I'm curious about presidential protocol

[dddem]

It seems to me that for 8 years every time someone talked about the buffoon who lived at the White House he was referred to as President Bush. I was listening to my local news, and the anchor referred to our President as Mr. Obama. This is not the first time I've noticed this. Am I imagining this or being too sensitive? How does one refer to the sitting president? I know he should be addressed as Mr. President, but when he (or she) is discussed in the third person, what is considered correct?
Thanks DUers - you're the best!

[dorkulon]

1. There was plenty of "Mr. Bush" in newspaper editorials etc.

Pretty sure it's fine either way.

Click here for some NYT examples.

[SmileyRose]

2. An old newspaper at my local library referred to "Mr Lincoln"

[Captain Hilts]

6. Lots of 'Mr. Roosevelt's in the NYT. nt

[charlie]

3. Dubya was consistently called President Bush to his face

because he got snitty with a reporter who deigned to address His Apeness as Mr Bush at a press conference early on.

[dddem]

4. Thanks for the replies

I guess it just bugs me because every single time I heard "President Bush" it made me cringe. To this day, I'm not real sure he legitimately earned that title.
Peace.

[tavalon]

8. I'm real sure he didn't

[Captain Hilts]

5. The protocol is to use 'president' Whomever in the frist reference and 'Mr' in subsequent references

This is the standard practice going back at least to Roosevelt. I've not read contemporary press further back.

I see no difference between the way Prezes Bush and Obama have been addressed by the press.

Actually, looking back on it. Bubba got more 'Clinton's than either Bush or Obama. Hell, Rick Santorum called the prez 'Bill' in the senate well and Dick Armey referred to him as 'your president'.

[Lancer]

7. "Mr. President" by the press and the staff (and the public if they so choose);

"The President" or "President Obama" said today..." is correct in print and the media. The NYT calls everyone "Mr.," "Ms." or "Mrs." Even O.J. is called "Mr. Simpson" when he's in the news. They call Beyoncé "Ms. Knowles."

There's a level of comfort with this president (BTW the word "president" is capitalized only when used as a form of address or as a title) that leads some TV analysts to call him "Barack." Not protocol.

George Washington eschewed all formal titles and only wanted to be called "Mr." That tradition survives for the most part. Even Leo, Chief of Staff on The West Wing, called his boss "Mr. President" about 99% of the time.