To these classes of arms obtained by Americans from overseas must be added such instances as the award of arms to Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower in Denmark. Also, Americans of French, German, Italian, Polish, and other European origins have inherited from their immigrant ancestors arms once granted or recorded by heraldic authorities no longer in existence. All these classes of arms share one feature whatever their origin: they are hereditary honours granted to American citizens by other countries. As they do not carry titles, they do not contravene the principle of the American Constitution on this subject. An American who receives a knighthood of some foreign state possesses only an honorary knighthood; he is not "Sir." But for the citizen of an independent sovereign power to approach and receive from another power a hereditary honour has seemed to many Americans an undesirable procedure. There have been and still are thousands of assumptions of arms by Americans on consideration of mere mail-order salesmanship; arms in these transactions are, at the best, supposed to be those "of the name" (that is, belonging to a name rather than a person), a view for which no justification exists.
Endeavours have been made to set up American authorities who would not only record but also grant arms. The New England Historic Genealogical Society of Boston appointed a Committee on Heraldry that since 1928 has issued rolls of arms, in which have been entered the names and arms of those who have submitted their claims to its judgment. The use of this method of issuing or publicizing arms recalls the usage previously referred to, which has not been practiced in Europe for more than 400 years. In the introduction to the second roll (1932) it is stated: "There is certainly no legal reason, perhaps no reason at all, why an American gentleman should not assume in more majorum any new coat that pleases his fancy, but he should not assume an old coat, for if he does, he is very likely denying his own forefathers and he surely is affirming what he has no sufficient reason to be true." Not only British-derived arms but also continental European arms have been registered. In addition, the committee has assisted inquirers in devising new coats of arms, not only for schools, colleges, and other institutions but also for individuals. In the introduction to the first roll a very reasonable view toward heraldry was expressed: "Taking into consideration the early history of coat armour there seems to be no reason in this country at least, why anyone provided he observes the simple rules of blazon and does not appropriate the arms of another, may not assume and use any coat he desires." The American College of Heraldry and Arms, Inc., was established in the state of Maryland in 1966. It has two divisions: The American College of Arms, which is concerned with the arms of individuals, their registration, and, more importantly, the granting of arms; and the College of Arms of the United States, which deals with such items as arms, crests, and standards for corporate concerns. Arms were granted to Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson during his term of office, to Pres. Richard M. Nixon, and to Vice Pres. Spiro T. Agnew.
