Isn’t “Bob” a grand name? Florence Harding, wife of President Warren G. Harding, chose it for her pet canary. Many presidential pets were named after world leaders and even the presidents’ political adversaries.
Pets change people. