When you see the Great Seal of the United States, what comes to mind?  For some, their first thought is a whimsical story of Benjamin Franklin arguing for the turkey rather than the eagle as the seal’s subject.  While an entertaining idea, this story has become so twisted over the years that it is completely different from what actually happened.  While Franklin was involved in three consecutive committees working on the design for the seal, there is no record that he introduced the idea of incorporating the turkey into the emblem at the time.

He expounded on the character flaws of the eagle, saying the bird “does not get his living honestly…too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labour of the fishing hawk; and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish…the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.  Besides he is a rank coward…the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird.  He is besides, tho’ a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.”