Ten years ago, Scandal, the show whose main character Olivia Pope, was inspired by Judy Smith, premiered on ABC. Here, Kerry Washington and the original team of “Gladiators” (left to right):Columbus Short as Harrison Wright, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Guillermo Diaz as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Joshua Malina as David Rosen, Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene, Bellamy Young as First Lady Mellie Grant and Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant. (ABC/CRAIG SJODIN). photographer: Craig Sjodin credit: ABC source: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

The crisis OG, Judy Smith.

Olivia’s trademark white was inspired by Judy. Photographer: Richard Cartwright credit: ABC source: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

In 1990, Judy joined President George H.W. Bush’s staff as Special Assistant and White House Deputy Press Secretary. Judy was the first Black woman to lead a press conference at the White House.

On Scandal, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) was President Fitzgerald Grant’s (Tony Goldwyn) most trusted adviser. That’s where the Judy-Olivia comparison ends of course. As all Scandal fans know, Olivia and Fitz were the loves of each other’s lives.  And how did Judy break the plotline news to her former boss? “As a good crisis person, you need to quickly reach out to stakeholders — and one of those key stakeholders was the president,” she tells PEOPLE. “I’m like, ‘Okay, I got to tell him first. I got to call him up,’ ” The President, a famous jokester, was amused. Judy sent over talking points for the media, and told him, “I said, ‘If you do not go along with those talking points, I’m going to tell your boss. Don’t play around!’ And he’s like, “You wouldn’t,’ ” she recalls. “And I said, ‘I will call up [your wife] Barbara in a second. I’m not fooling with you.'”

Judy with President George H.W. Bush and his advisers aboard Air Force One,

The Gladiators (with Joshua Malinam left, and George Newbern, right), in the dramatic seventh season.  Photo courtesy of ABC, photographer Mitch Haaseth. (ABC/Mitch Haaseth)

Olivia always loved a good glass of wine after a tough day at work. So does Judy. (ABC/Byron Cohen)  photographer: Byron Cohen credit: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

The show was an instant success both with audiences and critics alike. In 2013, the show was won Best Drama and Kerry Washington Best Actress at the 44th annual NAACP Awards. Here, Bellamy Young, Columbus Short, Katie Lowes, Tony Goldwyn, Kerry Washington, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Guillermo Diaz, Darby Stanchfield, Jeff Perry, Judy Smith and Joshua Malina celebrate together on the red carpet.

They were the talk of the town for seven years. Judy, Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young and Jeff Perry visited Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd on The View.