How a 1945 executive order changed the direction of American power

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Presidential Seal is a global icon, yet its modern form is relatively recent. While its roots stretch back to the founding of the United States, a critical mid-century shift transformed the eagle from a symbol of war into a messenger of peace.

The modern design of the Seal of the President of the United States was formally defined on October 25, 1945, by President Harry Truman through Executive Order 9646. While various iterations of the seal existed in White House architecture previously, Truman introduced a profound symbolic change: he altered the direction the eagle faces. Previously, the eagle looked toward the arrows, representing war; Truman redirected it toward the olive branch, signaling a commitment to peace. This shift coincided with the official renaming of the Department of War to the Department of Defense.

The seal's visual DNA is deeply tied to the Great Seal of the United States, which was consolidated into its final form by Charles Thompson in 1782. The design features an eagle holding thirteen arrows in one talon and an olive branch with thirteen leaves in the other. The shield contains thirteen stripes, representing the original colonies. The modern seal is distinguished from the Great Seal by a ring of stars—originally 48, then updated to 50 following the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in 1960 via Executive Order 10860.

Beyond its graphic presence on the Oval Office floor or the presidential lectern, the seal has a specific, functional purpose. The only true physical seal—a brass die located in the White House—is reserved for the President's personal correspondence to Congress, where it is used to seal envelopes with wax. Other versions produced by the Bureau of Engraving are technically facsimiles used for stationery and official invitations. While the Great Seal authenticates official federal documents, the Presidential Seal serves as the primary symbol of the presidency itself.

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