The Simpsons has never been shy of political satire and laughing at their leaders. Most of them have been at the very least mentioned in some form. Remember Woodrow? Or Grandpa being spanked by Groover Cleveland on two non-consecutive occasions? Either Grandpa is ridiculously old (Cleveland was president in the late nineteenth century), or this is a very subtle and clever reference to Cleveland being the only person to have served two non-consecutive terms as president.
Anyway, without further ado, here's the list, starting with the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Dwight D. Eisenhower in "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming" Season 7, Episode 9
Guest appearance on "The Stingy and Battery Show": let's get busy.
Jimmy Carter in "Marge in Chains" Season 4, Episode 21
Malaise forever: he's history's greatest monster.
Thomas Jefferson in "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" Season 3, Episode 2
Remembered for the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, and the dumbwaiter.
"The Mediocre Presidents" Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Rutherford B. Hayes, William Henry Harrison in "I Love Lisa" Season 4, Episode 15
The adequate, forgettable, occasionally regrettable, caretaker presidents of the U.S.A.
#10 Abraham Lincoln in "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" Season 5, Episode 20.
Disheartened by the prospect of going to school on a sunny summer's day, Bart attempts to escape reality by day-dreaming. His fantasy in includes himself floating on a raft with Huckleberry Finn down what is assumed to be a stereotypical Southern river. Also on the raft, standing tall with his trademark top-hat, unlike the boys who are reclining, is President Lincoln. Bart is bemused by Lincoln's presence and asks Finn, "Hey, Huck, what's L-I-N-C-O-N doing here?"—of course a misspelling of Lincoln. Finn replies, "I don't know. It's your fantasy." Bart then casually greets Lincoln, who says "Hello, Bart," cheerfully in response.
#9 George Washington in "Lisa the Iconoclast" Season 7, Episode 16
During her research for an essay on founder of Springfield, Jebediah Springfield, for the city's centenary, Lisa discovers the truth about Springfield's shadowy past. In a flashback to 1781, Springfield, who is revealed to be a pirate named Hans Sprungfeld, ambushes President Washington at his Trenton, New Jersey home and demands, "give me all your money!" to which Washington retorts, "Never!" A vicious fight ensues between the two men, and the painting which Washington was posing for is damaged; a piece is torn off by Sprungfeld as he retreats. This a reference to Gilbert Stuart's unfinished painting of Washington. The fight is interrupted when a women enters carrying an early incarnation of the US flag and says to Washington, "I got the white stars you wanted, but I couldn't find any red hearts, yellow moons, or green clovers." Washington, quite clearly disgruntled by this change of circumstance, replies, "We'll use it. But I'm not paying for it." This is likely a reference to the contentious mythology surrounding the "first flag," or the so-called Betsy Ross flag.
#8 Teddy Roosevelt in "The Day the Violence Died" Season 7, Episode 18
Chester Lampwick, a bum who claims to have invented Itchy and Scratchy, is determined to prove it to Bart and Milhouse so shows them the very first cartoon, "Manhattan Madness," he created in 1919. The cartoon only features Itchy, but Teddy Roosevelt makes an appearance. He exclaims (on an intertitle), "Ah, Manhattan Town. An agreeable sight for an old Knickerbocker like me," before being brutally decapitated by Itchy.
#7 Al Gore in "Grandpa Simpson vs. Sexual Inadequacy" Season 6, Episode 10
Strictly speaking, this not a presidential moment, but a vice-presidential moment. Nevertheless, I've included it because it's great. While out book shopping, Lisa purchases a copy of Al Gore's new book "Sane Planning, Sensible Tomorrow," a follow up to a previous book titled "Rational Thinking, Reasonable Future." When the book is scanned at the register, an electronic signal is sent to Washington D.C. to inform one of Gore's staff that someone finally bought a copy of his book. Gore, in a dry monotone replies, "well, this calls for a celebration." He leans over to a nearby turntable and starts "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang. The chorus rings out: "celebrate good times, come on!" To which Gore replies, "I will," still in monotonous excitement.
