United States presidential pets

Socks at the White House Press Briefing Room lectern in 1993

Grace Coolidge with Laddie Boy, an Airedale Terrier, and Rob Roy, a white Collie

Controversy resulted from a 1964 photo of Lyndon B. Johnson pulling his dog by its ears.

United States presidents have often kept pets while in office, or pets have been part of their families.^[1] Only James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump did not have presidential pets while in office.^[2]

History of White House pets[]

The first White House dog to receive regular newspaper coverage was Warren G. Harding's dog Laddie Boy.^[3]

Pets also featured in presidential elections. Herbert Hoover got a "Belgian Police Dog" (Belgian Malinois),^[4] King Tut, during his campaign and pictures of him with his new dog were sent all across the United States.

In 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt was running for his fourth term when rumors surfaced that his Scottish Terrier, Fala, had accidentally been left behind when visiting the Aleutian Islands. After allegedly sending back ships to rescue his dog, Roosevelt was ridiculed and accused of spending thousands of taxpayers' dollars to retrieve his dog. At a speech following this Roosevelt said, "you can criticize me, my wife and my family, but you can't criticize my little dog. He's Scotch and all these allegations about spending all this money have just made his little soul furious."^[5] What was later called the "Fala speech" reportedly helped secure reelection for Roosevelt.^[6]

Miss Beazley, a Scottish Terrier given to Laura Bush by her husband

Richard Nixon was accused of hiding a secret slush fund during his candidacy for vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. He gave the televised "Checkers speech" named after his cocker spaniel, denying he had a slush fund but admitting, "there is one thing that I did get as a gift that I'm not going to give back."^[7] The gift was a black-and-white cocker spaniel, Checkers, given to his daughters. Although there had been talk of Nixon being dropped from the ticket, following his speech he received an increase in support and Mamie Eisenhower reportedly recommended he stay because he was "such a warm person."^[8][9]

Animal lovers were upset when President Lyndon B. Johnson was photographed lifting his beagles, named Him and Her, by their ears. Others did not understand the uproar; former president Harry S. Truman said, "What the hell are the critics complaining about; that's how you handle hounds."^[7]

Bill Clinton moved into the White House with Socks, a tuxedo cat, who in 1991 was reported to have jumped into the arms of Chelsea Clinton after piano lessons while the Clintons were living in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was later joined in 1997 by Buddy, a Labrador Retriever, during Clinton's second term.^[10] The two reportedly did not get along, with Clinton later saying "I did better with the Palestinians and the Israelis than I've done with Socks and Buddy" while Hillary Clinton said Socks "despised" Buddy at first sight.^[11] The two were, however, the subject of a book, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets written by then First Lady Hillary Clinton and appeared as cartoons in the kids' section of the first White House website.^[12]

While George W. Bush was president, he had three dogs and a cat at the White House.^[13] Among the canines was Spot Fetcher, an English Springer Spaniel and the offspring of George H. W. Bush's dog, Millie.^[14] This made Spotty the first animal to live in the White House under two different administrations, having been born there in 1989 and passed away there in 2004.^[15]

Barack and Michelle Obama were without pets prior to the 2008 election, but promised their daughters they could get a dog when the family moved into the White House.^[16] They selected Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, partly due to Malia Obama's allergies and the need for a hypoallergenic pet.^[17] The puppy was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy^[18] and was later joined by Sunny, a female of the same breed.^[19] Bo was featured in the 2010 children's book Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, written by President Obama with illustrations by Loren Long.^[20]

Joe and Jill Biden moved into the White House with two German Shepherds, Champ and Major.^[21] Major is the first shelter dog in the White House, while Champ is returning to Washington, having joined the Biden family during Joe Biden's tenure as vice-president.^[22] The Bidens announced the death of Champ on 19 June 2021.^[23]

List of presidential pets[]

In addition to traditional pets, this list includes some animals normally considered livestock or working animals that have a close association with presidents or their families. Presidents have often been given exotic animals from foreign dignitaries; occasionally these are kept, but often they are promptly donated to a zoo.

