Recalling when Barbara Bush was pen pals with Marge Simpson

The A.V. Club

The former first lady and mother to President George W. Bush, who died on Tuesday at age 92, left her mark on pop-culture in 1990 when she found herself embroiled in a controversy with The Simpsons, which was in its second season. The then-first lady, speaking to People magazine, said of the Fox cartoon, “It was the dumbest thing I had ever seen, but it’s a family thing, and I guess it’s clean.” That quote ended up being shortened to the much harsher sounding "the dumbest thing (she) had ever seen," which prompted a letter from Marge Simpson to the first lady. "I recently read your criticism of my family. I was deeply hurt," wrote Marge. "Heaven knows we're far from perfect and, if truth be known, maybe just a wee bit short of normal; but as Dr. Seuss says, 'a person is a person.'" Barbara Bush responded with a "Dear Marge" letter. "How kind of you to write. I'm glad you spoke your mind; I foolishly didn't know you had one," the first lady wrote. "I am looking at a picture of you, depicted on a plastic cup, with your blue hair filled with pink birds peeking out all over. Evidently, you and your charming family — Lisa, Homer, Bart and Maggie — are camping out. It is a nice family scene. Clearly you are setting a good example for the rest of the country." Bush added: "Please forgive a loose tongue," ending her letter with "P.S. Homer looks like a handsome fella!"

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