When George Washington was elected as the first US president, there was debate on how to address him. John Adams suggested “His Highness” but it was later simplified to “Mr. President” which is still used today. “Majesty” was dismissed as “superlatively ridiculous.”
When George Washington was 57, he was elected president of the newly minted country known as the United States. Because he was the first person elected to such a high position, congressional discussion in 1789 began to revolve around one important point: How should this new president be addressed? Headlines from Europe were trumpeted, from “Your Highness” to “Your Elective Majesty,” but nothing of the sort fit the tenor of the new US Constitution. John Adams suggested “His Highness of him, the President of the United States and Protector of the rights thereof”, which was later condensed to the simpler “Mr. President” that is used today.
Hail to the boss:
At one point, Adams suggested that “Majesty” was more appropriate, but this idea was dismissed by Thomas Jefferson, who said it was “superlatively ridiculous” and Benjamin Franklin, who called the idea “absolutely insane.”
The constitution did not specify the manner of address for the country’s chief executive. When he was sworn in, the oath ended with, “Long live George Washington, President of the United States.”
Today “Mr. President” or “Madam President” is used to address any person holding the title of president or anyone who presides over certain government bodies.
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