History of the Vice President's Flag


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Vice President's Flag, 1915

In the early 20th century, it became clear within the Navy that there was a need for a flag for the Vice President.  Although Navy signal books and regulations since the time of the Civil War had provided for the use of the national ensign or jack, flown at the fore, to signify the presence of the Vice President, there was no distinctive flag for his use until 1915.  In March of that year, a New York Times story reported that he would be given a flag showing a "bluebird" on a white field--apparently a reference to a blue eagle bearing the national arms--for his voyage to San Francisco aboard USS Colorado. Colorado's log for March 22 reports the hoisting of the Vice President's flag, as does the log for the Presidential yacht USS Mayflower for October 29, 1919.  However, the actual flag, now preserved in the Dan Quayle Museum in Indiana, appears to show the eagle in full color, as was the case with the Presidential flag of the time.

 

Vice President's Flag, 1936

It was not until 1936, however, that a Vice President's flag was made official with the issuance of Executive Order 7285.  This flag was essentially that of the President with the colors reversed.

Vice President's Flag, 1948

Following World War II, with the change in the President's flag, it seemed appropriate to modify the Vice President's flag as well, while keeping the traditional principle of a white flag with eagle and blue stars.  The new flag adopted by Executive Order 10016 on November 10, 1948, was white with the eagle in full color, its wings spread and inverted rather than displayed with the points upward.  As in the new President's flag, its head faced the hoist, but it carried a single arrow in its flyward talon rather than the traditional sheaf of 13 arrows.  The stars and sunburst above the eagle's head were omitted, and the eagle was surrounded by a circle of 13 blue stars.  One Vice President after another expressed dissatisfaction with the design of this flag, particularly the inverted wings, which one said made the bird look "droopy." Another compared its appearance to that of a "wounded quail."



Vice President's Flag, 1975-present

In 1975, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller prevailed upon President Gerald Ford to order a change, which was promulgated by Executive Order 11884 of October 7, 1975.  The new flag, still in use, is white with almost the same coat of arms shown on the President's flag, and a blue star in each corner.  The differences between this and the President's coat of arms are that the eagle is larger on the Vice President's flag, the chief of the shield is dark instead of light blue, and the arrows, scroll, and the cloud puffs and stars in the crest are all gray instead of white.



 
 

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