A true sign that you’ve made it in the world is when a Saturday Night Live cast member regularly depicts you on the show. Of course, politicians, particularly presidents, get their fair share of airtime. During George W. Bush’s presidency from 2001 to 2009, Will Ferrell expertly portrayed W. on the show. We all know that you have to have some pretty thick skin when you’re famous, and the President of the United States is no exception. In George Bush’s case, Will didn’t offend him, he loved it. Willie Geist recently shared a story with George’s daughter, Jenna Hager, on Jenna and Friends that is absolutely hilarious.
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Willie Geist Learned Something Incredible About George W. Bush
He told Jenna he was at an event at the George W. Bush Library in Dallas, interviewing Lorne Michaels about the history of SNL and presidential characters. Willie said George sat front and center during the interview.
“Your dad, I have to say, was sitting in the front row watching the clips and not laughing politely at himself,” Willie said. “But like head was thrown back like, ‘Oh, that Will Ferrell, he’s so good.”
After the interview, Willie Geist, George W. Bush, and Lorne Michaels all went out to dinner. During their conversation, the former President said, “I sure gave you a lot of material over the years,” Willie recalled. “Like, strategery.”
At that moment, Lorne Michaels told George that he never said that. They made the word up for Will’s character.
Flabbergasted, George W. Bush laughed and said, “I didn’t say strategery? All these years, I thought I said strategery. But you know what I did say? Misunderestimate.”
Willie said George was an incredibly good sport about being made fun of on SNL. Willie added that he loved that poor George had gone 20 years, thinking he had said strategery, but it was just a bit.
Jenna joked, “You know that I always sort of blame him when I mispronounce some things.”
This story’s featured image is by Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank via Shutterstock.
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