President	Pet(s)
George Washington	Sweetlips,[24] Scentwell and Vulcan[25] (among others)[key 1] – American Foxhounds[a] Drunkard,[24] Taster, Tipler, and Tipsy – Black and Tan Coonhounds[28] Royal Gift – Andalusian donkey,[29] a gift from King Charles III of Spain[30] Nelson (1763–1790) and Blueskin[31] – Horses;[key 2][32] Washington's wartime mounts Snipe[b] – Parrot[key 3]  Said to have been owned by First Lady Martha Washington.[34] Cornwallis,[35] named for General Cornwallis[35] – Greyhound Samson, Steady, Leonidas, Traveller, Magnolia[36] – Stallions
John Adams	Juno, Mark, and Satan[24] – Dogs[key 2] Cleopatra and Caesar[36] – Horses[key 2]
Thomas Jefferson	Dick – mockingbird;[key 3] Dick was the favorite from among at least four mockingbirds the president had while in office[37] Bergère and Grizzle – shepherd dogs from France, possibly Briards[28][38] Two grizzly bear cubs,[key 4] male & female pair, gifted from Captain Zebulon Pike; deeming them "too dangerous & troublesome for me to keep", Jefferson gave them to Charles Willson Peale for his museum in Philadelphia[39] Caractacus – horse, named after Caratacus, a 1st-century British chieftain; offspring of Jefferson's mare Allycroker and a Godolphin Arabian named Young Fearnought[40]
James Madison	Polly – Parrot, outlived both James and Dolley Madison[33]
James Monroe	Spaniel[28][key 4][key 2] – Belonged to youngest daughter, Maria Hester Monroe[41]
John Quincy Adams	Silkworms[key 1][42] – First Lady Louisa Adams spun their silk.[43][44] An alligator[36] – Said to have belonged to Marquis de Lafayette and housed for two months in the East Room,[c][d] Although this story has been widely circulated, the lack of evidence from contemporary accounts or official records suggests an apocryphal myth.[48][49]
Andrew Jackson	Polly (or "Poll") – grey parrot, learned to swear (later attended Jackson's funeral but had to be removed due to loud and persistent profanity)[33] Fighting cocks[key 4][key 1] Bolivia, Emily, Lady Nashville, Sam Patch, and Truxton – Horses[key 2] Sam Patch was named after the famous daredevil known as "The Yankee Leaper"
Martin Van Buren	Briefly owned two tiger cubs given to him by Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman before Congress forced him to donate the tigers to the zoo[44][50] This story, however, might be the result of a misunderstanding.[51]
William Henry Harrison	Sukey – Durham cow[52] Goat
John Tyler	Le Beau – Italian Greyhound[28] Johnny Ty – canary. Brought to the White House by Tyler's second wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler[53] the General – Horse[key 2]
James K. Polk	None[50]
Zachary Taylor	Old Whitey – horse[key 2] Taylor's wartime mount Apollo – Pony;[key 2] formerly a "trick pony" from a circus, a present for Taylor's daughter Betty and resided in the White House stables with Old Whitey[54]
Millard Fillmore	Mason and Dixon – ponies[key 2]
Franklin Pierce	At least two[e] miniature "teacup" Japanese Chin dogs,[key 4] part of a gift exchange with Japan following the Perry Expedition[55] Two birds from Japan,[key 4][key 3] which had just opened its trading posts to the United States.
James Buchanan	Lara – Newfoundland Punch – Toy Terrier Eagle[key 4][key 3]
Abraham Lincoln	Old Bob caparisoned in a mourning blanket at Abraham Lincoln's funeral Nanny and Nanko – goats[32] Jack – Turkey,[32] intended as Christmas dinner, but Tad Lincoln intervened[56] Fido – dog,[24][28] "assassinated"[57] by a drunk with a knife, a few months after Lincoln's assassination;[58] "Fido" became a generic name for a dog because of Lincoln's famous dog[59][60] Jip – Dog[28] Tabby and Dixie – cats. Lincoln once remarked that Dixie "is smarter than my whole cabinet."[61] Horse[key 4][key 2] Rabbit[key 4][key 2] Old Bob – Horse
Andrew Johnson	None, however, Johnson fed white mice he found in his bedroom[key 4][key 1][50][62]
Ulysses S. Grant	Butcher's Boy, Cincinnati, Egypt, Jeff Davis (his wartime mount), Jennie, Julia, Mary, and St. Louis – Horses.[key 2] Grant purchased Butcher's Boy from a butcher following an impromptu race on D.C. streets where he lost to this horse pulling a butcher's cart.[63] Cincinnati was a thoroughbred of renowned racing pedigree.[64] Billy Button and Reb – Ponies[key 2] Faithful – Newfoundland[28] Rosie – Dog[key 2]
