Why Should Presidents Salute?

[Dayton3]

I've heard that members of the military liked President Reagan (among many reasons) because he returned salutes properly when saluted by military personnel.

On the other hand, I've heard that President Clinton was disliked (in part) because of his sloppy saluting?

My question is this?

Why is a president expected to salute military person in uniform AT ALL?

Sure, the president is the "Commander In Chief" but that is a civilian position.

I thought I read somewhere that

A) Military personnel were not supposed to salute people in civilian clothes

&

B) Military personnel wearing civilian clothes were not supposed to salute uniformed military personnel.

So why is the president supposed to return a salute?

I thought the response by a civilian receiving a salute was a nod of the head to acknowledge it

and IIRC, only a civilian wearing a Medal of Honor is entitled to be saluted by ANY uniformed member of the military.

Can anyone correct my thinking if I'm wrong?

 

[Ptrope]

Well, "Commander in Chief" isn't really a 'civilian' position - the president may be a civilian, but he does hold real authority over all U.S. military personnel of any rank. AFAIK, based on a discussion I heard on TV a couple weeks ago, the president saluting military personnel is only a tradition, and a relatively recent one, not a requirement; as you noted, military personnel aren't required to salute lower-ranking personnel, and the president outranks them all. Still, his position does make him 'one of them,' and it's a matter of respect for him to salute - to me, it would definitely seem more respectful if the person delivering the salute did it correctly than if he just did it as an absent and sloppy gesture, and in turn it would affect the respect I had for the person, apart from the position itself.

 

[Squiggy]

So why is the president supposed to return a salute?

It's polite, respectful, and he's their commander.

 

[Mr. B]

I'd agree with Ptrope. The President is the "commander in chief" and is rightfully saluted. A respectful president should return the favor.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Can anyone correct my thinking if I'm wrong?

I don't know. Have you ever changed your mind about a topic due to what you've read on this board?

 

[jamestyler]

He's the president. If you don't do what he wants, you can and will be beaten to death by your own shoes. It's the law.

 

[Skywalker]

He's the president. If you don't do what he wants, you can and will be beaten to death by your own shoes. It's the law.

It's true. It happened to me, once.

 

[Garrovick]

A salute is a sign of respect. Until the President wins the Medal of Honor he is required to be respectful.

Medal of Honor winners are not required to salute.

Says the 22 year veteran of the USAF - Who did not win that medal by the way.

 

[ancientone51]

Garrovick /** from a four year USAF vet.

As stated above, he's is the CIC and it is a sign of respect to return one. But, again as previously stated, it should be done correctly. Sharp and clean.

 

[Maestro]

Shouldn't we be asking you, Dayton3? Aren't you a Social Studies teacher?

 

[JuanBolio]

He returns a salute - he doesn't offer one, generally. Its the respectful thing to do when you're in the military chain of command. As to not doing it right, not everyone has been through boot camp and knows how. I'd rather Obama focus on the bigger problems.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Correct, the POTUS is returning the salute rendered by the military personell as he approaches them, or they he.

If the POTUS does not return it, they are required to hold it till he is past them by a few paces. If the salute is returned, the POTUS always drops it first.

When I was in the Florida National Guard, my unit was mobilized for Pope John Paul II's visit to Miami. A guy in my unit was in his last year before he retired, and somehow got assigned to a position where the President passed by unexpectedly. My buddy somehow managed to maintain composure (remember we were part-timers) and presented arms as required.

As the rest of his final enlistment year completed, he maintained that saluting the Commander in Chief was the highlight of his military career.

 

[Mike Farley]

He returns a salute - he doesn't offer one, generally. Its the respectful thing to do when you're in the military chain of command. As to not doing it right, not everyone has been through boot camp and knows how. I'd rather Obama focus on the bigger problems.

Takes about 30 seconds to learn how to salute properly. It is not an enormous drain on Presidential time.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

He's the president. If you don't do what he wants, you can and will be beaten to death by your own shoes. It's the law.

"I was spanked by Grover Cleveland on two non-consecutive occasions!"

 

[JuanBolio]

He returns a salute - he doesn't offer one, generally. Its the respectful thing to do when you're in the military chain of command. As to not doing it right, not everyone has been through boot camp and knows how. I'd rather Obama focus on the bigger problems.

Takes about 30 seconds to learn how to salute properly. It is not an enormous drain on Presidential time.

Have you looked at officers in the military? They don't always return salutes from enlisted men in the most professional manner, either. Sometimes when you're in a hurry you just don't have any damn time for the formalities, and the POTUS is almost always in a hurry.

 

[Squiggy]

Obama is the first President in a while to render a proper "sharp" salute. I was surprised the first time I saw it.

 

[cultcross]

As designated head of your military it makes sense that he would be courteous to those personnel under his command who salute him, regardless of whether he has to or not.

You can guarantee that if a president didn't, his opponents would be up in arms about it.

 

[Dayton3]

Shouldn't we be asking you, Dayton3? Aren't you a Social Studies teacher?

Oddly enough, military protocol isn't in the teaching syllabus of high school social studies teachers.

 

[Dayton3]

Can anyone correct my thinking if I'm wrong?

I don't know. Have you ever changed your mind about a topic due to what you've read on this board?

I just did.

 

[Nobody]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the story of Reagan talking to one of his Generals. He asked the General if he could a return a salute to military personnel. The General quipped, "Technically, no sir, but you're the President so no one's gonna correct you." Hence, Reagan kept saluting.



-nobody