“A towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues, President Clinton continues to shape the political dialogue both here and around the world,” Scorsese said in a statement.

about an HBO biopic, now in production. I’ve long been puzzled how former presidents retain their transient titles of office. How does this work? Are there rules set down anywhere? Would Bush and Clinton formally address each other as Mr President if they met? Does Mr without a surname signify the present one?

Wiki Answers:

The President of the US will always be referred to as President. It is normal for an ex-President to be called “Former President so and so” when introduced in a TV show, but the correct title is President until death. Same holds true for Judges and Senators, but not for Representatives or lower offices.

It’s not a law… it’s just tradition.

Are there any other examples of non-military job titles being carried into retirement?

There were a few smiles when Hillary Clinton referred to Kevin Rudd, who had recently been deposed in a party coup, as Prime Minister Rudd. It was a reasonable assumption by Clinton that the title Prime Minister was retained even after you’ve lost the job, but it ain’t and it touched on something of a sore point.

OP Tipping - 18 December 2012 01:57 PM

Are there any other examples of non-military job titles being carried into retirement?. ...

In the small towns of the Western US a well known or popular sheriff or mayor or judge may be address by that title until his death. The Justice of the Peace in Elko, NV who married us was called “Judge” for twenty years after he retired because of a scandal.

This is an issue that annoys my wife, for some reason.  She’s always telling the TV, “He’s not president/senator/etc. anymore!”.

When did this convention arise?  She insists it wasn’t the norm when she was younger.

What bugs _me_ is when they say Obama is the 44th president. Grover Cleveland was but one man! He didn’t die as Grover the grey and get remade as Grover the white.
[/rant]