Ford was immortalized—or let’s say became infamous for-two moments in his presidential career. When he slipped and fell getting out of Air Force One early in his brief two-year presidency, Chevy Chase, star of the brand new late night TV show Saturday Night Live, milked it for all it was worth. Every time Chase played the president in an SNL sketch, he found a way to take a spectacular pratfall. This came to define Chase’s comedic style for decades to come.
Less funny was Ford’s decision to pardon disgraced president Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal brought down his presidency. Nixon selected Ford to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew, who had been derailed by his own tax evasion and bribery scandal. While I can understand the loyalty Ford felt towards Nixon, it still disappointed me that he let Nixon walk away.

James Brown was a pioneer, the man who created funk and paved the way for rap and hip-hop. His magnetic personality and his well-deserved moniker as “the hardest working man in show business” allowed him to remain an icon and a fabulous entertainer his entire life. Who hasn’t shouted “I Feel Good” or “Get Up Offa That Thing” while emoting in the shower or singing along with the car radio? He shared with Ford the distinction of having a SNL performer pay comic tribute to his excesses. Long before Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy did his James Brown thing on Saturday Night Live.

I Feel Sad and You Knew That I Would …