Why Should Presidents Salute?

[Franklin]

This has always bugged me. It was Reagan, a man who was never in the military but played a soldier in the movies, who first returned the salutes of those soldiers who saluted him. I never remember Eisenhower, Kennedy or Nixon returning salutes (I don't remember one way or another about Johnson). All three of these men were World War II veterans. They understood that they were now civilians and should not return the salute. To me, not returning the salute is a sign of the civilian control of the military, a foundation of our democracy.

I wish Obama, again a man who never served in the military, would not return the salute. It is proper and respectful for people to salute him. Not saluting back I think shows the proper respect for American democracy.

Agreed. But as Roger Wilco said, woe be unto the first President to go back to the proper ways. Sadly, people just won't appreciate or understand why it's not necessary on the President's part.
Having a civilian in ultimate control of the military was very important to the framers of the Constitution. (Of course, as a politcal theory professor I had years ago pointed out, how far can you really take that? Hitler was a civilian in control of the military, too. There! Two Godwins in one thread. )

 

[JustKate]

It actually used to be considered disrespectful to wear flag-themed clothing items. Those flag patches hippies and wannabe hippies used to wear on their jeans or jackets? That was not considered a mark of patriotism. Now if you wear a red, white and blue suit, you'd be considered a bit tacky, but also very patriotic. Life is very odd sometimes.

 

[Dayton3]

This has always bugged me. It was Reagan, a man who was never in the military but played a soldier in the movies, who first returned the salutes of those soldiers who saluted him. quote]

Ronald Reagan served in the U.S. military in World War II. Left with the rank of captain.

True, he made training films and never served in combat.

But then again, Nixon and Carter served in the military and never saw combat either. Johnson barely saw any.

 

[Franklin]

It actually used to be considered disrespectful to wear flag-themed clothing items. Those flag patches hippies and wannabe hippies used to wear on their jeans or jackets? That was not considered a mark of patriotism. Now if you wear a red, white and blue suit, you'd be considered a bit tacky, but also very patriotic. Life is very odd sometimes.

Oh, God, don't get me started on that. My politics are very liberal, for example, I certainly would not support an anti-flag burning amendment on free speech grounds. But when it comes to the flag otherwise, it hurts me to see how often it is disrespected and improperly used these days in the name of patriotism.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I'm pretty sure it was mentioned in Scouts, but I never had to learn that in high school.

Scouts has a relaxed policy on saluting. When I was in it there was no set BSA-wide rule on saluting scouts of a higher rank, it was pretty much just salute the flag.

Yeah, what I learned was salute the flag, but only while in Uniform.

 

[B.J.]

I'm pretty sure it was mentioned in Scouts, but I never had to learn that in high school.

Scouts has a relaxed policy on saluting. When I was in it there was no set BSA-wide rule on saluting scouts of a higher rank, it was pretty much just salute the flag.

Yeah, what I learned was salute the flag, but only while in Uniform.

Yup. I got my Eagle, and am currently a Den Leader, and Scouts pretty much only salute the flag, not people, and only when in uniform.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

They never really emphasized the need to salute wearing a hat, though, but that could just be because my troop was very lax (I never owned a regular Boy Scout hat, iirc)

 

[J.T.B.]

This has always bugged me. It was Reagan, a man who was never in the military but played a soldier in the movies, who first returned the salutes of those soldiers who saluted him. I never remember Eisenhower, Kennedy or Nixon returning salutes (I don't remember one way or another about Johnson). All three of these men were World War II veterans. They understood that they were now civilians and should not return the salute. To me, not returning the salute is a sign of the civilian control of the military, a foundation of our democracy.

Ford was also a navy combat veteran and didn't salute.

Reagan became a cavalry lieutenant in the US Army Reserve in the late thirties. When the war started eyesight difficulties restricted him to stateside service, and his commission was transferred to the air corps so he could serve in the AAF motion picture unit in California. He was a captain when the war ended.

There was a very different attitude toward the military in Washington before Reagan. There was a strong emphasis on civilian control, and many politicians had a strong distrust of generals and admirals. Before WW2, most officers serving in DC, from the CNO and the Army Chief of Staff on down, went to work in civilian clothes every day to remain inconspicuous. (One biography of Chester Nimitz relates that he was one of the few admirals in Washington who even had a serviceable uniform to put on immediately after Pearl Harbor).

Presidents reflected this attitude and never used such a military gesture as a hand salute. But when Reagan came into office, he wanted to emphasize the government's connection to the military. Military ceremonies and parades became in style. Uniformed aides proliferated at every function. The US Surgeon General was ordered to wear a uniform. And RR began returning salutes, and it was quickly noted in the press. And since then, nobody wants to be the president who doesn't return the salute. I can hear it now: "What has he got against our men and women in uniform, he won't even return a salute?!"

I wish Obama, again a man who never served in the military, would not return the salute. It is proper and respectful for people to salute him. Not saluting back I think shows the proper respect for American democracy.

I see the point. I'm not crazy about the appearance of the salute in civilian clothes, either, and especially bareheaded. But I really can't get worked up over it. The president is the actual head of the armed forces, not a honorary figurehead as in some countries, and if he wants to use a military salute I'd say he's earned the position that gives him that right.

--Justin

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

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

You "heard" from whom? Or did you tell yourself this fact? Not doubt Clinton's "salut" might have been sloppy once or twice but I'm sure that's because he was distracted on other important issues.....like hanky panky in the Oval Office

I don't remember ever being impressed by Reagan's saluting, ever
that's certainly not something Ronnie Alzheimers did that "impressed" me

This has always bugged me. It was Reagan, a man who was never in the military but played a soldier in the movies, who first returned the salutes of those soldiers who saluted him.

Ronald Reagan served in the U.S. military in World War II. Left with the rank of captain.

He wasn't allowed full service due to medical reasons one of them he was myopic which means he probably had vision that would impress a bat. Anyhow he was a radio and movie guy long before he was a national guard military guy, my guess is a few boys at Warner Bros pulled some strings to help him leave with the rank of captain.