Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | February 4, 2009
As I did last week, this excerpt will be from my new favorite book, Enjoy!
1789 - Congress Determines How To Address The President
Many people, Vice President John Adams foremost among them, thought that referring to Washington as “president” simply wasn’t enough. Adams argued that it was important to give the highest office in the land a title with more “dignity and splendor.”
South Carolina senator Ralph Izard proposed calling the president, “His Excellency.” George Washington initially favored the title of “His High Mightiness.” A Senate committee came back with this mouthful: “His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of the Rights of Same.”
After much debate, Congress decided that these titles reeked of monarchy, and settled for the term we still use today: “Mr. President.”
Personally, I would appreciate it if you referred to me as “His High Mightiness.”
Topics: HHH |
February 4th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Okay, his high madness it is…
February 4th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Reminds me of what my Daddy used to say: “Don’t care what you call me. Just don’t call me late for dinner.”
February 5th, 2009 at 3:32 am
John Adams wanted the president to have an exalted title. Adams could be a bit abrasive about it, and since he was on the heavy side, his political foes called him His Rotundity.
February 5th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Old George had a way with words.
February 5th, 2009 at 6:22 am
The Marshall said: Personally, I would appreciate it if you referred to me as “His High Mightiness.”
Wouldn’t you prefer, “His High skininess”?
February 5th, 2009 at 7:24 am
You’d better watch it, Obama catch wind of this and demand to be called “His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of the Rights of Same.”
Eeesh!
February 5th, 2009 at 8:26 am
How about Your immenseness, or Your Girth?
February 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am
John Adams must have believed that since our new nation should be on equal par with the European monarchies, a title similar to those bestowed on the kings and queens of Europe was needed. Fortunately, George Washington was humble enough to never want such a title for the office.
Wyatt, his high mightiness? How about Mr. Administrator?
February 5th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Let me rewrite this:
John Adams must have believed that since our new nation should be on equal par with the European monarchies, a title similar to those bestowed on the kings and queens of Europe was needed.
Fortunately, George Washington was humble enough to never want such a title for the office.Wyatt, his high mightiness? How about Mr. Administrator?
February 5th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Love the obscure history stuff. Makes me feel more smarter.
I would just like to remind everyone that in America, we can refer to the President by any name we damn well please.
For now.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am
He could have been “King George” if he had wanted . I sincerely hope that Obama or any other Democrat doesn’t know this. They’ll try to pass a “King Barack” bill.
February 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Old NFO - That is disturbingly accurate.
Deanna - Mmm . . . dinner!
Ky person - Go figure. Wagonsux calls me the same thing.
Admiral - Yes he did. And he always knew how many states we had.
Alan B - Nah, I would appreciate “His High Not-So-Fatness,” though.
GroovyVic - And have a ready-made seal for the title, too!
Wagonsux - Hey! I’m less immense now!!!
Morgan - Lord Administrator, you serf!
Kaveman - Well, if the Left can refer to Bush as “Hitler,” we can pretty much have a wide berth.
February 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Elm says:
He could have been “King George” if he had wanted
I don’t understand Americans. You get rid of our King George and set up your own! Tock Tock
February 5th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Long ago a Catholic friend of mine (who grew up somewhere in the East) would address people who really annoyed him as “Yes, Your A**holiness!” I couldn’t help cracking up.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Alan B said
“I don’t understand Americans. You get rid of our King George and set up your own! Tock Tock”
See, that’s the thing. We got rid of Britain’s George because he made us pay taxes. OUR George made us pay taxes but we liked it because it was OUR George. And now we just love paying taxes. snicker
p.s. I don’t understand American LIBERALS. Most regular, non-Liberal Americans are normal and sane.