American eagle Quote by Winston Churchill
![“The very first thing the President [Truman] did was to show me the new Presidential Seal, which he had just redesigned. He explained, 'The seal has to go everywhere the President goes. It must be displayed upon the lectern when he speaks. The eagle used to face the arrows but I have re-designed it…” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/36b/winston-churchill-95_american-eagle_the-very-first-thing-the-president-truma_3048764.jpg)
“The very first thing the President [Truman] did was to show me the new Presidential Seal, which he had just redesigned. He explained, 'The seal has to go everywhere the President goes. It must be displayed upon the lectern when he speaks. The eagle used to face the arrows but I have re-designed it so that it now faces the olive branches ... what do you think?' I said, 'Mr. President, with the greatest respect, I would prefer the American eagle's neck to be on a swivel so that it could face the olive branches or the arrows, as the occasion might demand.'”
About This Quote
Source Historical Speech: Truman Presidential Seal Redesign, 1945
Churchill humorously suggests the eagle on the seal should swivel to face either peace (olive branches) or war (arrows), reflecting flexibility in national symbolism.
In simple terms: He proposes a flexible seal that can represent both peace and war.
Key Takeaway
Embrace adaptable symbols.
Themes
politics
symbolism
flexibility
peace
war
Mood
witty
historical
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- political communication
- historical anecdotes
- design decisions
Key Concepts
government branding
diplomatic messaging
national identity
Questions to Reflect On
- Should national symbols adapt to context?
- How does symbolism affect public perception?
A Different Perspective
A rotating eagle might be seen as indecisive.
