Mr., President Or Both?

In the comments below, a question is raised about how CBS News refers to the president. Why, we're asked, is he sometime called "President Bush" while in other instances, it's "Mr. Bush?" And is that disrespectful?

This is not the first time we've heard this. Howard Arenstein, CBS News correspondent and Washington Bureau Manager for CBS radio, alerted us to this question earlier, saying it's one that comes up frequently in regards to radio broadcasts. So, here's the answer.

It is CBS News practice to refer to a president by that title upon first mention of a story and Mr. in subsequent references (that also pertains to former presidents). This is not a practice unique to CBS News. The New York Times, for example, appears to follow the same practice. It is a practical, not disrespectful, practice and it applies to presidents and former presidents of both parties. Thanks for the question.