To commemorate the golden jubilee of "Saturday Night Live," the producers delved into one of President Gerald R. Ford's most divisive moments, elevating it to the forefront during a three-hour special on Sunday night. This exclusive episode featured a sketch starring John Mulaney and Pete Davidson, portraying time travelers navigating the ever-evolving landscape of New York City across various decades. Their journey commenced in 1975, painting a vivid picture of a metropolis beleaguered by crime and rampant drug abuse.
"You're actually moving to New York now? It's 1975. New York is on its last legs. A bankrupt abyss," exclaimed Mulaney's character, encapsulating the city's dire state.
Maya Rudolph, attired as an enormous heroin syringe, crooned a humorous rendition of "Fame," subtly referencing Ford with the lyrics, "The president bid us farewell to life."
The sketch culminated in a musical spoof of "One Day More" from Les Misérables, urging everyone to "cling to the magic of New York" amidst the stench and vermin. This segment boasted cameos from former SNL stars Taran Killam as a rat and Ana Gasteyer as a pigeon, adding a quirky twist to the classic tune.
At the song's climax, a colossal mock newspaper banner plummeted from the ceiling, boldly declaring, "New York to Ford: Who's on death's door now?" This was a nod to Ford's October 1975 pronouncement refusing to utilize federal funds to rescue New York City, which was drowning in over $400 million in debt and headed for bankruptcy. Though he never verbalized those exact words, the New York Daily News immortalized the sentiment with the headline, "Ford To City: Drop Dead," indelibly etched in the city's collective memory.
Ford's official statement was that he would "veto any legislation aimed at a federal bailout of New York City to prevent default." According to White House aides, the speech came across harsher than intended, with earlier drafts devoid of any veto threats.
Ford faced a deluge of criticism for his remarks and pressure from global leaders concerned about the potential ramifications of a financial meltdown in one of the world's leading cities.
Many historians contend that this incident contributed to Ford's defeat in the 1976 presidential election against Jimmy Carter. As Jeff Nussbaum penned in The New Yorker in 2015, "Ironically, Ford's stern words and the even harsher headline they spawned may have rescued New York but sank Ford's presidency. For New York, Ford's statement convinced key stakeholders that federal assistance was out of the question, prompting the city to make arduous decisions and significant reforms. And although Ford eventually approved federal support for New York, New Yorkers remembered the headline all too well. The subsequent year, Jimmy Carter garnered the third-highest vote share ever for a Democratic presidential candidate in New York City, narrowly winning the state and, consequently, the 41 electoral votes that secured his presidency."
"Saturday Night Live" has never been apprehensive about wielding political humor and commentary, with Ford being one of the show's earliest targets. During its inaugural season, Chevy Chase often parodied the president as a bumbling klutz, leveraging physical comedy through comical falls.
Ford passed away on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93.
