This episode is the culmination of a war of words between the
The Simpsons (1989) and former President
George Bush and First Lady
Barbara Bush. Barbara Bush referred to the show as "the dumbest thing I've ever seen" in a 1990 interview with People magazine, which prompted the writers of the show to write her an angry letter in character as Marge Simpson; Mrs. Bush later apologized. One year later The Simpsons showed Barbara Bush in the White House bathtub in the episode
Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington (1991). In 1992 President Bush stated while appearing before the National Religious Broadcasters, "We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, to make American families a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like the Simpsons." The writers of The Simpsons responded by added a new intro to the episode
Stark Raving Dad (1991) where Bart responds to President Bush's speech saying, "We're just like the Waltons. We're praying for an end to the depression too". President Bush made one more appearance after this episode collecting unemployment benefits in
Realty Bites (1997).