# Addressing a Former President **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034 "2001-10-08T02:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/41 "2002-05-22T11:25:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squish \* > \*\*[Here’s what the government says.](http://hydra.gsa.gov/staff/c/ca/corstan.htm#pres) Scroll all the way to the bottom and you’ll find that the third person is The Honorable and the direct address is Mr. President. \*\* That’s the GSA, which is only one component of “the government.” (Plus I have trouble taking as gospel the word of an agency that can’t even spell-check its own table – take a gander at how many times the word “Washinton” appears.) ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/42 "2002-05-24T02:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guy Propski \* > **…Thatcher was "Madame Prime Minister…** AFAIK Mrs Thatcher was never addressed as Madame Prime Minister, the title _Prime Minister_ is not gender specific and title Mr. Prime Minister is not used. She **was** addressed as: Prime Minister Prime Minister Thatcher Mrs. Thatcher Maggie _and occasionally,_ sir ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/43 "2002-05-24T03:12:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*He is Secretary Powell or Mister Secretary. When he steps down as Secretary of State, he may then be properly referred to as “General Powell” if he wishes, although I will bet dollars to donuts that he will be referred to as “former Secretary of State Powell” forever. \*\* Well, I just might take up that bet and say that HE will be referred to as “Mr. President” ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/44 "2002-05-24T06:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > \*\* > That’s the GSA, which is only one component of “the government.” > (Plus I have trouble taking as gospel the word of an agency that can’t even spell-check its own table – take a gander at how many times the word “Washinton” appears.) \*\* The General Services Administration is the closest thing we have to a “protocol” office, and they’re the closest thing we’re going to get to a primary source. And hey, typos happen. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/45 "2002-05-24T06:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stankow \* > \*\* > That’s the GSA, which is only one component of “the government.” > (Plus I have trouble taking as gospel the word of an agency that can’t even spell-check its own table – take a gander at how many times the word “Washinton” appears.) \*\* The General Services Administration is the closest thing we have to a “protocol” office, and they’re the closest thing we’re going to get to a primary source. And hey, typos happen. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/46 "2002-05-24T21:02:08Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Squish \* > \*\* > The General Services Administration is the closest thing we have to a “protocol” office, and they’re the closest thing we’re going to get to a primary source._\* How do you figure that? GSA is a logistics arm – their mission statement is: _We help federal agencies better serve the public by offering, at best value, superior workplaces, expert solutions, acquisition services and management policies._ Of that, “management policies” is as close as I can see to “protocol,” but that’s management of stuff, not management of people. Sorry, I’m not buying that the GSA is the closest thing we have, especially considering that virtually every governmental organization with more than two employees has a protocol office. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/47 "2002-05-24T23:25:35Z")
Whatever. ::rolls eyes Come up with a better cite, then. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/48 "2002-05-25T12:14:14Z")
Check upthread before you roll your goddamn eyes at me, especially if you’re not going to get the coding right. Check[here for the U.S. Army’s version.](http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r25_50.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/49 "2002-05-25T13:06:14Z")
Don’t curse at me. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/50 "2002-05-25T18:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > Explain this, Miss Manners – why is there only one President of the United States at a time, but there can be several governors of Georgia, Arkansas, or California at a time? Maybe I’m mis-remembering Miss Manners, but I recall this as being key. There is only one President, Governor, Mayor, Chief Justice, Speaker, etc. at a time. Thus, only one person is ever properly addressed by that title. It’s different for offices where many people hold the same title simultaneously. A Senator, Congressman, Judge, General, etc. retains that title for life (or until receiving a higher one). There is some slop in that system: What about a General who is elected to Congress, then appointed as Justice to the Supreme Court? In such a case, I suppose it’s the preference of the one being addressed. And if that’s the case, it might as well apply to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/51 "2002-05-26T11:55:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheeGrumpy \* > **Maybe I’m mis-remembering Miss Manners, but I recall this as being key. There is only one President, Governor, Mayor, Chief Justice, Speaker, etc. at a time. Thus, only one person is ever properly addressed by that title.** But she said, “they may revert to an earlier title, such as ‘General’ or ‘Governor.’” Clearly, “Governor” is not unique for some reason. I think she just developed a bug that “President” was so grand that no one but the current should use it. If Ross Perot had been elected President, then he would carry _no honorific_ after leaving office. This is ridiculous and nowhere near what the proper etiquette _should_ be. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034/52 "2002-05-26T13:33:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doghouse Reilly \* > \*\* > > A pattern emerges: both George C. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower were five-star generals–a rank that no longer exists, I believe. So their experiences might not apply to Powell? \*\* The rank of General of the Army (5-star) still exists in todays army, but no one has held that rank in half a century. There was talk of giving GEN Schwarzkopf his 5th star, since he commanded a multi-national force, but they decided not to. I doubt you’ll see the 5th star unless we get into WWIII, though. Jman [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addressing-a-former-president/86034.md?page=2)