 Ron Swanson was created by Parks and Recreation creators Greg Daniels and Michael Schur , although Nick Offerman himself had some input into the character 's creation . Offerman said in July 2012 that " NBC really resisted giving me this part . It took five months for me from the time Mike Schur and Greg Daniels said they wanted me to play this part . NBC insisted on auditioning every other guy in the country , and then they finally acquiesced . " The character 's traits were partially inspired by a real @-@ life Libertarian elected official that Parks and Recreation co @-@ creator Michael Schur encountered in Burbank while researching for the show , who favored as little government interference as possible and admitted , " I don 't really believe in the mission of my job . ... I 'm aware of the irony . " Ron is also partially inspired by political appointees of President George W. Bush who were perceived to be opposed to the branch of government they were overseeing . Ron 's signature mustache was one of the first ideas conceived for the character . Offerman said the deadpan style of humor he uses for Ron Swanson was cultivated during his youth , when he was an altar boy : " I would read things with the utmost sincerity , and my cousin would be cracking up because he knew I was full of shit . " 
