Nobody has ever said the words "Madam President" to a sitting Chief Executive of the United States. With a little luck this watershed event will occur this coming January. It will represent a major turning point in history and a culmination of more than a century and a half of work and sacrifice, first within the suffrage movement, and later, among those working to gain an equal place in society for women. It is, in fact, of such significance that it would be a great honor to be the first person in history to address a sitting president with this title.
As it now stands John Roberts, as the Chief Justice, would be the first to speak the words "Madam President" because of the traditional congratulatory greeting offered upon administering the oath. But is it fitting that this honor should fall in such an offhand way or is it one that should be carefully bestowed so that it will be forever carried in the national memory as a world changing transition? Everyone remembers the first words Neil Armstrong spoke as he stepped onto the surface of the moon, and this presidential first should likewise take its place in American iconography. The person to first speak the title should be carefully chosen to enhance the moment's historic significance.
There are a number of ways to approach the choice but I don't think anyone would dispute that it should be a woman who is given the honor. One possibility might be to find a person who has actually walked in a suffrage parade. She would have probably been a child because there are only two or three people still alive who were born before 1900 but I think there is a good chance someone can be found. Another choice might be the daughter of a prominent suffragist. Or a pioneering civil rights advocate. Or an icon of the latter day women's rights movement. Whoever is granted the honor it should probably be in the form of a short congratulatory statement immediately after the oath is administered. I think John Roberts would be willing to forego the privilege in these special circumstances.
I am curious to know what others think about this idea and if they have any input about who might be given the honor and how it might be carried out. Actually any thoughts at all about this suggestion would be welcome, but any ideas should take into consideration that age might be a factor because it will probably be very cold on Inauguration Day in Washington.
Hopefully it is not too early to start thinking about this question.