Saturday Night Live and the 1976 Presidential Election

<p> The debut of <I>Saturday Night Live</I> and the 1976 presidential election between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter had enduring effects on American culture. With its mix of sketch comedy and music <I>SNL</I> grabbed huge ratings and several Emmys in its first season. President Ford's press secretary Ron Nessen was the first politician to host <I>SNL</I>. Ford also appeared on the show via video tape to offer a comic counterpunch to Chevy Chase's signature line I'm Chevy Chase and you're not. Since then it has become a rite of passage for national politicians to appear on <I>SNL</I> and the show's treatment of them and their platforms has a continuing impact on political discourse.</p>