T H Barack Obama

[llyn.glas]

I have seen “T H Barack Obama” used in a number of state visits, most recently to Japan. http://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2016-05/obama-abe-hiroshima-afp-1_650x400_61464341233.jpg

What does the T. H. stand for? Was wondering if some republican version of HRH. “Top Honcho” maybe, but does not seem to have enough gravitas.

[El_Kabong]

“The Honorable”

[mbh]

In many countries, presidents are “His/Her Excellency”, but Americans have generally thought that was too close to HRH for comfort in a good republic.

Most legislators and state governors are Honorables, so it doesn’t spark paranoia in one’s political opponents.

[JRDelirious]

IIRC the Gov of Virginia is an “Excellency” , I supose it figures it would be Virginia.

But yes, it’s The Honorable Barack H. Obama, PotUS.

[mbh]

Excellency

In the United States, the form Excellency was commonly used for George Washington during his service as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and later during his presidency, but it began to fall out of use with his successor, and today has been replaced in direct address with the simple Mr. President or The Honorable. However, in many foreign countries and in United Nations protocol the President of the United States is usually referred to as His Excellency. Diplomatic correspondence to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, as during the Trent Affair, for instance, frequently referred to him as His Excellency.

In several of the former Thirteen Colonies, the form Excellency is used for the governor. These include Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia. West Virginia likewise adopted the title His/Her Excellency from its parent state. The term is used frequently in Georgia on the state governor’s letterhead, the text of executive orders, any document that requires the governor’s signature, and in formal settings. Excellency is used frequently when introducing the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Governor of Virginia, and the Governor of North Carolina at formal events. The Governor of Michigan is traditionally afforded the courtesy title, though it has fallen out of use in recent years.[13]

Other governors are sometimes addressed as Excellency at public events. This is a traditional practice that is not at all incorrect, but it is less common, and is the product of custom and courtesy rather than of legislation.

Though ambassadors are traditionally accorded the title elsewhere, the U.S. government does not use Excellency for its chiefs of missions, preferring Honorable instead.

John Adams

At the start of Washington’s administration, Adams became deeply involved in a month-long Senate controversy over the official title of the President. Adams favored grandiose titles derived from British Crown tradition, such as “His Majesty the President” or “His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of Their Liberties.” Jefferson described Adams’ proposed titles as “superlatively ridiculous.”[59] The plain “President of the United States” eventually won the debate. The perceived pomposity of his stance, along with his being overweight, led to Adams earning the nickname “His Rotundity.”[68]