Looks like this answer is going to be the correct one. Although the wheel is splined, the spring-loaded plate and shaft have a tic mark that can only go one way above the splines where the wheel is. At some point the steering column has been taken out of this car, and when put back, it was evidently installed 180-degrees off. I am thinking that once the rag joint is flipped 180, the wheel can be adjusted to center or can be corrected at the alignment shop. Thanks for all the advice.