I think the system has evolved. A century ago, perhaps, it was simply presumed to be an honor to have a rose take on the name of a person. I understand, however, that when Sam McGredy told Picasso he was naming one of his handpainted roses after the famous artist, the artist wanted a big sum of money. And it caused a stir, I think among "civilized" society. Suddenly fame had become a fungible asset. And a consequence of that would be that people would seek to become famous simply for the gain to be had in being famous: fame would no longer be so closely linked to special accomplishments. There are those of us who see, Andy Warhol as being the perfect embodiment of this phenomenon (with apologies to art cognoscenti who know better), Warhol, himself understood this with his "fifteen minutes of fame" quip.
So ... what do you suppose became of Rosalyn Carter and Patricia Nixon? Bess Truman? Maimie Eisenhower? Lady Bird Johnson? Eleanor Roosevelt?
