14 Historical Inaccuracies In The West Wing You Totally Missed

11. The White House Rug - Admiral Fitzwallace Incorrectly Asserts That The Seal In The Oval Office Alternates Depending On Whether Or Not The US Is At War

In "What Kind Of Day Has It Been" (Season 1, Episode 22), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, is sitting in the Oval Office with President Bartlet when he observes the US seal on the rug in centre of the room. Fitzwallace claims:

"On the seal in the carpet, in one talon he's holding arrows, and in the other an olive branch. Most of the time, the eagle is facing the olive branch, but when Congress declares war, the eagles faces the arrows."

Unfortunately this is incorrect. The seal does not actually change depending on whether or not the US is at war, but it was redesigned in 1945 to always point towards the olive branch. Interestingly, before 1945 it always pointed towards the arrow instead - highlighting the US' willingness to use force, whereas now the suggestion is diplomacy will be exhausted before the military is called upon.