Top Dogs at the White House
Families taking up residence at the White House since the Theodore Roosevelt administration have encountered the public's insatiable appetite for stories of everyday life in the Executive Mansion. With the common reproduction of photographs in newspapers and magazines by the early 20th century, presidential pets had to accept the same scrutiny as their distinguished masters. Whether providing companionship or humanizing the president's political image, White House dogs have done the job well.
Skip
President Theodore Roosevelt and his family were famous pet lovers who kept a menagerie of kangaroo rats, snakes, dogs, birds, ponies, and all manner of small animals. The president preferred what he called "Heinz 57" dogs from multiple bloodlines. One of his favorites was Skip, a short-legged Black and Tan mongrel terrier, brought home from a Colorado bear hunt. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed as a Teddy Roosevelt terrier in 1999.
The Roosevelts with Skip
Library of CongressLaddie
Laddie Boy was both photogenic and the perfect representation of Warren G. Harding's campaign slogan Return to Normalcy. Laddie sat in on meetings and had his own cabinet chair. He greeted official delegations and hosted the 1923 White House Easter Egg Roll when the Hardings were away.
Laddie Boy
Library of CongressRob Roy
President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge's closest companion at the White House was a white collie named Rob Roy. They later acquired and pampered Prudence Prim, a second white collie. However, it was Rob Roy who would be immortalized in Howard Chandler Christy's official 1924 White House portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge.
First Lady Grace Coolidge and Rob Roy
White House Historical Association/White House CollectionKing Tut
President Herbert Hoover's lack of charisma and personal warmth was a subject of wry comment in the press. During the presidential campaign in 1928, Hoover's advisors noticed that he appeared uncharacteristically amiable in a portrait with his Belgian Malinois police dog, King Tut. Immediately, they printed and circulated thousands of autographed copies to voters and newspapers. King Tut not only fixed Hoover's image problem, but also went on to assist the White House police force as a patrol dog.
President Herbert Hoover and King Tut
Library of CongressFala
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's black Scottie was his constant companion accompanying the president to secret meetings or publicized war conferences. Fala was the subject of two MGM films and gave up his toys to promote a rubber collection drive during World War II. The dog became so recognizable that an appearance on a train platform revealed the president was nearby and became a security concern.
Fala
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum/NARAPushinka
As a good will gesture toward the United States, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev gave First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy a dog named Pushinka, which means "fluffy" in Russian. She was the daughter of Strelka, the first Russian dog in space. Some Americans were suspicious of the gift and believed the dog might be wearing a listening device. Eventually, Pushinka won everybody over, especially Charlie, the Kennedy's Welsh terrier, who became the father of her pupniks.
Pushinka and her pupniks
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum/NARAHim and Her
The beagles of President Lyndon B. Johnson gained their fame from the great ear lift, an incident when the president playfully lifted the dogs from their ears in front of news cameras in the Rose Garden. He did not lift them from the ground to dangle, but the spectacle sparked outrage from dog-lovers.
Him and Her
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum/NARAYuki
President Johnson doted on Yuki, an abandoned stray found at a Texas gas station by his daughter, Luci. The sessions of the vagabond dog and the president singing together provide one of the most endearing images of a president and a pet.
Yuki
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum/NARAKing Timahoe
President Richard Nixon's most famous dog was Checkers who did not live at the White House. The Nixons had three dogs well known in their day for their festive Christmas portraits: President Nixon's Irish Setter King Timahoe, Tricia Nixon's Yorkie Pasha, and Julie Nixon's Poodle Vicki.
King Timahoe, Vicki, and Pasha (right to left)
Nixon Presidential Materials Project, National Archives and Records AdministrationLiberty
When the Fords moved to the White House, a Siamese cat named Chan accompanied them. David Hume Kennerly, a friend and the president's official photographer, gave President Gerald Ford a golden retriever puppy named Liberty. While a White House pet, Liberty gave birth to eight puppies and her popularity with the American public soared. Seven of the puppies were given to good homes and one was donated to the Leader Dogs for the Blind in order to serve as a Seeing Eye dog.
