This week, America mourns the loss of George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States and, some may not know, a longtime barbecue fan. Throughout American history, barbecue and politics have been intertwined. George Washington frequently attended and hosted barbecues, Andrew Jackson popularized election day barbecues, and Lyndon B. Johnson practiced his “barbecue diplomacy” at the White House and at his ranch in Texas. While George H.W. Bush may not be the first president who comes to mind when thinking of barbecue, he was a tremendous supporter of this quintessentially American cuisine.