Hail to the chiefs Being president means you move into an elegant mansion, travel the world in your own plane and have the U.S. military at your disposal. It also means you'll get skewered by "Saturday Night Live." Over the past 34 years, the program has sent up every commander in chief, and not always with the same degree of success. Here's a look back at the best and not-so-brightest.

NEAL JUSTIN

CHEVY CHASE AS GERALD FORD

His take: An inarticulate, clueless klutz who can't even support himself at a podium.

Our take: Chase's physical shtick had about as much political bite as a banana peel.

Seals of approval: ★ 1/2

DAN AYKROYD AS JIMMY CARTER

His take: An unflappable genius who can do everything from fix a letter sorter to talk down an LSD user.

Our take: A funny but fleeting idea.

Seals of approval: ★★ 1/2

PHIL HARTMAN AS RONALD REAGAN

His take: An evil mastermind who acts dumb only to fool the public.

Our take: Hartman's ability to switch gears at the drop of a jellybean continues to amaze.

Seals of approval: ★★★

DANA CARVEY AS GEORGE H.W. BUSH

His take: Good-natured optimist with more hand gestures than an air-traffic controller.

Our take: Carvey's enthusiasm was impossible to resist.

Seals of approval: ★★★ 1/2

PHIL HARTMAN AS BILL CLINTON

His take: A Southern charmer with an equal appetite for women and Big Macs.

Our take: Bubbalicious.

Seals of approval: ★★★

WILL FERRELL AS GEORGE W. BUSH

His take: An empty-headed overachiever who acts like he's president -- of his fraternity.

Our take: The clueless-crusader act got about as creaky as the last hour of "Semi-Pro."

Seals of approval: ★★ 1/2

FRED ARMISEN AS BARACK OBAMA

His take: Super-serious, super-stiff nerd.

Our take: Super-serious, super-boring.

Seals of approval: ★ 1/2