Liberty
White House Historical AssociationGrits
To welcome her to her new home, a mixed breed/Springer Spaniel puppy, born on the day Jimmy Carter was elected president, was given to Amy by her Stevens Elementary School teacher, Verona Meeder. Amy named the dog Grits. Misty Malarky Ying Yang, the Carter's Siamese cat, was not fond of the addition to the Carter pet family. In September of 1979, Grits was returned to his original owner. During his stay at the White House, the dog did PR work with a veterinarian to launch a drive against canine heartworms.
Grits
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARARex
Throughout their lives President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan coddled a menagerie of critters ranging from horses to dogs to cows to goldfish. Their most famous White House pet was Rex, a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. When First Lady Nancy Reagan was away, the president often wrote in his diary: "Rex and I are lonesome, Rex and I are roommates again, and Upstairs and waiting for Nancy's return and here she is. Me and the dog are very happy."
Rex
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum/NARAMillie
After living a quiet leisurely life in the White House for the first year, Millie gave birth to six puppies and became a media sensation. The event landed First Lady Barbara Bush, Millie, and her six puppies on the cover of Life magazine. She went on to dictate Millie's Book, a best seller, chronicling a typical day with her master. The book earned almost $900,000 in royalties, all of which was donated to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
Millie and her puppies
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARABuddy
Although the Clintons were first identified with their pet cat Socks, Buddy won the hearts of many American pet lovers when he came to the White House as a puppy in 1997. Administration critics said the adorable chocolate Labrador puppy was a photo prop or a ploy for higher ratings, but President Bill Clinton found himself in need of a loyal canine friend during his tumultuous second term. Socks and Buddy made a mark as philanthropists when First Lady Hillary Clinton published a book of children's letters to the two pets. The proceeds were given to the National Park Foundation.
Buddy
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum/NARABarney
Well known to Americans as a web cam media star, Barney was a gift to President George W. Bush in 2000. In December 2002, the dog wandered through the White House with a lipstick sized video camera attached to his collar. He recorded the dog's eye view of the White House Christmas decorations launched on the White House web site. His web cam adventures, Barney Cam, Barney Reloaded, and subsequent annual installments became a popular Christmas tradition for the Bush administration.
Barney
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARABo & Sunny
After much deliberation about a new White House dog, in April 2009, the White House announced the selection of Bo, a male Portuguese water dog given to the Obamas by Senator and Mrs. Ted Kennedy. Bo’s presence in the White House sparked nationwide interest in the breed and adoration of Bo as he became a member of the Obama family. On August 19, 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama announced via Twitter the arrival of Sunny, a female Portuguese water dog. Called the “little sister” of Bo, the White House described Sunny as “full of energy and very affectionate.” Bo and Sunny were commonly seen around the White House playing outside in the snow, greeting visitors at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, and the two even sported fancy collars and bows for a 2014 State Dinner for French President François Hollande.
Obama family pets Bo, left, and Sunny sit at a table in the State Dining Room, Feb. 10, 2014.
Official White House Photo by Lawrence JacksonChamp, Major, & Commander
Two German Shepherds, Champ and Major, came to the White House with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in 2021. Champ was purchased from a private breeder in Pennsylvania by the Biden family after the 2008 presidential election. He lived with the Bidens at Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the Vice President of the United States. In 2018, the Bidens adopted Major through the Delaware Humane Association. While there had been a number of "rescue" dogs to live at the White House, Major was the first shelter dog to do so. In June 2021, Champ passed away—he was 13 years old. Major struggled to adjust to life at the White House. Veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and trainers recommended a quieter environment for Major, so the Bidens rehomed him with family friends. For President Biden's 79th birthday, his brother and sister-in-law, James & Sara Biden, gifted him a new puppy, a pure-bred German Shephard named Commander.
President Joe Biden in the Oval Office with his dogs Champ, left, and Major on February 9, 2021.
Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz
The new Biden family dog, Commander, Monday, December 20, 2021, plays in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden of the White House.
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CollectionAnimal Ambassadors
Animals, whether pampered household pets, working livestock, birds, squirrels, or strays, have long been a major part of White House life. Some pets provided companionship to the president and his family. Others gained fame for a role in shaping the president's image. No matter what job was bestowed upon them, pets at the Executive Mansion did it well.This collection
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