Presidents do NOT enjoy the lifetime title of “President,” except by custom. And it’s a very recent custom. Until sometime in the last fifty years, former Presidents and Vice Presidents were called by the highest office they occupied before entering the Presidency or Vice Presidency. Thus, the last few former Presidents should have been called:
Sen. Nixon
Gov. Carter
Gov. Reagan
Amb. Bush
Gov. Clinton
Gov. Bush
The authority for this position is Miss Manners.
Interesting. Now things have started to come full circle. Instead of saying President.. now many news networks are adding “Former” in front of the person. Especially if it is a recent former President.
Former President Bush.