My arm would be very tired...

Capri120

Capri120

DH USAFA '79, DD USAFA '20
5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
1,344
Keeping with the above theme of hand shaking, and absolutely nothing political, was it me or did it seem like one person possibly two specifically went out of their way not to shake the presidents hand? Just curious if I was the only person to "imagine" this.
 
Pence did the same thing at USMA. Sounds scripted.

Congrats to all academy grads!
 
Presidents and the other “usual suspects” in the SA speaker rotation can choose to shake the hand of the top grad, the top 100, some other number, or everyone, or no one, presumably, though as the political wonks say, “bad optics.” Some probably actually enjoy it and do it for personal reasons, for some it’s all about the photo op, for some it’s a mix.
 
Capt MJ said:
Presidents and the other “usual suspects” in the SA speaker rotation can choose to shake the hand of the top grad, the top 100, some other number, or everyone, or no one, presumably, though as the political wonks say, “bad optics.” Some probably actually enjoy it and do it for personal reasons, for some it’s all about the photo op, for some it’s a mix.
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My graduation speaker/guest was Jimmy Carter and he shook the hand of just the top hundred. It didn't strike me then but now seeing Presidents who were not grads making the effort to shake every hand because they realize the "specialness" of the occasion makes me wonder how Jimmy DIDN'T make the effort. Actually, he shook two more hands, in addition to the top hundred, he got up and shook hands when there was a standing ovation for one guy who had won a very publicized bout with cancer and when the anchor man came up and the response from the class told the President who this guy was and the President gave him the shake as well.
 
Good to know that I'm not the only who thought about giving plus/minus one thousand salutes. It may not seem like much but in the span of a couple of hours or so there is a lot of energy expended.
 
President Bush (43), at USAFA, not only shook every graduate's hand but took selfies and even took one grad's cell phone and spoke with his mother in the stands! He also did more than a few "chest bumps."

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Which caused USAFA to tell cadets that they (future graduates) would NEVER do that again.

It was a great day yesterday!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
It should not be easy to complete 1,000+ additional efforts to celebrate each cadet’s achievement. It’s over but the future leaders, the cadets, won’t forget how they were treated in the ceremony.

I believe that leadership can start from good recognition and mutual respect.

The new & fresh officers must be feeling the leadership how to treat their people when they lead them, e.g., recognition and respect.
 
I think POTUS and VPOTUS probably decided beforehand to shake every hand and salute every new officer. What I believe is that they did it because they know how important this (event) is to our country and also how important it is to each one of these graduates.
 
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President Reagan spoke at my graduation (USNA 1985). We were told he would only present diplomas and shake hands with the top 100...but he stayed the course and shook hands with all of us. (He even "involuntarily" high fived one of my Company-mates; exuberant grad took his hand and raised it into a high five -- that was not received very well by the Administration, and he even caught flak at Quantico, but the picture was replayed repeatedly during the week of President Reagan's funeral). If you look at the pictures, he wasn't standing out there in the 100% heat and humidity because he had to..... he did it because he wanted to , and he earned the lifelong respect of everyone of us.
 
Mod Note:
The following is an excerpt from SAF rules and they are quite clear:

- The purpose of this site is not to discuss politics. Political discussions should be limited in context and scope, and our nation's elected officials respected at all times.
 
BBBRRRTT said:
was it me or did it seem like one person possibly two specifically went out of their way not to shake the presidents hand?
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If so, very disappointing display by the newly minted 2LTs. The President doubles as Commander in Chief, to whom all military officers are fully accountable. Officers are to be publicly apolitical. Beyond that, the Commander in Chief deserves respect.
 
flieger83 said:
President Bush (43), at USAFA, not only shook every graduate's hand but took selfies and even took one grad's cell phone and spoke with his mother in the stands! He also did more than a few "chest bumps."

article-1022718-0169268C00000578-812_468x417.jpg


Which caused USAFA to tell cadets that they (future graduates) would NEVER do that again.

It was a great day yesterday!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...

How amazing is this ?? When my son was accepted into the academy I watched presidents speeches at graduations. It made me incredibly proud to be an American! As he enters his final year at the academy I will miss this chapter in his life.
 
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