Harry S. Truman Renamed The War Department the Department of Defense
In an executive order dated September 5, 2025 President Trump purported to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, a move now reserved to the Congress (Faced with the legislative requirement, DJT said “We’re doing it” sounding very much like the reasoning in recent Supreme Court opinions.)
In so doing, DJT condemned the name he is changing as “woke.”
Actually, in 1947 President Harry S. Truman changed the department’s name, then a legal act. At that time the passion for peace replaced the fervor for war in World War 2. The winning nations of that war believed that world peace, fostered by an international body, ultimately the United Nations, was a necessity. The new department included the Army, Navy and Air Force departments. Unfortunately for leathernecks, the Marines were then a part of the Navy.
So far as is known, President Truman considered “woke” a condition following sleep.
What has not been reported is the fact that Truman also ordered the face of the eagle depicted in the seal of the United States turned to the right, towards the talon holding the olive branch symbol of peace and away from the left talon holding the arrows of war.
One of my most memorable mornings at Yale was the day I took a walk with then-former President Truman.
Truman was a visiting fellow at Timothy Dwight College and was staying in the master’s house. I knew that Truman took very early morning walks. I decided to get up early and to wait for Truman and to join him on his walk.
When I got there two New Haven police officers, another student and a New York Times photographer were waiting. Truman promptly appeared and we began our walk with Truman commenting along the way. Headed to the New Haven Green, the police officers attempted to cross College Street against the light.
For once in my life I kept my mouth shut and listened!
“Hold it fellas. We wait for green and do not cross on red!” Truman said.
Approaching the Green, Truman saw the American flag there. He said, “There’s the American flag. When you come home from abroad and you see that flag it makes you feel good.”
Just then, outside the Post Office, a postman carrying a sack of mail stopped Truman. “Mr. President, I have some mail for you,” handing Truman a couple of letters.
Truman said, “You know I have been a United States Senator, the Vice President of the United States and President of the United States and this is the first time my mail has been delivered on the street. Thanks!”
Soon we walked back to Timothy Dwight with Truman holding forth all the way. After shaking hands with us and asking our names, Truman mounted the steps to the master’s house and disappeared.
The following morning I appeared in a picture on page one of the New York Times standing next to Truman. Above the fold!