Humor / News

George W. Bush Didn’t Create Strategery

- by Maria Spanadoris

The word strategery was used in a Saturday Night Live sketch written by James Downey, which was broadcast on October 7, 2000. Will Ferrell was playing the role of George W. Bush during a presidential debate and made up the word Strategery based on, of course, the word strategy.

What’s interesting is that after the election, people inside the Bush White House began using the same exact phrase as a joke, and then eventually, the satirical portrayal became intertwined with the real-life White House.

In a 2007 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, George W. Bush said he couldn’t remember whether he or Will Ferrell came up with the word strategery first.

@hodaandjenna

“I’m sorry Mr. President.” More than two decades after #WillFerrell debuted his now-iconic impression of former President GeorgeWBush, he revived it on our show — with a fun bit of trivia! 😂 #Strategery #HodaAndJenna #SNL

♬ original sound – TODAY with Hoda & Jenna

In a 2022 interview with Will Ferrell on Today with Hoda & Jenna, Jenna Bush, George W‘s daughter, admitted that Lorne Michaels called George W. Bush and told him that he never actually said it. The phrase became so common that it is no surprise that the former president would’ve thought he must have said it regularly.

Since then, it’s been widely used between Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

Fact has become fiction, fiction has become fact, and now the word strategery has entered our universal lexicon. The infamous Will Ferrell skit has become so ingrained in our social consciousness that strategery is now a word.

maria
Maria Spanadoris

Maria Spanadoris an experienced online writer with a passion for general entertainment stories. As a Greek mom, Maria brings her unique perspective to her writing, infusing her work with warmth and humor. She has been writing online for over 20 years, starting her career at thecelebritycafe.com. Since then, Maria has honed her skills as a writer, developing a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that keeps her readers coming back for more. Whether she's covering the latest celebrity gossip or writing about her own experiences as a mom, Maria's writing is always relatable and engaging.