[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1659-S1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PRESIDENT'S DAY

 Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the Senate's 
attention a practice that has crept into our popular culture with 
little notice. This practice relates to the Federal holiday we observe 
every year on the third

[[Page S1660]]

Monday in February. According to current Federal law, this holiday is 
``Washington's Birthday'' in honor of our great first President. In its 
de facto observance, however, this holiday has become known as 
``President's Day'' because of its proximity to the birthday of our 
16th President, Abraham Lincoln.
  This matter was recently brought to my attention by the President of 
the Society of the Cincinnati. The Society's concern is that by 
combining the two holidays in popular observance, we dilute the 
remembrances of the gravity and importance of the achievements of both 
men--one who fought to found our Nation and one who fought to preserve 
it. According to law, President Lincoln's birthday is observed on 
February 12.

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