(CNN) -- Chevy Chase didn't look like Gerald Ford and didn't sound like Gerald Ford. But in the mid-1970s, when "Saturday Night Live" first went on the air, Chase -- then a writer and cast member of the show -- made his impression of the president, rife with pratfalls and slapstick, the talk of the country.

He also made the president a butt of jokes, which was intentional, Chase told CNN in an interview.

"[Ford] was a sweet man, a terrific man -- [we] became good friends after, but ... he just tripped over things a lot," he said. "It's not that I can imitate him so much that I can do a lot of physical comedy and I just made it, I just went after him. And ... obviously my leanings were Democratic and I wanted [Jimmy] Carter in and I wanted [Ford] out, and I figured look, we're reaching millions of people every weekend, why not do it."

Over the years, "Saturday Night Live's" political satires have become a mainstay of the show, sometimes to startling effect.  Watch Chase talk about "SNL's" impact Â»

Al Franken -- now the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Minnesota -- and his then writing partner, Tom Davis, wrote a wicked takeoff of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's book, "The Final Days," which included Dan Aykroyd as a bitter Richard Nixon and John Belushi as a toadying Henry Kissinger. In the mid-'80s, a sketch starring Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan showed the president, often lampooned as forgetful, with a razor-sharp command of the Iran-Contra situation, cutting deals in Arabic and barking orders at his staff.

More recently, Dana Carvey's malaprop-laden impression of George H.W. Bush, Hartman's puppy-dog Bill Clinton, Will Ferrell's George W. Bush and Tina Fey's Sarah Palin have embedded themselves in the culture.

Though Chase believes the show leans left, and Fey's Palin is an attempt to hurt the Republicans, Marc Liepis, NBC Universal senior director of late night publicity, had no comment.

Certainly, "SNL" -- which began as one of the old '60s counterculture's first forays into network TV -- has also mocked Democrats. Indeed, sketches about the Democratic debates in the spring, one of which portrayed the media as fawning over Barack Obama, gave Hillary Clinton ammunition in her pursuit of the nomination. The writer of that sketch, Jim Downey, has been described as leaning conservative, though he was quoted in a March New York Times article as calling himself a registered Democrat.

In the same article, "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels said, "We don't lay down for anybody."

Chase talked about his Ford impression and the political impact of "Saturday Night Live" with CNN's Alina Cho. The following is an edited version of that interview.

CNN: Let's go back to '76.

Chevy Chase:  It was Gerald Ford that was president but hadn't been elected and was running again and I just ...

CNN: Some people say he was an accidental president and you made him accident prone.

Chase: Actually, he was accident prone and he was a sweet man, a terrific man, became good friends later, and a relatively good athlete in college too ... but he just tripped over things a lot. ... You know, after a while, you just start writing the jokes and start doing it.

So it's not that I can imitate him so much that I can do a lot of physical comedy, and I just made it, I just went after him. And I certainly, obviously my leanings were Democratic and I wanted Carter in and I wanted [Ford] out and I figured look, we're reaching millions of people every weekend, why not do it.

CNN: You mean to tell me in the back of your mind you were thinking, hey I want Carter ...

Chase: Oh, yeah.
( CNN ) -- Chevy Chase did n't look like Gerald Ford and did n't sound like Gerald Ford . But in the mid-1970s , when " Saturday Night Live " first went on the air , Chase -- then a writer and cast member of the show -- made his impression of the president , rife with pratfalls and slapstick , the talk of the country . He also made the president a butt of jokes , which was intentional , Chase told CNN in an interview . " [ Ford ] was a sweet man , a terrific man -- [ we ] became good friends after , but ... he just tripped over things a lot , " he said . " It 's not that I can imitate him so much that I can do a lot of physical comedy and I just made it , I just went after him . And ... obviously my leanings were Democratic and I wanted [ Jimmy ] Carter in and I wanted [ Ford ] out , and I figured look , we 're reaching millions of people every weekend , why not do it . " Over the years , " Saturday Night Live 's " political satires have become a mainstay of the show , sometimes to startling effect . Watch Chase talk about " SNL 's " impact Â » Al Franken -- now the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Minnesota -- and his then writing partner , Tom Davis , wrote a wicked takeoff of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein 's book , " The Final Days , " which included Dan Aykroyd as a bitter Richard Nixon and John Belushi as a toadying Henry Kissinger . In the mid-'80s , a sketch starring Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan showed the president , often lampooned as forgetful , with a razor - sharp command of the Iran - Contra situation , cutting deals in Arabic and barking orders at his staff . More recently , Dana Carvey 's malaprop - laden impression of George H.W. Bush , Hartman 's puppy - dog Bill Clinton , Will Ferrell 's George W. Bush and Tina Fey 's Sarah Palin have embedded themselves in the culture . Though Chase believes the show leans left , and Fey 's Palin is an attempt to hurt the Republicans , Marc Liepis , NBC Universal senior director of late night publicity , had no comment . Certainly , " SNL " -- which began as one of the old ' 60s counterculture 's first forays into network TV -- has also mocked Democrats . Indeed , sketches about the Democratic debates in the spring , one of which portrayed the media as fawning over Barack Obama , gave Hillary Clinton ammunition in her pursuit of the nomination . The writer of that sketch , Jim Downey , has been described as leaning conservative , though he was quoted in a March New York Times article as calling himself a registered Democrat . In the same article , " SNL " creator Lorne Michaels said , " We do n't lay down for anybody . " Chase talked about his Ford impression and the political impact of " Saturday Night Live " with CNN 's Alina Cho . The following is an edited version of that interview . CNN : Let 's go back to ' 76 . Chevy Chase : It was Gerald Ford that was president but had n't been elected and was running again and I just ... CNN : Some people say he was an accidental president and you made him accident prone . Chase : Actually , he was accident prone and he was a sweet man , a terrific man , became good friends later , and a relatively good athlete in college too ... but he just tripped over things a lot . ... You know , after a while , you just start writing the jokes and start doing it . So it 's not that I can imitate him so much that I can do a lot of physical comedy , and I just made it , I just went after him . And I certainly , obviously my leanings were Democratic and I wanted Carter in and I wanted [ Ford ] out and I figured look , we 're reaching millions of people every weekend , why not do it . CNN : You mean to tell me in the back of your mind you were thinking , hey I want Carter ... Chase : Oh , yeah .
Who did Chase mock deliberately?
Who did Chase mock deliberately ?
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford