I’m not sure what you mean by “marginally effective” - it was pretty clear to me that not only did GW know protocol and decorum, but he genuinely respected the servicemen whose salutes he was returning.
I long for those days...
I believe he did, too. But if other ex-military are not supposed to salute out of uniform, why would the CIC salute? What is the proper way to respond to a marine’s salute of the president?