Claire. Posted January 18, 2017 #1 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Why America Has a “President” Instead of an “Exalted Highness” In 1789, the year of George Washington’s election, America had spent six years recovering from the Revolutionary War and twice that amount of time trying to nail down what form the new nation’s government would take. The Articles of Confederation, an admirable failure of decentralization, would be replaced by the U.S. Constitution. But even with that binding document and a democratically elected leader, what would the United States of America call its new chief executive? A king by any other name would be just as tyrannical—or so thought the earliest American politicians (and the Romans, who abhorred the title “rex” and its dangerous association with unchecked power). With only 10 weeks until Washington was to take office, Congress asked what now seems like a straightforward question: what should Washington’s title be? After all, he was the first of his kind, the leader of a newborn nation. And America couldn’t go on to another king after having just revolted against one. Read more: Smithsonian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aztek Posted January 18, 2017 #2 Share Posted January 18, 2017 because under royal whatever, people are subjects, under elected president, citizens. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted January 18, 2017 #3 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) "Exalted Highness" sounds so much better. I'm sure Mr. T. is planning to bring it back just as soon as he can. Edited January 18, 2017 by Manfred von Dreidecker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplybill Posted January 18, 2017 #4 Share Posted January 18, 2017 It's already here. Inauguration ceremonies have become Royal Coronation ceremonies. Soon there will be a Throne in the Oval Office. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aztek Posted January 18, 2017 #5 Share Posted January 18, 2017 we may have ceremonies, but president is no queen, queen actually owns stuff, president only what he acquired, Queen Elizabeth II, head of state of the United Kingdom and of 31 other states and territories, is the legal owner of about 6,600 million acres of land, one sixth of the earth's non ocean surface. She is the only person on earth who owns whole countries, and who owns countries that are not her own domestic territory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setton Posted January 18, 2017 #6 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Kind of wish they had gone with "His Highness the President of the United States of America, and Protector of Their Liberties". If only because reading tweets with the hashtag #HHTPOTUSOAAPOTL would be more entertaining. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.ZZ. Posted January 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Does this mean he won't have his crown carried on a silk pillow? He will miss the Royal Guard dressed in retro costumes too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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