Political titles are descriptive, but they are also titles of honor. And for the last reason, you usually hold them for life. A president is always addressed Mr. President long after he leaves office. Except George Washington. He was always addressed General Washington. Because people back then thought what he did as general during the revolution was much more important. You also are usually addressed by the highest status you received, or your most honorific title. Ken Starr was the independent prosecutor 1994 to 1998 when Bill Clinton was president. But he was always addressed judge because he was appointed judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and served from 1983 to 1989. William Howard Taft is an interesting case. William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States, elected president in 1908. But he was also the tenth chief justice of the United States. He was appointed that in 1921 by President Harding and he held that position until 1930. That made him the only person to have held both offices. So William Howard Taft was addressed as both Chief Justice and president. William Howard Taft never really wanted to be president. He was hand picked by Teddy Roosevelt when Roosevelt thought he should uphold tradition and not run for a third term. But Roosevelt was unhappy because he thought Taft was giving too much power to conservatives in the Republican party. Roosevelt saw himself as a progressive, and didn't support some of Taft's policies. Although most people agree, Taft was at least an honest man as president, with very little corruption in his administration. Taft's political career is unusual too. Because most politicians go up in status in politics, rarely down.