Rutherford B. Hayes	Dot – Cocker Spaniel[28] Hector – Newfoundland[28] Duke – English Mastiff[28] Grim – Greyhound[24][28] Otis – Miniature Schnauzer[28] Juno and Shep – Hunting dogs Jet – dog[key 2] Piccolomini – cat[key 2] (presumably named after the Italian general) Siam – First Siamese cat in the United States[65] Miss Pussy – Siamese cat
James A. Garfield	Kit – horse[key 2] Veto[24] – Dog[key 2]
Chester A. Arthur	Rabbit[key 4][key 2] Three horses[key 4][key 2]
Grover Cleveland	Hector – German poodle[28] Mockingbirds[key 4][key 3][key 1] Three[66] Dachshunds[28]
Benjamin Harrison	Whiskers pulling a cart at the White House, with Russell Harrison and his children Dash in front of his doghouse Whiskers ("His Whiskers," or "Old Whiskers") – goat,[32][67] kept at the White House for the president's grandchildren; may have belonged to Russell Harrison[68] Dash – collie[28] Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection – opossums,[69] named from the 1896 Republican party platform,[70] which includes: "Protection and reciprocity are twin measures of Republican policy and go hand in hand."[71] Two alligators – According to one account, Russell Harrison kept two alligators in the White House conservatory[72]
William McKinley	Washington Post (or "Loretta")[53] – Yellow-headed Mexican parrot; could whistle "Yankee Doodle"[33] Valeriano Weyler and Enrique DeLome – Angora kittens; named after Spanish general Valeriano Weyler and Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lôme Roosters[key 4][key 1]
Theodore Roosevelt	Archie riding Algonquin Roosevelt family with Skip Illustration of Slippers, the White House cat[f] Admiral Dewey, Bishop Doane, Dr. Johnson, Father O'Grady, Fighting Bob Evans – guinea pigs;[key 2][74] namesakes: George Dewey, William Croswell Doane, (likely John O'Grady (priest)) and Robley D. Evans Algonquin – "Calico pony" (Shetland),[74] favored by Roosevelt's son Archie[75] Baron Spreckle – Hen,[key 2][74] likely named after sugar baron Claus Spreckels Bill the Lizard – lizard,[key 3][74][76] brought from California and described as a "horned frog"[77] (cf. horned toad); likely named after Lewis Carroll's Bill the Lizard. Blackjack – Manchester Terrier Eli Yale – Hyacinth macaw[74] Named after the British merchant (also College namesake) Emily Spinach – garter snake,[key 3][74] so named by Roosevelt's daughter Alice because "it was as green as spinach and as thin as my Aunt Emily"[78] Fedelity – pony[key 2] Gem and Susan – dogs[key 2] Jack[74] and Peter – Terriers[key 2][28] Jonathan Edwards – small black bear from West Virginia[74] named after the religious leader, an ancestor of Mrs. Roosevelt;[79] eventually sent to the Bronx Zoo[80] Jonathan – Piebald rat[key 3] Josiah (or "Josh")[77] – Badger[key 3][74] During a railroad tour of the West, the president acquired two-week-old Josiah at a stop in Sharon Springs, Kansas[81] Manchu – Pekingese[28][74] Maude – Pig[74] Peter Rabbit – Rabbit;[key 3][74] was given a "proper state" funeral[82] Cf. Peter Rabbit. Pete – Bull Terrier,[28][74][24] exiled to Long Island "after chomping on one too many legs"[83] Rollo – Saint Bernard Skip – mongrel[28][74] Sailor Boy – Chesapeake Bay Retriever[28][74] Tom Quartz and Slippers – Cats,[key 2] Tom Quartz was named after a cat in a Mark Twain story.[84] Bill – laughing hyena, gift from Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia[85] Barn owl Fierce[86] – one-legged rooster[74]
William Howard Taft	Caruso – dog,[key 2] a gift for Taft's daughter Helen from opera singer Enrico Caruso; after a White House performance, he decided that cows were not appropriate pets for a little girl[87] Mooly Wooly[key 2] and Pauline Wayne – Cows. Pauline (or "Miss Wayne") was a Holstein of considerable fame; she "went missing" for two days.[88]
Woodrow Wilson	Davie – Airedale Terrier[28] Old Ike – Ram,[89] led the flock of sheep[51] Puffins – cat[key 2][89] Bruce – Bull Terrier[89] songbirds[key 4][key 3][key 1] Sheep,[key 4] numbering 48 at its peak,[90] the flock kept the White House lawn trimmed "in the most economical way";[89] the wool being sold to benefit the Red Cross[91]
