On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new Saturday Night Live first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase’s clumsy impression of Gerald R. Ford—an All-American athlete turned commander-in-chief—that changed how Americans saw their president. The sketch also shaped the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election itself. Peter Funt, author of Playing POTUS: The Power of America's 'Acting Presidents', tells the story behind one of comedy’s most consequential impressions.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when the brand-new Saturday Night Live first took the airwaves by storm, it was Chevy Chase&rsquo;s clumsy impression of Gerald R. Ford&mdash;an All-American athlete turned commander-in-chief&mdash;that changed how Americans saw their president. The sketch also shaped the future of political satire, presidential impersonations, and even the 1976 election itself. Peter Funt, author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPlaying-POTUS-Americas-Acting-Presidents%2Fdp%2F173762673X&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C262b6cfca1dc4784e58608dd916ab079%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638826609633430215%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=64ZBVeXvmspNrTyfi%2BDDk6Ms4v9RHNsR%2FKXkigixkWU%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Playing POTUS: The Power of America's 'Acting Presidents'</a>, tells the story behind one of comedy&rsquo;s most consequential impressions.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate</a>)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

How Chevy Chase, SNL, and One Pratfall Changed a Presidential Election

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3767f381-7b19-4ea8-8800-b2db0142bef4/transcript