Two-thirds of all presidents have owned a dog before, during or after their time in the White House.
For over two centuries, presidential pooches have gained the attention of the public while playing a variety of roles in the lives of those who have attained America’s highest elective office. Most recently, Joe Biden’s German shepherd, Commander, made headlines when he bit a Secret Service agent — the dog’s 11th known biting incident.
“Many chief executives were simply lifelong dog lovers; some have used dogs to humanize themselves; and others have even used their beloved pets to distract from scandal or negative press,” according to the White House Historical Association.
Calvin Coolidge said “any man who does not like dogs does not deserve to be in the White House.” Silent Cal certainly qualified to be president by his own axiom — he had more canines than any other chief executive except for one, George Washington.
The Father of Our Nation had a genuine fondness for dogs. As an avid hunter, Washington maintained kennels at Mount Vernon for his hounds. He was also a student of genetics and a breeder. According to “First Dogs” by Roy Rowan and Brooke Janis, he crossed “seven big stag hounds that the Marquis de Layfette had given him with his own smaller black-and-tan Virginia hounds to develop a new breed … the American foxhound.”
In his journal, Washington listed more than 30 dogs by name including: Tipsy, Tipler, Cloe, Venus, True Love and Drunkard. His personal favorite was Sweet Lips, whom he took to the First Continental Congress in 1774. Washington cared for his four-legged friends diligently, visiting the kennels twice a day.
While other Founding Fathers had canines, they did not have the same high affection for them as Washington.
Near the end of his term in 1800, John and Abigail Adams became the initial tenants at the White House. Adams brought a mixed breed named Satan to the Executive Mansion just weeks before he lost his bid for reelection to Thomas Jefferson. While in France, Jefferson learned about the Briard pedigree. He took several pups to Monticello to help protect his sheep from marauding hounds. One account noted that as a result of these pillaging canines, Jefferson advocated that all dogs should wear a collar with the owners’ name on it … he may have been the originator of the dog license.
As the 19th century progressed, presidential canines received greater public attention.
In the election of 1840, “man’s best friend” emerged as an important component in the Whig Party’s nominee William Henry Harrison’s campaign material. In one print, he is depicted greeting voters with his faithful dog by his side; separately, a cartoon shows a pack of Whig hunting hounds chasing the fox Van Buren, Harrison’s opponent.
James Buchanan may have made the Newfoundland breed fashionable in America. His dog Lara weighed 170 pounds and “slept next to the president while at the White House and true to her breed, she took on the role of his personal protector. Visitors often remarked that she seemed to sleep with one eye open,” Andrew Hager said in his book “All-American Dogs.”
Before coming to the White House, Abraham Lincoln had a very special four-footed buddy. He developed a legacy almost as distinguished as the 16th president — his name was Fido. He had the run of their home in Springfield, Illinois, and frequently accompanied Lincoln to his law office. But because of concern for the hectic environment at the Executive Mansion, Fido did not go to Washington with the Lincoln family.
Beginning in the 20th century, practically every commander in chief had at least one dog while in the White House.
No Oval Office occupant had as many different pets as Teddy Roosevelt. Of the various dogs he owned, a bull terrier named Pete was infamous. Roosevelt made excuses for his bad behavior of nipping staff members, a naval officer and cabinet officials until one incident nearly created an international disaster. Mike Clark wrote on DogTime that “when the French Ambassador was visiting the White House, Pete chased him and ripped the bottom of his pants off.” The wayward pooch was banished to the family home in Sagamore Hill, New York.
The celebrity presidential dog began with Warren and Florence Harding’s Airedale terrier named Laddie Boy. He went to cabinet meetings where he had his own special chair, golf outings and accompanied the first lady for various events. Laddie Boy became such a luminary that “critics claimed Harding was using the animal to compensate for his own failings as president.”
Of the 12 canines that Calvin and Grace Coolidge had during their tenure, their favorite was likely Rob Roy, a white collie named after a popular cocktail during Prohibition. He slept in the couple’s bedroom and ate with the family routinely. He was by the first lady’s side in her official White House picture.
Herbert Hoover, in large part, owes his election to the presidency to his Belgian police dog called King Tut. During the campaign, Hoover was perceived by the voters as rigid and cold. To soften his image, his managers widely publicized a picture of him with King Tut. It did the trick — the Hoovers along with King Tut moved into the White House in March 1929.
From then until now, there have been many other first dogs, a few of the more notable ones are:• Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, Fala, went everywhere with him.• Nikita Khrushchev gave John F. Kennedy a puppy named Pushinka; her mother was one of the first dogs to fly into space.• Richard Nixon’s cocker spaniel, Checkers, was a star in his televised speech where he denied improprieties with campaign money.
Like with many American households, dogs have been a part of most presidents’ families since the beginning of the republic. As for Biden’s Commander, first lady Jill Biden said the family is working to address the issue.
Jonathan L. Stolz is a resident of James City County.
