# What would Bill Clinton's title be if Hillary gets elected? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453 "2016-05-10T01:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [May 10, 2016, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/21 "2016-05-10T11:35:22Z")
“First gentleman” is pretty well established. That seems to be what most (all?) governors’ husbands have been called. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/22 "2016-05-10T20:11:18Z")
Yes. Etiquette did dictate the office prior to becoming president when addressing him. However, when was the last time you heard Gov. Reagan or Gov. Carter? So like all the others over the last 40+ years It will be President Clinton or President Bill Clinton to distinguish which. We’ve recently had the problem of distinguishing which of The Bushs was being referred to. Too me it was simple. I always referred to the old one as… The Elected Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/23 "2016-05-10T20:13:57Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > We’ve recently had the problem of distinguishing which of The Bushs was being referred to. Too me it was simple. I always referred to the old one as… The Elected Bush. Bush the Elder and Bush the Usurper. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/24 "2016-05-10T20:42:31Z")
First Mate…? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/25 "2016-05-10T20:58:25Z")
In honor of Prince, he should be called TAFKAP. The Adulterer Formerly Known As President. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/26 "2016-05-10T21:07:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I love Miss Manners dearly, but she’s simply out of date on that one. The exception for Presidents has not been generally observed for generations now. There is a scene in the film “Amistad” in which John Quincy Adams, who during the events of the movie sits in Congress some years after being President, is referred to as “Mr. President.” I was surprised at this and thought it an error - I thought it a modern convention - but when I looked into it, found it was probably historically correct. The convention of referring to former Presidents as “Mr. President” predates Lincoln. Despite this, _every self-proclaimed reference on etiquette says it’s wrong._ That said, I’m not sure where they get this from, and I wonder if maybe one source said this and all the references date back to that one. There’s no formal rule in a U.S. code on how Presidents, sitting or former, are supposed to be addressed; it’s custom, no more or less legal than how former boxing champions are often addressed as “Champ.” ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/27 "2016-05-10T21:11:51Z")
The Former HMFIC ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/28 "2016-05-10T21:24:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > There is a scene in the film “Amistad” in which John Quincy Adams, who during the events of the movie sits in Congress some years after being President, is referred to as “Mr. President.” > > I was surprised at this and thought it an error - I thought it a modern convention - but when I looked into it, found it was probably historically correct. The convention of referring to former Presidents as “Mr. President” predates Lincoln. > > Despite this, _every self-proclaimed reference on etiquette says it’s wrong._ That said, I’m not sure where they get this from, and I wonder if maybe one source said this and all the references date back to that one. There’s no formal rule in a U.S. code on how Presidents, sitting or former, are supposed to be addressed; it’s custom, no more or less legal than how former boxing champions are often addressed as “Champ.” [The Protocol School Of Washington.](http://www.formsofaddress.info/FOA_president_US_former.html) > [@](#): > > Here’s the WHY behind the correct form. This is the traditional approach for any office of which there is only one office-holder at a time. So, with officials such as mayors, governors or presidents … only the current office holder is addressed as Mr. Mayor, Governor, or Mr. President … formers are not addressed that way. [Miss Manners.](https://books.google.com/books?id=Ju1XvqoMookC&pg=PA708&lpg=PA708&dq=miss+manners+former+president+title&source=bl&ots=5IBaHEG-zN&sig=tU_Vb0LaOa9X65L4Jk4YAfLP-_I&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4lvfAt9DMAhXF56YKHTxGCugQ6AEIUDAH#v=onepage&q=miss%20manners%20former%20president%20title&f=false) Google Books link. Can’t copy and paste. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/29 "2016-05-11T00:01:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by cmyk > Would First Gentleman trump Mr. President? Definitely not if your name is Mr.Trump 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/30 "2016-05-11T00:46:25Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > “First gentleman” is pretty well established. That seems to be what most (all?) governors’ husbands have been called. This is what The Washington Post appears to have settled upon. So WJC would be the First Gentleman of the United States but generally referred to as Mr. Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![bobo\_blesinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@bobo\_blesinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobo_blesinger)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/31 "2016-05-11T01:45:09Z")
Big Pimpin’ Bubba ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/32 "2016-05-11T02:25:44Z")
First Stud ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/33 "2016-05-11T02:40:11Z")
President’s Husband Of The United States. PHOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/34 "2016-05-11T19:07:31Z")
The Best Friend a Comedy Writer Ever Had? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/35 "2016-05-11T19:32:38Z")
Anyone else note the irony in this serial liar, cheater, likely rapist of at least one woman and committer of sexual assault against others being called “Gentleman”? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/36 "2016-05-11T19:38:13Z")
Anyone else note the irony in this serial liar, cheater, likely rapist of at least one woman and committer of sexual assault against others being referred to as “Gentleman”? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/37 "2016-05-11T20:03:37Z")
Most likely, the news media will call Hillary “President Clinton” and Bill “Former President Clinton”. I’m betting “First Gentleman” will be limited to tabloid and morning shows, stand up comedians, and other very informal discussions. But if we ever have a woman president whose husband _isn’t_ a former president himself, we’ll probably hear “First Gentleman” quite often. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/38 "2016-05-12T20:51:28Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Most likely, the news media will call Hillary “President Clinton” and Bill “Former President Clinton”. I’m betting “First Gentleman” will be limited to tabloid and morning shows, stand up comedians, and other very informal discussions. > > But if we ever have a woman president whose husband _isn’t_ a former president himself, we’ll probably hear “First Gentleman” quite often. That’d be my guess. There is something of a precedent, with George H.W. and George W. Bush, and John and John Quincy Adams. However, neither John Adams nor George H.W. Bush were part of their sons’ households, like Bill would be. So I suspect copy editors wouldl avoid calling Bill “President Clinton” unless it’s completely unambiguous which President Clinton they mean. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/39 "2016-05-12T21:18:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Anyone else note the irony in this serial liar, cheater, likely rapist of at least one woman and committer of sexual assault against others being called “Gentleman”? > [@Starving Artist](#): > > Anyone else note the irony in this serial liar, cheater, likely rapist of at least one woman and committer of sexual assault against others being referred to as “Gentleman”? Apologies for the double post. The second was intended to be an edit of the first. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453/40 "2016-05-13T01:10:22Z")
The content needs apologizing for more than the double posting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-be-if-hillary-gets-elected/754453.md?page=3)