Letter from William Furlong to President Dwight D. Eisenhower Regarding Flag Design as a Function of the Executive Branch
In this letter Admiral William Furlong details his findings regarding the history of the design of the American flag.
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OCR Page 1 of 53611 Lowell Street Northwest
Washington, D. C.
June 8, 1953
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
1. In compliance with your personal request the following data
are submitted showing that the arrangement of the stars in the United
States flag has always been a function of the Executive branch of the
government.
2. The arrangement or position of the stars is not specified in
any of the three laws passed on the design of the flag; nor in the codi-
fication of the law on the flag enacted by the 80th Congress. This
detail has always been left to the Executive branch of the government.
(Copies of the laws are attached, Exhibits A, B, C, D.)
Adding 2 Stars in 1912
3. When 2 additional stars were required in 1912 to represent
New Mexico and Arizona, the Navy Department wrote the War Depart-
ment suggesting that a joint board of Army and Navy officers consider
and recommend the position of the stars in the field. There are enclosed
two photostats which I procured from the National Archives showing the
letter from the Joint Board signed by Admiral George Dewey, recom-
mending the position of the stars and the signature of the President
approving the recommendation (Exhibit E). I note that the date of the
President's approval was filled in by hand when he signed it on the
day
Arizona was admitted, the arrangement of the stars having been
decided upon previously.
The other photostat is the letter from the Secretary to the
President to the Acting Secretary of the Navy, transmitting the above
approval of the President (Exhibit F).
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