Salutations for Elected Officials and Some Others
(e.g., "Dear Mr. President")

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President
President-elect
Former President
First Lady
Former First Lady
Vice-President
Wife of the Vice-President
Senator
House Representative
Chairperson
Speaker of the House or Senate
Governor
Sources Not Mentioned Elsewhere on This Page

President

Speaking:
Mr. President

Writing:
Dear Mr. President:    Back to menu

President-elect

Speaking:
Mr. President-elect or Ms. President-elect:

Writing:
Dear Mr. President-elect or Ms. President-elect:    Back to menu

Former President

(Former presidents retain their titles forever.)

Speaking:
Mr. President

Writing:
Dear Mr. President:    Back to menu

First Lady

Speaking:
Mrs. Obama

Writing:
Dear Mrs. Obama:    Back to menu

Former First Lady

Speaking:
Ms. or Mrs. (and her last name, be it her maiden or married name); for example, Mrs. Bush

Writing:
Dear Ms. or Mrs. (and her last name, be it her maiden or married name); for example, Dear Mrs. Bush:    Back to menu

Vice-President

Speaking:
Mr. Vice President

Writing:
Dear Mr. Vice President:

    Back to menu

Wife of the Vice-President

Speaking:
Generally, Ms. or Mrs. (and her last name, be it her maiden or married name); for example, Mrs. Smith. However, it's appropriate to address the wife of the current Vice-President as Dr. Jill Biden.

Writing:
Generally, Dear Ms. or Mrs. (and her last name, be it her maiden or married name); for example, Dear Mrs. Smith: 
However, it's appropriate to use the following salutation for the wife of the current Vice-President: Dear Dr. Biden:   Back to menu

Senator

Speaking:
Senator (and the senator's last name); for example, Senator Smith

Writing:
Dear Senator (and the senator's last name); for example, Dear Senator Smith:    Back to menu

House Representative

Speaking:
Congresswoman (and the congresswoman's last name); for example, Congresswoman Smith
or
Congressman (and the congressman's last name); for example, Congressman Smith
or
Representative (and the congressperson's last name); for example, Representative Smith

Writing:
Dear Congresswoman (and the congresswoman's last name); for example, Dear Congresswoman Smith:
or
Dear Congressman (and the congressman's last name); for example, Dear Congressman Smith:
or
Dear Representative (and the congressperson's last name); for example, Dear Representative Smith:    Back to menu

Chairperson

Speaking:
Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman

Writing:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:    Back to menu

Speaker of the House or Senate

Speaking:
Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker

Writing:
Dear Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker:    Back to menu

Governor

Speaking:
Governor (and the governor's last name); for example, Governor Smith

Writing:
Dear Governor (and the governor's last name); for example, Dear Governor Smith:    Back to menu

Sources Not Mentioned Elsewhere on This Page

Communicating with Elected Officials
http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/basics/?style=comm

How to Address the President
http://www.ehow.com/how_11185_address-president.html    Back to menu

Related Pages
Ending Abortion
How You Can Help in Any of a Number of Ways
Contact Your Elected Officials