Amazing story of a presidential dog who lived in the White House

Since the independence of the United States in 1776, 46 presidents have lived in the White House — , at least 31 dogs calling 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue their hometown. is.

In the book"All American Dogs: History of Presidential Pets of All Ages"(Harper Collins), August 9, Andrew Hugger — Residence Historian Virginia At the Presidential Pet Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia — offers a master class on the White House's most adorable residents. From George Washington's three staggers toPresident Biden's German shepherd 

Ronald Reagan and Lucky

1981-1989 Sheila Tate, a spokesman for Nancy Reagan, persuaded the 40th president to keep a dog. But she wasn't the one who gave Reagan their pouch, a black Bouvier des Flanders called Lucky.

The dog was a gift from Kristen Ellis, a 6-year-old victim of spina bifida and a child of the March of Dimes poster. Mrs. Reagan named her new dog her name in honor of her mother, Edith Racket "Lucky" Davis.

Lucky grew to a whopping 70 pounds, but he still thought he was a lap dog. While he was riding Marine One, he often jumped on the Republican president's feet. In fact, after several trips on her ship, she began to associate the president's helicopter with her favorite trip to Camp David. Every time the puppy saw the chopper, she was excited and ran towards it.

Calvin Coolidge and Rob Roy

Hager According to the report, Republican President Calvin Coolidge, who was in the White House from 1923 to 1929, had more pets than any other US president during his tenure. The White House with a coolant. Paul Pry, the first lady's Airedale Terrier, bites the White House maid who once approached her. Then Tiny Tim and Blackberry, the two badly behaved chow chow, barked non-stop. Blackberries were so frustrating for the first family that only a few years later they handed her over to her daughter-in-law in Coolridge.

However, the white Collie Robroy was said to be a favorite and loyal companion to the First Lady Gray Schoolridge. In his autobiography, Coolridge describes the dog as "a majestic gentleman with courage and loyalty."

Robroy is also the only dog ​​in the White House portrait. A painting of Grace and Pouch by Howard Chandler Christie before the 1924 state supper. It is currently displayed in the China Room.

John F. Kennedy and Clipper

John F. was President of the Democratic Party from 1961 to 1963. Kennedy was severely allergic to animals, but he had several pets — including the German Shepherd given to First Lady Jackie Kennedy by Clipper, President's father, Joseph. Hager states that despite allergies to JFK, children wanted to grow up with their pets. (Among their Menagerie was his daughter Caroline Kennedy's Pony Macaroni.)

Jackie reportedly took a clipper for a daily walk through the White House grounds.

Kennedy also liked: his Welsh Terrier Charlie swimming rap with the President in the White House pool. JFK even demanded that he wait for Marine One when Charlie landed from a trip out of town.

Herbert Hoover and King Tat

Herbert Huber's Belgian Shepherd, King Tat, was special. He helped the Republicans win the presidential election by melting the hearts of voters. When Hoover took office in 1928, he was perceived by the general public as hard and cold. So his campaign manager suggested a photo with his dog, who has been a member of the candidate's family since 1922.

The Hoover campaign distributed photos widely and said, "The happiest photo ever created. I've included photos in every possible publication, including the New York Times with the caption "One."

According to Hager, King Tutankhamun went to pick up the daily newspaper from 1929 to 1933 while his master was at the White House. After Hoover finished reading the section, King Tutankhamun used the paper as his pillow. 

Unfortunately, the White House turned out to be too stressful for such vigilant varieties, and constant visitor anxiety caused King Tutankhamun to stop eating and sleeping. rice field. Worried about his beloved pet, Hoover sent his dog to the house in front of his family, which his friend had rented. King Tutankhamun died in October 1929, just a few weeks later.

Richard Nixon and King Tamaho

Richard Nixon was President from 1969 to 1974. Meanwhile, the Republicans and his family enjoyed it with three dogs: Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, and Irish Setter King Timaho.

King Timaho was one of the most beloved pets of the Nixon family, but the most famous was the Checkers. In 1952, then Senator Nixon found himself in the midst of a scandal that helped Cocker Spaniel save him.

Proponents have started a fund to support the senator's political career, but Nixon has been accused of spending thousands of dollars on his behalf.

Fearing that Nixon would be left in Congress, the Republican National Committee arranged for him to have 30 minutes of television time to talk directly to Americans — and Checkers. Is the beginning of a speech.

"I have one more thing to tell you, otherwise you'll probably say so to me, because I got something after the election: a gift. A man in Texas is on the radio. I heard Pat say that our two young people want to have a dog, "Nixon said.

"Believe it or not, the day before we embarked on this campaign trip, we received a message from Union Station in Baltimore that we had a package. We got off to get it. You know what it was. He sent from Texas all the time a little Cocker Spaniel dog in a crate. Black and white spots. And our little girl — 6 Tricia of the age-named it Checker, and like all the kids you know, kids love dogs, and I want to say this now, they No matter what we say about it, we will keep it. "

Then Nixon supporters called RNC to share their love for the Senator. According to Hager, they were 75 to 1 in favor of Nixon staying on the Vice President's Republican ticket.

Joe Biden and Major

Boobama wasn't the only new puppy to roam the White House hall in 2009. Immediately after Joe Biden became Vice President, German shepherd Champ Biden was also a newcomer. Sadly, theChamp died in July 2021 at the age of 13 

Three days before Biden's inauguration in 2021, the Delaware Humane Society had virtual funding. Hosted a procurement event. The new president hires German Shepherd, MajorThe goal of animal rescue was to raise $ 10,000, but Josh Groban sang andtodaycorrespondent Jill Martin. After the victory, more than $ 200,000 was raised, and the Major was set to head to his new home on Pennsylvania Street.

However, things didn't go as planned as the Major became known for jumping and assaulting staff and guards, and was involved in two biting incidents. .. After receiving more extensive training

, Major now lives with his family friends in a quieter and less stressful environment than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Bidens has also added a new German Shepherd commander to their ranks.

Rutherford B. Haze and Duke

The Hayes family had several dogs, the most famous of which was Duke, who suspects Hager is a British mastiff. ..

Hayes had a strange presidency, the Republicans vowed to serve only one term from 1877 to 1881, and his wife refused to serve alcohol at the White House. He has always been an outspoken animal rights activist.

His speech at the 1878 Parliament, now called the State of the Union speech. Hayes said: [I urge Congress to consider] Enacting more efficient legislation to prevent these abuses, a radical statement in the mid-19th century.

Bill Clinton and Buddy

In In 1991, two years before Clinton moved to the White House, Democratic President Bill Clinton had a black-and-white cat named Socks. During Clinton's first semester, socks became a well-known fixture in the White House. Especially when a reporter seduces him with a catnip at a press conference. 

However, when Clinton's daughter Chelsea went to college in 1997, First Lady Hillary decided to take the Chocolate Labo buddy home. "President Clinton later joked that it was easier to negotiate between the Israelis and the Palestinians than to make peace between the two animals," Hager wrote.

Hillary later wrote a children's book on popular pets, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Children's Letters to First Pets. The proceeds were donated to the National Park Foundation.

George W. Bush and Miss Beazley and Bernie

George W. After Bush's 2001-2009 presidency was hit by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans scorned and sweetened one of his Scottish Terriers, Bernie. I used it as.

In the early 2000s, whenBernie was the first dog, he starred in an annual video posted on the Internet by the White House before and after winter vacation. Cute on the lawn of the White House.

Nonetheless, not everyone was fascinated by Bernie's charm. George W. Bush's daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, said at the "Today" show, "Burney was a real jerk ... he was a little temperament." He feels sick, but he didn't like strangers. "He added that he even chewed reporters and family friends.

In 2005, Bush adopted another Scottish Terrier, Miss Beazley, as a birthday present from the President to President Laura Bush. His father was Bernie's half-brother.

That year, Miss Beazley and Bernie were the stars of the White House holiday video "Very Beazley's Christmas."

Barack Obama and Bo

In President Barack Obama's 2008 victory speech, he spoke directly to his young daughters about his very personal campaign promises. You have won apuppy that comes with us.”

The puppy was Bo, a Portuguese water dog that was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy.

At a deeper level, Hager said," Thus, Bo's gift linked President Obama to the optimistic Kennedy era of the early 1960s, and the torch was passed on to a new generation. "

Bo was technically owned by Obama's daughters, but was loved by the president's entire family. President Michelle Obama brought her dog to read "The Night Before Christmas" at the Children's National Medical Center near the White House in 2011.

Sadly, Bo died in 2011 at the age of 12. But two years later, Michelle Obama announced in a 2013 tweet the return of her new furry family member, the Portuguese Water Dog Sunny.