Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford's first full year in office was as difficult for him as it was for the rest of the country. His wife Betty caused a stir when she lauded the US Supreme Court's controversial 1973 Roe v Wade ruling legalizing abortion as a "great, great decision". Shortly thereafter, their son Jack (23) publicly admitted using marijuana.

In September 1975, the President nearly fell victim to not one, but two assassination attempts - first in Sacramento, California by Manson follower Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, and two weeks later in San Francisco by estranged FBI informant Sara Jane Moore.

Perhaps most damaging of all the new President's troubles were Chevy Chase's impersonations on NBCs new Saturday Night Live, which mercilessly lampooned his lumbering, slow-on-the-draw demeanor and his propensity for accidental pratfalls.