How to Address a Former President of the United States?

I have an example referring to a former president as “The Honorable…”  Is that incorrect?  Yet I also find that one should call a former president as “Mr. (Last Name), and identify him as a former president. So what should I say to formally introduce a former president?
            — MJH

 
Dear MJH:
“The Honorable” is always used before a full name. So for instance, when you address a letter, include the name of an official in program, or introduce an official from the dias at an event – the most formal way to say their name would be “The Honorable (full name)” and then identify their office.
     So these would be correct:
          “The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, former president of the United States”
          “The Honorable Sonny Perdue, governor of Georgia”
          “The Honorable Roy Barnes, former governor of Georgia”
          “The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles”
     These would NOT be correct
          “The Honorable Clinton”
          “The Honorable S. Purdue”
          “The Honorable Former Governor Barnes”
          “The Honorable Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa”
     These would be correct for direct address or in a one-on-one introduction or in conversation:
          “Mr. Clinton”
          “Governor Perdue”
          “Mr. Barnes”
          “Mayor Villaraigosa”
            — Robert Hickey     www.formsofaddress.info   

Advertisements