#6 Richard Nixon in "Homer Goes to College"
Episode 3, Season 5
Homer and some nerds at Springfield University, want to pull a prank on rival college Springfield A&M. They kidnap Springfield A&M's mascot pig Sir Oinks-a-lot, who subsequently gets severely intoxicated after splitting a case of malt-liquor with Homer. When the team is caught, the nerds are expelled; the dean regrettably informing them, "I'm sorry boys, I've never expelled anyone before, but that pig had some powerful friends." Then appears Richard Nixon to scold the nerds: "Oh, you'll pay! Don't think you won't pay." Earlier, when planning the kidnapping, Bart shows the team a picture of Sir Oinks-a-lot conferring an honorary degree on Nixon.
#5 Bill Clinton in "Homer to the Max" Episode 13, Season 10
Homer and Marge are attending a party on an invite by Homer's new well-to-do liberal friend Trent Steel that is attended by other well-to-do liberal celebrities including Woody Harrelson and Ed Begley Jr. Also attending the party is President Clinton, who Marge dances with while he attempts to seduce her by suggesting, "I know you don't think you're good enough for me. But believe me, you are. Hell, I've done it with pigs. Real no-foolin' pigs." This is almost certainly a reference to the Monica Lewinsky scandal that broke a year before this episode aired.
#4 Ronald Reagan in "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" Episode 1, Season 5
The Be Sharps, the barbershop quartet Homer is in, are the performing guest at the centenary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, and President Reagan is present. Showing his capitalist Protestant work ethic, he bemoans having to be at the event: "damn ceremonies, this is time I could be working."
#3 Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter in "Rosebud" Episode 4, Season 5
Waiting in line, carrying wrapped gifts, for Mr. Burns' birthday party are former Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and George H.W. Bush. Reagan and Nixon are allowed in the party, but Bush gets stopped and rejected by a security guard at the door who tells him, "Hey, no one-termers." After being rejected he is consoled by fellow one-termer Jimmy Carter. Bush is obviously not ready to reconcile with old political rivalries telling Carter, "Get away from me, loser!"
#2 John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in "Duffless" Episode 6, Season 4
This one is basically for the nerds of United States political history. On a tour of the Duff Brewery, Barney and Homer are shown a Duff beer commercial featuring Vice-President, then eventual President Nixon, and Senator, then eventual President Kennedy. It is a reference to the first of four televised debates between Kennedy and Nixon during the 1960 presidential election campaign. Nixon's comment (in this episode), "if you knew the president, that was probably just a facetious remark," is, verbatim, what Nixon said in response the statement, "President Eisenhower was asked to give one example of a major idea of yours that he adopted. His reply was, and I'm quoting; 'If you give me a week I might think of one. I don't remember,'" made by Sander Vanocur of NBC News. It is because of this episode that I can no longer read any speeches by Kennedy without it automatically reverting to a Mayor Quimby voice in my inner monologue (Quimby's Boston accent is based on Kennedy's).
#1 George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford in "Two Bad Neighbours" Episode 13, Season 7
How could it not be number one? An entire episode dedicated to the tired old conservatism of the first Bush. Showrunner Bill Oakley took inspiration from the show's previous feud with the Bushes; instead of wanting to make a political statement about Bush, he suggested it was more about making fun of his "crotchetiness." The episode features many classic moments when Bush faces off with Homer and Bart who don't like his presence in the neighbourhood. Bush's exchanges, similarity to, and partiality for Ned Flanders, resonate with his family friendly brand of conservatism. He even picks up an "Okily dokily" from Flanders' gibberish lingo. There's a reference to Bush vomiting (a bout of the flu) on the Japanese prime minister at a state dinner in 1992: "I'll ruin you like a Japanese banquet!" This episode also features a brief appearance by Nixon's post-resignation successor Gerald Ford, who Homer immediately takes an interest in because of his mutual like of football and nachos. They both trip on the curb, shouting "D'oh!" on their way to Ford's house, a reference to Ford's unfortunate habit of falling down.
Some more memorable lines from Bush include:
—"And since I'd achieved all my goals as President in one term, there was no need for a second... Hmmm... Good memoirs. Good, not great." Typing the conclusion to his memoirs.
—"That guy is louder than World War II. Ray, go see what the rhubarb is, will you?" Waiting in the Krusty Burger drive-through with Homer honking his car-horn behind him.
—"Oh good, they're roasting the new guy." Upon seeing Bill Clinton on the cover of US News.
—"But, Bar, we can't show any weakness in front of the Russians." After being forced to apologise to Homer by his wife Barbara in front of former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.
———————————————————————————————————————— "... we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever in peace." —W. M. Hicks.
