On October 11, 1975, a new sketch comedy show aired on television called “NBC’s Saturday Night.” (The show was renamed in 1976 to “Saturday Night Live.”) Starring comics such as James Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase, the show has since become the longest-running American sketch comedy show, and the longest-running American variety show. 

During that first season, Chevy Chase portrayed President Gerald Ford frequently – often depicting the President as bumbling and clumsy. An inaccurate and unfair interpretation of President Ford, particularly given Ford’s athletic prowess, the President nonetheless took it in stride. 

In 1976, President Ford and Chevy Chase would cross paths at that year’s Radio and Television Correspondent’s Dinner, where Chase served as Master of Ceremonies.

When it was President Ford’s turn to speak, he humorously delivered one of Chase’s catchphrases.

_{^{Citation: President’s Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies, Box 26, “3/25/76 – Remarks at a Dinner for Members and Guests of the Radio and Television Correspondents Association (NAID: 1252762).1 Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library}}

President Ford’s personal aide Terry O’Donnell would later say about Ford’s attitude regarding the “SNL” bits: “…he’s a resilient man. He didn’t let stuff like that get under his skin².” In fact, President Ford became the first sitting President to appear on “Saturday Night Live” in three pre-recorded segments during the April 17, 1976, episode, including saying “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

Author: Brooke Clement

1. Ford’s reference to North Carolina stems from the 1976 campaign primary season and that former Governor Ronald Reagan had won against Ford in that state two days prior. ↩︎
2. Terry-ODonnell Oral History with Richard Norton Smith.pdf – Google Drive ↩︎