George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924 – November 30, 2018) was an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 and the 43rd Vice President of the United states from 1981 to 1989. He was also the father of former President George W. Bush. On Saturday Night Live, he has been impersonated by Jim Downey twice on January 26, 1980 during the "Caucus" sketch and on May 24, 1980 during the "Consolation Debate" sketch, by Dana Carvey thirty-nine times from October 17, 1987 to October 21, 2000 and by Fred Armisen on January 15, 2005 during the "Tsunami Press Conference" sketch and Bush himself made a cameo on October 22, 1994 during the "A Message from George Bush" cold opening sketch, whereupon he said the famous opening line, but made a crack that if SNL continues to disappoint, he will switch over to Fox and tune into Tales from the Crypt (the barb being meant that many longtime viewers felt the quality had gone downhill, also during 1994 SNL faced tough competition from the popular horror show Tales from the Crypt, which also aired at 11:30). Dana Carvey spoofed Bush the Elder in his monologue, which was then (jokingly) interrupted by the real Bush claiming which were actual lines and which were made up by Carvey.
Bush was known for his leadership during the Gulf War, and his "Read my lips: no new taxes" promise, which he inevetably broke causing him to lose re-election to Bill Clinton.
He is commonly referred to as "Bush Senior", "Bush the Elder", or "Bush 41" so he isn't confused with his son, George W. Bush.
The real Bush died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94, after a battle with vascular Parkinson's disease that forced him to use a wheelchair during his last years. He was the longest-lived former President in American history until his death, when Jimmy Carter broke his record.
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