# What would Bill Clinton's title have been had Hillary become President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984 "2009-12-30T00:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/21 "2009-12-30T21:12:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > and [Lou Rell (CT)](http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/site/default.asp). No title is given for Mr. Rell, although some internet sources call him the First Gentleman as well. So that’s two ‘First Gentlemen’ and two ‘we’re sidestepping this whole thing.’ Mr. Rell has evidently decided to not be a public figure here in CT. As such, he is rarely mentioned in any media. If any clarification is needed, it is usually only some formation such as “..the governor’s husband…” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/22 "2009-12-30T21:33:22Z")
He’ll be known as the neutered ex president if Hillary catches him fooling around again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/23 "2009-12-30T21:58:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > On his own however I could see him being introduced as President Clinton. I think the White House would have taken pains to avoid that. They would not have wanted to leave the impression someone else was in charge. “President Bill Clinton,” maybe- but I suspect a different compromise would have been reached. ---
**Author:** ![jbaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/24 "2009-12-30T22:29:11Z")
Bear in mind that, contrary to popular belief, “First Lady” is not the title of the President’s wife. Rather, it is the title of the hostess of the White House. If Hillary had been elected President, most likely the function would have been filled by Chelsea. I feel sure that it would not have been Bill. While there probably would have been some jocular references to Bill as the First Gentleman, in general he likely would have continued with his actual title of Former President, upgraded to the courtesy title of Mr. President when that would not cause confusion or be barred by protocol. ---
**Author:** ![Xotan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/278dde/32.png) [@Xotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xotan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/25 "2009-12-30T23:49:30Z")
Ireland has had two women presidents - one still in office. Their husbands have no standing in the eyes of the state or of the people. There is no provision in the constitution for such a thing. The idea of the wife or husband of the president having any official, or even semi-official role, would be quite bizarre. They remain private citizens. The president, however, when in office is formally addressed as (in Irish) A Shoillse or (in English) Your Excellency. The spouse is simply Mister or Mrs. X ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984/26 "2009-12-31T00:06:44Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I was always schooled to refer to retired judges as “judge”. Miss Manners seems to indicate that Bush is properly referred to as Governor Bush today. Huh? Why should he keep that and not President? Miss Manners is using the same logic that George Washington had : “There is only one President, but there are many Generals” Hence upon leaving office, President Washington becomes General Washington President Bush becomes Governor Bush Governor xyz stays Governor xyz Judge xyz stays Judge xyz [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-bill-clintons-title-have-been-had-hillary-become-president/522984.md?page=1)