# If Hillary wins, will she be addressed as "Mrs President" or "Ms President?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608 "2008-01-07T18:01:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zeno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zeno/32/15040_2.png) [@zeno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/1 "2008-01-07T18:01:40Z")
I must know the answer to this. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/2 "2008-01-07T18:04:11Z")
Madam President. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/3 "2008-01-07T18:05:42Z")
Madame President (like Madame Secretary). ---
**Author:** ![zeno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zeno/32/15040_2.png) [@zeno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/4 "2008-01-07T18:12:21Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/5 "2008-01-07T18:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Madame President (like Madame Secretary). [/QUOTE] 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/6 "2008-01-07T18:23:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/7 "2008-01-07T18:54:55Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] 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.) [/QUOTE] Mr. Chairman has been used for decades. I prefer Mr/Madame Chair. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/8 "2008-01-07T19:29:53Z")
Would Bill be the First Lady? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/9 "2008-01-07T19:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=PaulParkhead] Would Bill be the First Lady? [/QUOTE] 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.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/10 "2008-01-07T19:38:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] 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.” [/QUOTE] 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.” ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/11 "2008-01-07T19:38:52Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/12 "2008-01-07T19:41:20Z")
He would be called Former President Clinton, not govenor. Same as Bushes dad. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/13 "2008-01-07T19:41:32Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] 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.” [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/14 "2008-01-07T19:45:54Z")
[QUOTE=PaulParkhead] Would Bill be the First Lady? [/QUOTE] 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 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/15 "2008-01-07T19:50:16Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] He would be called Former President Clinton, not govenor. Same as Bushes dad. [/QUOTE] 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). ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/16 "2008-01-07T19:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] 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 [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/17 "2008-01-07T19:53:01Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. Drake] 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.” [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/18 "2008-01-07T19:55:03Z")
[QUOTE=Dr. Drake] 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). [/QUOTE] I’ve never heard anybody directly address an ex-president as anything but “Mr. President.” ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/19 "2008-01-07T19:57:13Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] 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. [/QUOTE] I know that. I’m just using that as an example. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608/20 "2008-01-07T19:58:41Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I’ve never heard anybody directly address an ex-president as anything but “Mr. President.” [/QUOTE] 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-wins-will-she-be-addressed-as-mrs-president-or-ms-president/432608.md?page=2)