It might require a bit of work to appreciate this post fully. Three videos are reachable via links below, but I cannot make the videos directly available here.
A week ago, a prominent Michigander passed away. A decade ago Saturday Night Live aired a spoof of a news broadcast, with Tom Brokaw (played by Dana Carvey) pre-taping the announcement of the former president’s death. For better or worse, many Americans immediately thought of the 1996 spoof when the actual event occurred on December 26, 2006.
I watched President Ford’s state funeral on television on January 2, 2007 and chuckled quietly at the irony of two eulogies.
Former President George H. W. Bush caught everyone off guard when, in his eulogy for President Ford, the 41st President impersonated Dana Carvey, who had also famously spoofed the elder President Bush. (Click here for the video; cue it to 2:43 for the segment on humor.)
Then Tom Brokaw, himself, eulogized President Ford (click here for the video). I thought he showed considerable restraint by refraining from using the word “senseless” when referring to the 38th President’s wardrobe.
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