Those initials

[question everything]

Some started using the JFK initials for John Forbes Kerry and I have seen both positive and negative reactions - on these boards, and, no doubt in the general public.

And I was thinking that we stopped defining our presidents by their initials for many years now. We can say, or write FDR, JFK, LBJ and the subject is clear with no need for further explanation.

How many would know who is RMN at a glance? or WJC? And I don't even know the middle names of Ford, Carter or Reagan. Bush has four names.. or five?

Sooooo what was special about the earlier presidents that others lack? Or is this the result of how we view the presidency itself?

Just an observation

P.S. - ran this through the spell checker. It recognized FDR, JFK and LBJ, but asked about the others....

[AngryYoungMan]

1. Nixon's memoir was called "RN" ; we call our current President "W"

eom

[ogakor]

2. Only JFK was JFK

The JFK, FDR, LBJ initials flow well off the tounge, whereas "Nixon" is easier to say than "RMN." But I sure don't blame Kerry for trying to wrap himself in Kennedy's cloak. Remember that great clip of a wide-eyed young Bill Clinton shaking JFK's hand?

[mike1963]

8. That was a 'Vulcan mind-meld' of a sort, it seems to me. Welcome to DU

:D

[El Supremo]

3. Ford's was Rudolph

I forgot the others. I think Carter's started with an E.

I like "JK" for Kerry, but I hope the Repugs don't start calling him by his real family name - Kohn. Sounds too much like Con.

[DemoTex]

4. James Earl Carter

[El Supremo]

5. Ronald Wilson Reagan

And Wilson was the most far sighted President there was.

[question everything]

11. That's a very nice and dignified photo, thanks

Still, if someone would say, or write JEC, if that someone adds that this is a former president, most of us, after some thinking (using fingers of both hands) would eventually figure it out. But not if the "presidential" hint is missing.

While with FDR, JFK or LBJ we don't need any reminder

[UTUSN]

6. Somebody Jumped Down My Throat Here for Using "JFK"

for KERRY several months ago. I let it go, but they *are* the person's own initials. And why should somebody using his OWN initials be said to be "cloaking himself" in KENNEDY's aura. But it appears that popular culture has spoken and "JFK" will mean one person and no other. Thus, we leave the playing field to LIMBOsevic to define a Democratic party member as "John Effing KERRY".

[mike1963]

7. I don't think it's a big deal either way. Doesn't "HST" ring a bell?

Maybe I'm just too old a phart....
;-)

But I'd give odds that if you give me the 3 initials of any prez I could identify them (admitting I don't know what Lincoln's or Washington's middle names were...)
heh

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Which HST?

Harry S Truman or Hunter S Thompson?

[mike1963]

14. I spoke with Hunter on the phone back in 1979. I am not kidding.

It is a very long story, but it hinges around a bunch of us sitting in my living room in Muskogee, Oklahoma (yes, that Muskogee) and we had all read "Fear & Loathing"

We actually managed to get his phone # in Colorado and called him up.
The details of the conversations are unfortunately buried in the cannabis-induced miasma surrounding the enterprise. I saved the phone bill for years but it has gone away.

;-)

[question everything]

12. I heard that the S did not stand for any name, just an "S"

Did Truman just decided to add himself a middle initial?

[El Supremo]

13. No, I think his mother did.

Strange

[KenLayedOff]

9. If JFK can be used to win in November then what does it really matter?

JFK all the way!!!