Just teasing topic: If Hillary wins should Bill be the First Gentleman or First Lord?

[joshcryer]

(I know he still retains the title of President so party poopers please let me be! )

[Whisp]

1. He'll want to be called: I'm First. n/t

[joshcryer]

2. I wonder if "Big Dog" could be a legitimate title.

The Office of the Big Dog.

(Yes, there's an Office of the First Lady, which does lots of good stuff as Michelle has shown; particularly with her pro-healthy eating campaign.)

[Tx4obama]

3. AND Michelle has done A LOT for the veterans (Joining Forces), but it doesn't get talked about much

See two excerpts in Comment #7, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014317444#post7

and

A DU OP from February 2013, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/11792815

[joshcryer]

4. Thanks for that!

There have apparently been other "female relatives" doing the role of the "First Lady" when it's needed.

Interestingly, Hillary Clinton abdicated the title of First Lady when she won her Senator race. I find comments that Chelsea was the acting "First Lady" in that time but I can't corroborate it. Possibly Internet speculation. It was only a 20 days or so from her being sworn in as Senator to Clinton leaving office officially. I doubt Chelsea really was acting "First Lady."

[Tx4obama]

5. She was sworn in as U.S. Senator January 3, 2001, and left the WH January 20, 2001

So, it was only 17 days.

I agree with ya, I also doubt that Chelsea did anything - other then help pack up her own room at the WH to get ready for the move out.

I looked on the Hillary Wikipedia page and it doesn't say anything about an abdication - probably didn't happen since she was still the wife of the president

[joshcryer]

6. There *is* an article saying Chelsea was preparing for that role, though.

For instance, this one: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-12-08/news/9912090015_1_chelsea-clinton-white-house-new-york-senate

But you're right, and 17 days (less than my 20 day guess; sorry about that) isn't worth it really.

I thought I had a source for Hillary Clinton's abdication because it was clearly an executive conflict of interest, but I can't find it. Maybe she didn't. Perhaps at that time The Office of the First Lady wasn't really considered relevant. It was and is an executive office, though. Maybe they did consider that since she was the Presidents' wife it wasn't necessary.

So two strikes on my comments, then.

Sorry for any misinformation, it wasn't intended.

[Tx4obama]

7. Ah, interesting article...

So, what they were talking about was while Hillary was away 'campaigning' 'before' she won the election.

I thought it was going to be about after she was 'sworn in' as a senator.

Anyway, thanks for the info - I really didn't pay much attention to politics back then and I didn't realize that she was sworn in as senator while Bill was still in the White House. That a pretty neat piece of history.

Never too old to learn something new

[joshcryer]

8. This link shows that a few "First Ladies" weren't wed to the President:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_First_Ladies_of_the_United_States

It's what made me believe the Hillary abdication and Chelsea story were true (I can't confirm either though so it's either wrong or just didn't happen for other reasons; see Bush .v Gore).

[intaglio]

9. First Dude

or possibly First Sax

[joshcryer]

10. I'm beginning to be inclined to "First Big Dog."

[jmowreader]

11. He would be Former President Clinton

The people who decided the president's spouse should have a title never thought there might come a day when the president would be married to a former president.

But seriously...since we don't have titles of nobility, and because states with women governors call their gubernatorial spouses First Gentlemen, he would be First Gentleman.

[joshcryer]

12. Yeah, sure.

It'd likely be "First Gentleman Bill Clinton."

The whole "lord" thing made me crack up as an idea.

[MarchemintotheSea]

13. The formal title of Former President or VP does not exist

Technically he should be addressed as The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton.

There is only 1 President, vice president, Speaker, Mayor, Governor, etc...at a time.

Now if Clinton had been say a General in the Military then he could be formally referred to as General Clinton.

It really does not matter to me what he is called.

What will be interesting to see if Hillary gets elected is the dynamic in the WH with a person who once was President is now the first Dude.

Some may think that First Mack Daddy might be a better title then first Dude or First Gentleman, but I would imagine whom ever is the first male spouse of the President will pick the name that everyone else will use who come after him which is kinda sort of how things actually end up working in America.

[Sanity Claws]

14. First Laddie

[joshcryer]

15. Nice!

[Beacool]

22. That's what he would prefer to be called.

Back when Hillary was running for president he was asked that question. He said that he preferred to be called "First Laddie" than "First Gentleman".

[LiberalElite]

16. A friend always referred to him as "Bubba" nt

[bemildred]

17. Duke of Edinburgh I would think. nt

[moriah]

18. Madame President and the First Gentleman...

I think that's how state governor's husbands style themselves, First Gentlemen.

[Old Union Guy]

19. If Hillary wins, she can finally divorce him.

[joshcryer]

20. Oh damn.

I just let out a random belly laugh and my brother is wondering why.

[Beacool]

21. She won't, she loves him.