George Washington himself may have been uncomfortable with being called "His Excellency" — he settled on the more down-to-earth "Mr. President." But in Virginia, we still use the more formal honorific to address governors, even though they seem to meet the title with some eye-rolling, apparent in C-SPAN's archives. With his introduction as "His Excellency," former Gov. Tim Kaine visibly chuckles along with the crowd during his outgoing speech in January. In Gov. Bob McDonnell's first address to the assembly, off-camera giggles can be heard right after the words. Same for Jim Gilmore's 1999 speech. Most uncomfortable with the honorific, though, may have been former Speaker of the House S. Vance Wilkins Sr., who mispronounced "excellency" twice during opening fanfare. Apparently, it's as hard to say as it is to swallow.
