Presidents and Their Pets: True American Tails

PetSmart - Cathy Sigmon/pets.com

It was Harry Truman that once said, “If you want a loyal friend in Washington, get a dog” but he wasn't the only American president who had that opinion. In fact, the White House has been home to many dogs, as well as cats, parakeets, a macaw and even a raccoon. 

The Obamas have no pets, but have promised their daughters a dog. And no, the White House pets do not have Secret Service protection.

While we wait for decision on which lucky dog will be chosen as First Dog, enjoy these facts about some of the presidential pets of the past collected from various web sites:

During the 19th century, horses, cows, goats, chickens, cats, songbirds, parrots and other small animals lived alongside early first families, reflecting the rural nature of the population at large. Abraham Lincoln's son Tad played happily with a pet turkey, which was spared from the dinner table and began the presidential tradition of pardoning a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Woodrow Wilson's sheep grazed on the White House lawn during World War I.  And Teddy Roosevelt's household included a pony, sheep, dogs, cats, a macaw, guinea pigs, rats, a snake and probably more.

But the likely winner of the president with the most pet variety contest was "Silent Cal" Coolidge and his vivacious wife Grace. Among the many animals given to them by friends, foreign leaders and the general public were cats, dogs, birds, a baby bear, a wallaby, a pair of lion cubs, an antelope, a large white goose, a donkey, a pygmy hippo and a bobcat. President Coolidge's favorite pet was a raccoon named Rebecca, which he walked around the White House on a leash.

The family of John F. Kennedy brought with them to the White House pet hamsters Debbie and Billie; a gray cat, Tom Kitten; and a canary, Robin. Eventually, ponies Macaroni and Tex; a Welsh terrier named Charley; a German shepherd named Clipper; a cocker spaniel, called Shannon; parakeets, Maybelle and Bluebell; and Wolf, an Irish wolfhound, would join the menagerie.

In 1992, Socks, an endearing cat with signature white markings, moved into the White House with the Clintons. The tiny kitten had been found by Chelsea Clinton's piano teacher under the porch of her home, and was allowed to stay despite Bill and Hillary's allergies. In 1997, a chocolate Labrador puppy moved in, and was named Buddy after the president's favorite uncle. 

Recent years have seen more dogs than other pets in the White House. One of the most famous was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's beloved Scottish terrier, Fala, who was the president's constant companion during the dark days of World War II. Roosevelt's statue at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C., even has a likeness of Fala at his side.

A famous photo of Lyndon Johnson shows him happily howling along with his mixed-breed dog Yuki. Gerald Ford's golden retriever, Liberty "autographed" her photos with a paw print. And Rex, President Reagan's King Charles spaniel, pulled the switch to turn on the holiday lights in 1985. 

Barbara Bush wrote a book about life in the White House from the perspective of her Springer Spaniel, Millie (Millie's Book, as Dictated to Barbara Bush). In 2002, First Lady Laura Bush celebrated the importance of pets to family life at the White House with the holiday decorations theme, All Creatures Great and Small. Mrs. Bush noted that “animals and birds of every description have entertained, befriended, comforted, and worked for presidents and their families.” The Bushes' two Scotties, Barney and Miss Beazley, are stars of a White House web cam series.

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