I must know the answer to this.
Madam President.
Madame President (like Madame Secretary).
Thank you.
Or Madame Justice, or Madame Speaker, or Madame Chairwoman. (Which always seemed redundant to me. Why not just go with Your Chairness? Your Sittingness, perhaps? Ooh, I know: Your Comfiness.)
And I doubt it would be the first time there’s been a madame in the White House. We’ve certainly seen a multitude of whores in there.
Mr. Chairman has been used for decades. I prefer Mr/Madame Chair.
Would Bill be the First Lady?
I think the problem of what to call Bill could be side-stepped by the fact that he would still be entitled to be called “President.”
No. Although this is common usage, it is incorrect protocol. There is only one president of the United States of America at any given time. Technically, ex-presidents are supposed to be addressed by their highest title attained before their presidency. I don’t know how that works with other executive branch offices, but I believe he is to be addressed formally as “Governor Clinton.”
And why the hell would he be called that. Are you afraid that you would have to refer to him as First Man perhaps? Heh heh
He would be called Former President Clinton, not govenor. Same as Bushes dad.
Yeah, but you know that won’t satisfy people. They’re going to want to think of some cute thing to call him. First Husband is my guess.
Does anyone know why “Madam” is used? Also, it’s common for people,even journalists, to use “sir” when speaking directly to the president. Will it be “ma’am” for Hillary?
He’d likely be the First Gentleman. Members of Congress are addressed as “the gentleman from (state),” so it’s natural to assume that Mr. Clinton would be First Gentleman.
Robin
Well, Miss Manners (for what she’s worth as a source) agrees with me (from her Dec. 3, 2003 column in the Washington Post). But to split hairs, I think we mean different things by “called.”
Correctly addressed: Governor Clinton.
Correctly discussed in the media: Former President Clinton (where it is his status as former US President that is relevant to the topic at hand).
Charlie Gibson refered to him in Iowa last week as Mr.President. I’m pretty sure he retains his title til death. And even if HRC got the presidency [which I highly doubt] he would still be, Mr.President.
I’ve never heard Jimmy Carter referred to as “Governor,” or Bush Sr. as “vice President.” It’s always “Former President” or directly as “President.”
Who decided this “protocol” anyway? We’re not talking about formal government or military titles, just how the press and the public would refer to them. My guess is that the press would refer to Bill as “President” or “Former President” more often than “First Gentleman.” Just because he would be married to a sitting president doesn’t mean he should be stripped of the same respect that’s given to other ex-presidents.
I’ve never heard anybody directly address an ex-president as anything but “Mr. President.”
I know that. I’m just using that as an example.
Robin
Well, as I said, that is common usage. And if we’re limiting the discussion to how journalists refer to him and / or actually address him, I think you’re right. But I’d love to see a cite as to how heads of state, sitting presidents, and other high-level government officials are supposed to refer to him. I would be very surprised if “President Clinton” were even an option.