True, but being President is different than being Governor. I’ve noticed this, myself, and politics/feelings-about-Palin aside – I do feel that this courtesy is being used far more frequently with her than with other former Governors.
No politics, just my impression.
-Rec
Howard Dean, Michael Dukakis, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter were routinely addressed as “governor” during their presidential bids.
This gets my vote. Harry Truman, when he left the White House, said he looked forward to just being plain ol’ “Mr. Truman” again. In a democracy, we don’t have hereditary titles, and IMHO if you’re not actually in office, you shouldn’t keep using the title. Joe Kennedy was referred to as “the Ambassador” for decades after leaving his post in London, for chrissakes.
Does this mean people will have to call me Form Captain from now on?
I was elected to this position at school so I think its only fair.
Accompanied by a bow or a curtsey of course.
Funny you should mention Mr. Hickey. I hadn’t gotten an answer on the question I posed above on whether Nixon or other office-holders who had been impeached or resigned in disgrace should still be called “Honorable.” So I e-mailed him. Here’s his response:
Thanks of course to Robert Hickey for that answer, and ignorance fought on that.
My understanding from reading Miss Manners is that it is never improper to use the appropraite one of these: Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. This is the case for sitting and ex-presidents, other office holders, medical doctors, and lawyers. The one possible exception is a judge while presiding in court.
Optionally, someone can refer to another by there job title or degree related honorific even after they are retired or out of office. Pres and VP are different because we only have one of each in the country at a time. If instead of Mr. Clinton you want to use honorific you would properly say former President Clinton.