# Should Obama salute military people? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362 "2009-02-11T14:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/41 "2009-02-12T20:45:51Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > For me, as an old soldier, returning a salute is the most automatic, natural thing in the world. Perhaps so. Neither Clinton nor Obama are old soldiers. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/42 "2009-02-12T21:53:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps so. Neither Clinton nor Obama are old soldiers. > > Regards, > Shodan Agreed. But would you say W is? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/43 "2009-02-12T22:03:03Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Agreed. But would you say W is? Leaving aside the question of his later service, it is a fact that he was on full time duty for about two years while learning to fly his plane. He was a commissioned officer at the time - and would have done a lot of saluting then and afterward in drills. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/44 "2009-02-12T22:04:19Z")
The President is a civilian and is not wearing a uniform, although he is the CINC. I’d prefer he just nod briskly, smile and keep moving. But Reagan having started the custom, it’s not likely to end soon. Whoever is brave enough to stop doing it would be blasted for “disrespecting the troops.” Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The then national security advisor, Tony Lake, once coached President Clinton in how to correctly salute. See about halfway down this page: [Interviews - Tony Lake | The Clinton Years | FRONTLINE | PBS](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/lake.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/45 "2013-01-28T05:24:53Z")
I just came across this home movie of JFK in late 1963, saluting an Army noncom as the President boarded his helicopter. Start at 5:15; the salute comes at 5:37: [Atoka (Views of the House), Saturday, May 25, 1963 | JFK Library](http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPPP-23.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/46 "2013-01-28T05:28:16Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > In the US, military personnel salute the civilian leadership. If said leadership doesn’t salute back, they’re gonna look kinda like jerks. Eisenhower never did. As a career Army officer, he understood very well that as POTUS he was a civilian, and civilians do not salute. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/47 "2013-01-28T05:32:41Z")
I just got out of the Army, if I had seen Obama while I was in uniform I would salute him because he was my commander in chief even though I don’t like Obama, but I wouldn’t feel that offended if he didn’t salute back of course it might be awkward if I held it lol. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/48 "2013-01-28T06:01:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Dwight Eisenhower, a former five-star general, did not return military salutes while president. But he did salute as he stepped on to the Royal Yacht _Britannia_ in 1959. At about 2:15 in [this video.](http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/economy-business/transport/the-st-lawrence-seaway-gateway-to-the-world/queen-elizabeth-officially-opens-the-st-lawrence-seaway.html) He put his hat on to do it and then took it right back off. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/49 "2013-01-28T06:36:08Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > The GOP would howl if Obama didn’t salute. When _wouldn’t_ they howl? ---
**Author:** ![emoticorpse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@emoticorpse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emoticorpse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/50 "2013-01-28T07:22:53Z")
Why shouldn’t he salute military personnel? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/51 "2013-01-28T12:39:55Z")
If it was proper for W to salute that one time because he used to in the military, then was in improper all the other times he didn’t? I don’t recall any rules, written or otherwise, concerning _former_ military personnel saluting active duty military personnel, so the only two choices are: 1. _Any_ president, whether or not they were formerly in the military, that salutes active duty military is doing something wrong, or 2. Any president that salutes active duty military personnel is honoring them for their service. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/52 "2013-01-28T12:46:56Z")
The President isn’t saluting military personnel to honor them for their service. He’s returing their salute to him. Step 1: Military member salutes his Commander-in-Chief. Step 2: CINC returns the salute. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/53 "2013-01-28T12:57:52Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The President isn’t saluting military personnel to honor them for their service. He’s returing their salute to him. Step 1: Military member salutes his Commander-in-Chief. Step 2: CINC returns the salute. True. Are there cases where the President was saluted in such a manner, and he _didn’t_ return the salute? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/54 "2013-01-28T13:27:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > True. Are there cases where the President was saluted in such a manner, and he _didn’t_ return the salute? I’d be extremely surprised if there weren’t any instances of the President not returning a salute. It’s common enough for military officers to not return a salute for a number of reasons. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, as a former military man mysself, I have to say saluting is one of the dumber things the military’s come up with. I can see it for ceremonies, but to require it all the time is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/55 "2013-01-28T13:33:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > True. Are there cases where the President was saluted in such a manner, and he _didn’t_ return the salute? It sounds like all Presidents before Reagan didn’t return the salute (although it appears a bit inconsistent at times). The military salutes, civilians don’t. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/56 "2013-01-28T13:37:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I just came across this home movie of JFK in late 1963, saluting an Army noncom as the President boarded his helicopter. Start at 5:15; the salute comes at 5:37: [http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPPP-23.aspx](http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPPP-23.aspx) JFK was in the military before he became president though. That might make a difference. (Edit: As I see another poster has already noted). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/57 "2013-01-28T14:01:44Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > But he did salute as he stepped on to the Royal Yacht _Britannia_ in 1959. At about 2:15 in [this video.](http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/economy-business/transport/the-st-lawrence-seaway-gateway-to-the-world/queen-elizabeth-officially-opens-the-st-lawrence-seaway.html) He put his hat on to do it and then took it right back off. In this case, the president was returning a salute on a foreign naval vessel. Would he have done the same when boarding a ship of the U.S. Navy? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/58 "2013-01-28T14:05:54Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > JFK was in the military before he became president though. That might make a difference. (Edit: As I see another poster has already noted). Once again, there is no rule(or even custom) for former military personnel to salute current military personnel. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/59 "2013-01-28T14:27:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Once again, there is no rule(or even custom) for former military personnel to salute current military personnel. No, rule, but JFK apparently invented a custom. For the record, I don’t think presidents should salute regardless of their military background. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362/60 "2013-01-28T14:32:29Z")
nm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-salute-military-people/485362.md?page=4)