# "Mr. President, you have to....because it's traditional." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321 "2021-01-23T22:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/41 "2021-01-26T17:59:35Z")
I wasn’t thinking along the lines of meaningless on the Mexico City policy. It was just something that they always do. ---
**Author:** ![Moreau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Moreau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moreau)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/42 "2021-01-27T18:31:39Z")
Former enlisted here. Officers returning a salute is a courtesy and show of mutual respect and social lubricant. The President is a civilian but he is CNC and returning a salute is good manners and politics. Imagine if the CEO of your company just ignored you when you greeted him. You would probably take it as a slight and remember it for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/43 "2021-01-27T18:37:07Z")
But the president can acknowledge a salute without saluting himself. As mentioned previously, neither Eisenhower nor JFK returned salutes and both would obviously have been familiar with the military etiquette involved (especially Eisenhower). ---
**Author:** ![Moreau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Moreau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moreau)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/44 "2021-01-27T18:51:41Z")
True but a salute is quick and doesn’t require stopping or talking. I wonder if television played a role in it becoming common. It is good optics and that is a large part of the job. That and as being a veteran has become less common for both Presidents and the general public, there has been a growth in the mouth service given to vets. Eisenhower and JFK didn’t have anything to prove in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/45 "2021-01-27T18:54:14Z")
Yes, the POTUS is commander in chief but he/she is also a civilian and I think it’s actually important that fact be recognized. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/46 "2021-01-27T19:09:20Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > _Hail to the chief > If you don’t, I’ll have to kill you > I am the chief, so you better watch your step, > you bastards_ My personal favorite from Ernest P. Worrell [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i31X5MLB9QA/hqdefault.jpg "Ernest in 'Hail to the Chief'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i31X5MLB9QA&t=23) ---
**Author:** ![mjmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/47 "2021-01-27T19:28:21Z")
The White House Correspondence Dinner and Alfred Smith Dinner. Though President Trump ended the tradition on the first, and made a mockery of the second. I hope President Biden will revive them. I always thought it was good for the politicians to poke some fun at each other in a usually good humored way. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/48 "2021-01-27T21:20:11Z")
> [@Moreau](#): > > I wonder if television played a role in it becoming common. It is good optics and that is a large part of the job. I think Reagan did it for exactly that reason. He was an actor and understood that optics was everything. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/49 "2021-01-28T15:30:35Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Tony Packo’s restaurant in Toledo has walls covered with hot dog buns signed by presidential candidates (under plastic bubbles) – it appears that they have signatures from just about every Democratic and Republican candidate over the past few decades. What are the other odd things that presidents do because — it’s tradition. Side note; if you’re ever in Toledo, go to Tony Packo’s and get the pierogies. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/50 "2021-01-28T17:28:34Z")
> [@ASGuy](#): > > I understand that it is traditional for the President to send a congratulatory letter to any U.S. citizen who can verify they have turned 100 years old. > > I suspect it’s all handled by White House staff, but my grandmother-in-law received one from Obama. [Same thing with the Queen](https://www.royal.uk/anniversary-messages-0) (it used to be special greetings telegrams, but now it’s a nice card); I imagine it’s much the same in many other countries ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/51 "2021-01-28T17:38:14Z")
It gets pretty bad on that score, doesn’t it. ISTR one high-ranking official going so far as to [shoot his buddy in the face](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney_hunting_accident), doubtless in order to bolster his own Regular Joe bona fides. “[The government you elect is the government you deserve](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9936224-the-government-you-elect-is-the-government-you-deserve).” Oh, so true. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/52 "2021-01-28T20:14:18Z")
Sigh: I just noticed a fault in my own original post. It’s the hot dog buns that are under plastic bubbles, not the candidates. I’m sure that other people noticed, but were kind enough to refrain from pointing out my faulty grammar. Thanks to all the respondents. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/53 "2021-01-29T01:14:14Z")
Tree lightings. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/54 "2021-02-02T16:22:51Z")
Real Presidents have dogs. Biden is off to a good start, if he can avoid further accidents playing with them. In fact, most great leaders have been Dog People. F.D.R., Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong-Il - all had dogs. They weren’t always _nice_ to their dogs, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/55 "2021-02-15T18:23:30Z")
Just thought of one: Mr. President, your road vehicle is now the “presidential limousine”. The Secret Service detail will be following along in the big SUV’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/56 "2021-02-15T18:26:59Z")
Not quite “you have to”, but I read somewhere that the Coca-Cola company was a big contributor to one political party, and Pepsi-Cola was a contributor to the other. And the cola served at the White House reflected that. ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/57 "2021-02-15T19:51:42Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Not quite “you have to”, but I read somewhere that the Coca-Cola company was a big contributor to one political party, and Pepsi-Cola was a contributor to the other. And the cola served at the White House reflected that Not looking up if that’s true or not but if I was President of the party that was expected to drink Pepsi, I’d veto that tradition in exactly the time it took for one of my aides to bring me the Real Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/58 "2021-02-16T00:29:40Z")
Jimmy Carter stopped Hail to the Chief being played for him for a while because he didn’t like it. But the White House got inundated with letters urging for it to be brought back because people thought removing it was cheapening the prestige of the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/59 "2021-02-16T03:52:05Z")
Reagan may have been the first president to salute all the time but he certainly wasn’t the only one to salute. Most of the time you see pictures of Harry Truman with his hat over his heart when the military people around him are saluting. It’s rare but there are a few photos of him saluting. I’ve done extensive digging in the past because my father told me (long before Reagan was in office) that he was once saluted by Truman when he was guarding Shangri-La. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321/60 "2021-02-23T11:31:21Z")
Maybe not “absolutely have to”, but now Presidents are expected to make their tax returns public and put their investments in a blind trust while they are in office. (See – many of the discussions on this board over the past four years.) And, going somewhere? Mr. President, you’ll either be using Marine 1, Air Force 1, or the Presidential limousine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-president-you-have-to-because-its-traditional/931321.md?page=4)