaign, where she also called for new laws to support and protect the rights of transgender people.

"Ben Carson says that marriage equality is what caused the fall of the Roman empire," the Democratic presidential candidate said to laughter during a breakfast at the LGBT rights organization's annual gathering in Washington, D.C.

Clinton then mentioned Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, which drew hisses and boos from the crowd gathered inside the grand ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel, and went on to challenge him to join her at a gay pride parade.

"Ted Cruz slammed a political opponent for marching in a pride parade. He clearly has no idea what he's missing. Pride parades are so much fun. I was marching in them back when I was first lady. You should join sometime Senator, come on," she said.

Both Carson and Cruz have said they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. ABC News has reached out to their campaigns for comment to Clinton's remarks.

"Hillary would have everyone believe she's been in favor of marriage equality since the fall of the Roman Empire," Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts said. "When she's not lying, she's spinning!"

Cruz's campaign did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Clinton, who supports same-sex marriage, also took a forceful stance on transgender issues during her remarks, and called for the military to allow transgender people to serve openly.

"We need to say with one voice that transgender people are valued, loved, and one of us," she said. "Transgender people are still banned from serving. That is an outdated rule especially since you and I know that there are transgender people in uniform right now. Theyre just keeping this core part of their identities under wraps because they are so committed to defending our nation. They shouldnt have to do that. Thats why I support the policy review that Defense Secretary Carter recently announced at the Pentagon. And its why I hope the United States joins many other countries that let transgender people serve openly."

She later called out the Republican presidential candidates for ignoring the issue all together.

"See if you are ever in a forum with any of them, if you can get them to say the word transgender," she said.

In addition, Clinton called on Congress to pass the Federal Equality Act. And she said she would upgrade dishonorable discharges of service members who were forced out of the military in years past for being gay.

Clinton, who announced her support of same-sex marriage in March 2013 in a video produced by the Human Rights Campaign, today thanked the organization for the work it has done to help get it legalized in all 50 states.

"The people here today deserve a lot of credit for making it happen. You've helped change a lot of minds, including mine, and I am personally very grateful for that," she said.

There were plenty of jokes at the event playing on the fact that Clinton and the Human Rights Campaign share the same initials: HRC.

During the opening of her remarks, Clinton said, "It is great to be back with the other HRC ... theres no one else Id rather share my initials with.

And later, when promising to fight for LGBT rights as president, she said this: "Thats a promise, from one HRC to another."

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Hillary Clinton Mocks Ben Carson, Ted Cruz on Gay Rights ...

WASHINGTON -- The National Education Association, the nations largest union, endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Saturday.

The unions campaign arm had indicated that it was recommending the endorsement earlier this week, as Politico first reported. Members of the 3-million-strong union who support Clintons main rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), have already protested the move, justas Sanders supporters from the American Federation of Teachers did when Clinton secured that union's endorsementin July.

"Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for Americas students. For more than four decades, Clinton has fought to make sure all children have a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their ZIP code," said Lily Eskelsen Garca, president of the NEA, in a statement. "Clinton will continue to advocate on behalf of students, educators and working families because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in Americas public schools.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Garca said that Clinton personally came and spoke to the organization's 175-person board of directors in a session that left them "blew them away" because of Clinton's understanding of what a president would have to do on certain education issues.

As a lifelong fighter for children and families, I am deeply honored to have earned the endorsement of the National Education Association and their nearly 3 million members," Clinton said in a statement after the endorsement was announced.

The NEAs campaign arm had said that it believed Clinton was the candidate best positioned to win in the general election next year. But both Clinton and Sanders had received A ratings on the groups congressional legislative scorecard.

Despite not earning the endorsement of the national union, Sanders issued a statement on Saturday thanking the members who did support him.

I am proud to have the support of many hundreds of thousands of members of the National Education Association and trade unionists all across America. We are going to win this nomination and the general election because of support from grassroots Americans. We are on track to do just that.

The NEAs early endorsement of Clinton is out of step with its 2008 process, when it waited to endorse President Barack Obama until after he had secured his partys nomination. Sanders supporters within the ranks of other unions that have endorsed Clinton have expressed frustration and anger that their respective unions decided to endorse in the primary at all.

Garca said thatthe decision not to get involved in the 2008 primary was a factor in the union's decision to back a candidate in the primary race this time around.

"People did talk about that. Were we there to impact the debate? Were we there to influence the candidates?" she asked. "I think what won the day on when [is that] people said, 'You know, if you don't get in when it counts, it doesn't count when you get in.'"

But some of the NEAs state chapters hadnt waited until the national body made its decision. The Vermont NEA endorsed Sanders, while the New Hampshire chapter picked Clinton in September. Other chapters had urged the national board to wait longer before making an endorsement.

Butthe NEA chose Clinton,Garca said, because she was the candidate who the union felt would be best able to highlight education issues in the presidential race.

"It was never a discussion about who's for education who's against education. People are gonna make up their own minds we get that, we understand that, we respect that," she said.

The NEAs interests include ending competitive block grant programs supported by Obama like Race to the Top, and scaling back federally mandated high-stakes standardized testing that influences administrative decisions about teachers. Members of the Democratic Party have been divided over the merits of changes in public education, including more funding for charter schools and teacher evaluation systems influenced by standardized test scores.

Its just dead wrong to make teachers the scapegoats for all of societys problems, Clinton told the AFT earlier this year, according to The Washington Post. Where I come from, teachers are the solution. And I strongly believe that unions are part of the solution, too.

While Clinton has been careful to avoid antagonizing either the school choice camp or the teachers unions, she has frequently called out Republican attacks against collective bargaining and organizing on the campaign trail. Shes also delighted unions by coming out against the Affordable Care Acts impending tax on high-cost insurance plans. Unions are campaigning to have the tax repealed because they fear it will shift more out-of-pocket costs to their members.

Clinton has secured more union endorsements than Sanders. But her campaign experienced a setback this week when the International Association of Fire Fighters abandoned its earlier plan to endorse her. And two other major unions -- the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- have indicated that they will take more time to consult their members about an endorsement in the primary.

This story has been updated to include comment fromLily Eskelsen Garca.

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Hillary Clinton Earns Backing Of Nation's Largest Union