When Fish says, "I'm glad I didn't vote for him," that is not an indication of his politics. The fact is, Gerald Ford is the only president no one voted for (not even as the vice-presidential running mate). Nixon was re-elected in 1972 with Spiro Agnew as his vice-president. Gerald Ford was appointed to replace Agnew as VP in 1973 when Agnew resigned due to charges of tax evasion. Then, Ford replaced Nixon as president after Nixon resigned due to the Watergate coverup in 1974. Ford went on to lose the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter.
"The President" referred to several times in this episode, about whether the federal government will bail out financially strapped New York City, is President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the United States.
When Inspector Luger is talking to Captain Miller in his office about the 12th Precinct closing and tearing down the building, he tells Barney "By God, they wouldn't get away with it if Jimmy Walker was alive!". Luger is referring to James John Walker, mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932. A flamboyant politician. He was forced to resign during a corruption scandal. In his initial years as mayor, Walker saw the city prosper and many public works projects gain traction.