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Originally Posted by la miss
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The same question was asked in the Q&A section on the website for The Protocol School of Washington's Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address:
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QUESTION-
Addressing A Former President
I will meet President Clinton in a few weeks in person. I know they call former US Presidents "President Clinton." But what would I call him when I meet him or when I introduce others to him: e.g. "Mr. Clinton", or "President Clinton? Thanks for your help.
-- Politico, Clarendon Hills, IL
ANSWER-
Hi Politico:
Former Presidents are directly addressed as "Mr. (Name)", not as "President (name)", and they are identified as "the former President of the United States".
You will hear the media say "President Clinton." BUT in direct address it is not correct. "President Clinton" and "President Bush" are used on TV so the listener can be clear who is being discussed. But in direct address it's "Mr. President" for the current president, and "Mr. (surname)" for former presidents of the United States.
"The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton" .... is correct when you are using the FULL NAME in writing because once elected, officials are addresses as "The Honorable" for life. And that's the correct form for formal introduction -- like from a podium before his speech to the audience -- but you wouldn't address him that way in conversation.
-- Robert Hickey
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The Protocol School of Washington is probably the most well respected protocol and etiquette school in the United States. The school's deputy director Robert Hickey is the author of the book Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address. Many people consider this book to be the bible of protocol/etiquette.
Even though most people think it sounds more respectful to directly address the former president as Mr. President, it's not correct. But no one is going to correct you if you call him Mr. President because 1. it would be rude to do so and 2. protocol training has become an anachronism. The vast majority of us don't receive protocol training anymore and no one truly expects us to follow it anymore. But there is a "rule" even if we choose not to follow it.
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and for me, old habits die hard as I address any officer as
sir or
ma'am...including my commander-in-chief and any former commander-in-chief. I would probably be inclined to salute if I were in uniform but that's just an instinct, lol. But that courtesy extends on down to civilians with no rank or title, also.
