Can a Catholic like me get a Pelosi souvenier pen to celebrate this solemn occasion

[Tahuyaman]

Looks like the practice started with Truman, so, sometime between '45-'53.

Apparently Truman received a box of pens with a note that said "I stole this box of pens from Harry Truman's desk" (actually, not an exact quote, but you get the gist)

No, I don't get it.

[Tahuyaman]

Most modern presidents use more than one pen to sign landmark legislation into law.

• President Bill Clinton used four pens to sign the Line-Item Veto. He gave the pens to former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, according to an account of the signing by Time magazine.
• Obama used 22 pens to sign health care reform legislation into law in March of 2010. He used a different pen for each letter or half letter of his name. "This is gonna take a little while," Obama said.
• According to the Christian Science Monitor, it took Obama 1 minute and 35 seconds to sign the bill using those 22 pens.​
• President Lyndon Johnson used 72 pens when he signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Just sign the freaking bill. Besides, most of the time they're taking away more of our individual liberties. Why make it a cause for celebration?

[carolina73]

Actually using a group of pens for celebrated legislation is common. They are given to those that worked hard to get the bill passed as souvenirs. It is part of the celebration.

[Private Pickle]

This thing about using a bunch of pens to sign something has gotten beyond the point of silliness.

I watched Obama once use more than a dozen pens to sign one piece of legislation. It looked like he used a separate pen for each letter of his name. When did this symbolic idiocy start?

FDR was the first to do this.

[Tahuyaman]

Who cares who started it. It's silly.

[Private Pickle]

I dont recall president's before Obama using ten to twelve pens to sign a piece of legislation. I can see using one for their first name and another for their sir name, but this thing with a dozen pens is silly.


I've Trump sign legislation and he use only one pen. Is he now going to be accused of disrespecting tradition?

LBJ used 72 pens when he signed the Civil Rights Bill.

[Private Pickle]

Who cares who started it. It's silly.

They are a “thank you”. Usually to the people who helped or were instrumental in the passing or creation of the bill.

[Private Pickle]

Trump does this all the time too. Even with Executive Orders. It’s not uncommon and isn’t a reason to get bent out of shape. We are talking about a few minutes here.

[Tahuyaman]

LBJ used 72 pens when he signed the Civil Rights Bill.

Didn't I just post that?

[Tahuyaman]

They are a “thank you”. Usually to the people who helped or were instrumental in the passing or creation of the bill.

Take a picture picture and have the president write a quick thank you and sign it.