[SJackson]

Thanks, I'm going to excerpt your site, the bold mine.

http://www.ronaldreagan.com/tradition.html

PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION

I never ceased to enjoy reviewing our men and women in uniform and hope I started a new tradition for presidents. As commander in chief, I discovered it was customary for our uniformed men and women to salute whenever they saw me. When I'd walk down the steps of a helicopter, for example, there was always a marine waiting there to salute me. I was told presidents weren't supposed to return salutes, so I didn't, but this made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Normally, a person offering a salute waits until it is returned, then brings down his hand. Sometimes, I realized, the soldier, sailor, marine, or airman giving me a salute wasn't sure when he was supposed to lower his hand. Initially, I nodded and smiled and said hello and thought maybe that would bring down the hand, but usually it didn't. Finally, one night when Nancy and I were attending a concert at the Marine Corps headquarters, I told the commandant of marines, "I know it's customary for the president to receive these salutes, but I was once an officer and realize that you're not supposed to salute when you're in civilian clothes. I think there ought to be a regulation that the president could return a salute inasmuch as he is commander in chief and civilian clothes are his uniform." "Well, if you did return a salute," the general said, "I don't think anyone would say anything to you about it."

The next time I got a salute, I saluted back. A big grin came over the Marine's face and down came his hand. From then on, I always returned salutes. When George Bush followed me into the White House, I encouraged him to keep up the tradition.

Courtesy of Simon and Schuster

Leadership speaks for itself.

[Menehune56]

Thanks for the except. I know that President Reagan would have wanted to be correct. You can tell by the pictures of the man that he held the military in the highest regard and the salute was sincerely given.

[jwparkerjr]

re: Leadership speaks for itself

No wonder the liberals hate him so much!

That simple gesture did more to show the character of the man than a million words could ever say!

[hinckley buzzard]

Nice find. Compare that to the pinched and wizened mutterings of the feckless Wills.

[Ace's Dad]

Leadership speaks for itself.

Thanks for the article, and yes, yes it does.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

there ought to be a regulation that the president could return a salute inasmuch as he is commander in chief and civilian clothes are his uniform

Makes sense to me. Besides, by returning the salute, it gave the marines a "cue" to go ahead and drop their salute. Which also makes sense.

Seems Reagan was just being practical (in addition to honoring his marine guard).