Warren G. Harding	Laddie Boy Laddie Boy (July 26, 1920 – January 23, 1929) – Airedale Terrier[24][28] Old Boy – Bulldog[28] Petey – canary[92] Pete – Squirrel[93][94]
Calvin Coolidge	Portrait of Rob Roy and Grace Coolidge Rob Roy (1922–1928) and Prudence Prim – White collies[28] Peter Pan – Wirehair Fox Terrier,[95][28] the Coolidges' first White House dog; Paul Pry – Airedale Terrier,[28] half-brother of Warren Harding's Laddy Boy[95] Calamity Jane – Shetland Sheepdog[28] Tiny Tim and Blackberry – Chow Chows[28] Ruby Rouch – collie[28] Boston Beans – Boston bulldog[28] King Cole – Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael)[96] Palo Alto ("Palo") – A black and white English Setter, a bird dog that Coolidge soon gave to Colonel Starling,[95] chief of the Secret Service detail in the White House Bessie – collie Rebecca – raccoon,[key 3][97][96] Rebecca was intended for a Thanksgiving feast; First Lady Grace had a tree-house built for her instead[95][98] Reuben – A male raccoon acquired as a companion for Rebecca; soon escaped and not recovered[98] Ebeneezer – Donkey Nip and Tuck – canaries, both olive green in color; the Coolidges' first birds[95] Peter Piper and Snowflake – Two more canaries; Snowflake was white[95] Goldy – A "yellow bird"[key 3][96][95] Do-Funny – a trained songbird (troupial)[key 3] from South America;[95] said to be Mrs. Coolidge's favorite bird[96] Enoch – goose[key 3] Smoky – bobcat Blacky and Tiger (or "Tige") – cats[key 2][95][96] Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau – lion cubs from Johannesburg, South Africa[96] Billy – pygmy hippopotamus, full name: William Johnson Hippopotamus[99] A wallaby – Promptly given to a zoo[96] A duiker (a very small type of antelope) — Also sent to the zoo[96] Bruno – A black bear from Chihuahua, Mexico; Mrs. Coolidge promptly sent him to a zoo[96] Pekin Ducks – Thirteen ducklings were received as an Easter gift; Mrs. Coolidge attempted to raise them in a White House bathroom, but eventually sent them to a zoo[96]
Herbert Hoover	Herbert Hoover with King Tut Billy Possum – A wild opossum that occupied Rebecca's vacant tree-house and was "adopted" by the Hoovers;[98] temporarily filled in for a local high school's missing mascot[100][101] The name likely derives from a nickname used for the 27th president, William Howard Taft.[102] Caruso – A Roller canary[4] King Tut – Belgian Shepherd[103][104] (Malinois variety)[4] Pat – German Shepherd[103] Big Ben and Sonnie – Fox Terriers[28][105] Glen – Scotch Collie[28] Yukonan – Canadian Eskimo Dog[28] Patrick – Irish Wolfhound[103] Eaglehurst Gillette – Setter[103] Weegie – Norwegian Elkhound[4]
Franklin D. Roosevelt	FDR and Fala (1940) Fala (April 7, 1940 – April 5, 1952) – Scottish Terrier[32] Major – German Shepherd[103] Formerly a police dog from the New York State Police[106] After a number of White House biting incidents, he was sent to live at Roosevelt's private residence in Hyde Park, New York.[107] Meggie – Scottish Terrier[103] Winks – Llewellyn Setter[103] Tiny – Old English Sheepdog[103] President – Great Dane[24][103] Blaze – Bullmastiff[103]
Harry S. Truman	Feller – Cocker Spaniel,[103][108] because the Trumans "preferred to be a pet-free family" he was given as a puppy to Truman's personal physician[109] Mike – Irish Setter[103]
Dwight D. Eisenhower	Gabby – parakeet[110] Heidi – Weimaraner[111]
John F. Kennedy	Kennedy family and dogs Gaullie – poodle[112] Charlie – Welsh Terrier[103] Tom Kitten – cat[key 2][113] Robin – canary[113] Bluebell and Marybelle – parakeets[113] Ducks – JFK's daughter, five-year-old Caroline raised ducklings at the White House.[114] Ongoing conflicts with their terrier Charlie prompted sending them to Rock Creek Park.[115] Macaroni – pony[116] Tex – bay Yakut pony[113] Leprechaun – Connemara pony, a gift from President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera[117] Moe – Doberman Pinscher[113] Billie and Debbie – hamsters[113] Pushinka – dog (gift of Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev, puppy of Soviet space dog Strelka)[24] Shannon – Cocker Spaniel[103] Wolf – Dog, mix of Irish Wolfhound and Schnauzer[118] Clipper – German Shepherd[119] Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie, and Streaker – Offspring of Pushinka and Charlie[103] Zsa Zsa – rabbit Sardar – horse[key 2][120]
Lyndon B. Johnson	LBJ with Him Him and Her – beagles[103][121][122] Edgar – beagle[24][103][121][122] Blanco – white collie[103][121][122] Freckles – beagle[103] Yuki – mongrel dog[103][121][122] famous for "singing duets" (howling) with the President for White House guests[123] hamsters[key 2] lovebirds[key 3][124]
Richard Nixon	King Timahoe, Vicki and Pasha looking out the window in the White House Vicki – poodle[103][125] Pasha – terrier[103][125] King Timahoe – Irish Setter[103][125][126] Checkers[24] (1952– September 9, 1964)[g] – Cocker Spaniel
Gerald Ford	Susan Ford, daughter of Gerald Ford, and the family's siamese cat, Shan, in 1974 Ford and Liberty in the Oval Office Liberty (February 8, 1974 – 1984) – Golden Retriever[103] Lucky – dog[24] Misty – Liberty's puppy, born in the White House Shan – Siamese cat[127]
Jimmy Carter	Amy Carter with her cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang Grits – Border collie (mix);[103][128] Given to his daughter Amy by her teacher, but quickly returned[129] after snapping at several White House visitors[24] Lewis Brown – Afghan hound[130] Misty Malarky Ying Yang, daughter Amy Carter's pet – Siamese cat[97]
Ronald Reagan	Rex Ronald Reagan on El Alamein Lucky (October 4, 1983 – January 5, 1995) – Bouvier des Flandres[131][132][133] Rex (December 16, 1984 – August 31, 1998) – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.[133][134] Victory – Golden Retriever[132][133] Peggy – Irish Setter[132][133] Taca – Siberian Husky[132][133] Fuzzy – Belgian sheepdog[132][133] Horses (El Alamein (1971-1998), Nancy D, Baby, Little Man, No Strings and others) at Rancho del Cielo[135][136] Cleo and Sara – tortoiseshell cats at Rancho del Cielo[137]
George H. W. Bush	Millie Millie (January 12, 1985 – May 19, 1997) – Springer Spaniel.[24] Ranger (March 17, 1989 – April 10, 1993) – one of Millie's puppies[103][138]
Bill Clinton	Socks Socks (March 15, 1989 – February 20, 2009) – cat.[67] Buddy (August 7, 1997 – January 2, 2002) – chocolate Labrador retriever.[67]
George W. Bush	India Spot "Spotty" Fetcher (March 17, 1989 – February 21, 2004) – female English Springer Spaniel named after Scott Fletcher; Puppy of Millie;[24] Euthanized after suffering a series of strokes. Barney (September 30, 2000 – February 1, 2013) – Scottish Terrier.[24][139] Miss Beazley (October 28, 2004 – May 17, 2014) – Scottish Terrier; Nicknamed "Beazley Weazley"; 2005 birthday gift from George to his wife.[24][139] India "Willie" (July 13, 1990 – January 4, 2009) – cat Ofelia – Longhorn cow (lives at Bush's Prairie Chapel Ranch)
Barack Obama	Bo and Sunny Bo (October 9, 2008 – May 8, 2021) – Portuguese Water Dog.[24] Sunny (born June 11, 2012) – Portuguese Water Dog.[140][141]
Donald Trump	None[142]
Joe Biden	Biden with Champ and Major Champ[143] (November 11, 2008 – June 19, 2021) – German Shepherd Dog Major[143] (born January 17, 2018) – German Shepherd Dog

Key

See also[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pets of presidents of the United States.

• Canadian Parliamentary Cats
• Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, United Kingdom
• Hermitage cats in Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Pets of Vladimir Putin
• Sully, retired President George H. W. Bush's service dog during his final months of life
• Tibs the Great
• Taiwanese presidential pets
• Category:Pets of the British Royal Family

Further reading[]

• Truman, Margaret (1969). White House Pets OCLC 70279; eBook (2016) ISBN 9781612309392

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pets of presidents of the United States.

• White House Pets: Animal Ambassadors – The White House Historical Association
• Presidential Pets Museum – Private museum in Glen Allen, Virginia
• Pets in the White House – White House for Kids (official Clinton archive)
• Thomas, Nick (February 19, 2018). "A salute to presidential pets". The Oklahoman.