[Beckwith]

I agree with you. I never suggested he should bow or otherwise submit.

An American president, actually, no American, should ever bow and the flag should never be dipped.

[Big_Monkey]

"an American president, actually, no American, should ever bow

I don't think that's entirely correct. It certainly wouldn't be an act of submission to bow to someone you're greeting in Japan. There, the bow is just like a handshake. We certainly wouldn't suggest that an American president shouldn't shake someone's hand.