Political Pets

Pets and Presidents seem to go hand-in-hand throughout our country’s history. Cats and dogs, horses and parrots, cows, goats, raccoons, badgers, sheep and even an alligator owned by John Quincy Adams, have resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

By LaDonna Seely, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: November 6, 2008 - 10:18 AM

As Harry S. Truman once said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”

The current four-legged master of the White House is Barney, the Bushes’ Scottish terrier. Barney Cam provides glimpses into the lives of India “Willie” the cat, and Miss Beazley, another Scottish terrier and the newest recruit.

Previous White House pets
Who can forget Chelsea Clinton’s cat, Socks, or Bill Clinton’s chocolate Labrador, Buddy? In fact, they even co-authored a book called, “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy,” containing letters written to them from children all over the world.

But it was Millie, the elder President Bush’s springer spaniel who penned the very first presidential paperback, “Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush,” in which Millie gives a dog's-eye view of life in the White House.

John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, had a pony and called it Macaroni. A present from Lyndon Johnson, Macaroni freely roamed the White House grounds. Fala, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, is the only Presidential pet to be memorialized. A statue of Fala stands next to one of his master at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C.

New White House pet on January 20
So, what will the new four-legged ruler of the White House be when a new President moves in on January 20?

While neither Barack Obama nor Joe Biden currently have any pets, the Obamas have promised their two daughters that they will get a puppy after Election Day. Some reports say the promised puppy comes only if he wins the White House, while others say the puppy will appear once the campaign is completed. (Just for the record, let’s hope the Obamas adopt a homeless pooch, rather than buy an expensive designer dog or worse yet, get one from a puppy mill pet store.)

In fact, upon hearing word of the impending addition to the family, the American Kennel Club launched an online poll to find the perfect companion for the Obamas (www.presidentialpup.com). According to an AKC news release, more than 42,000 people cast their vote and the winning breed was a poodle, with a soft-coated wheaten terrier nipping at its heals.

"Most of our Presidents kept purebreds in the White House," says AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "When times get tough — during a bad economy or when presidential pressures are at their peak —these dogs serve as personal companions and give much relaxation and laughter to our leaders during difficult times."

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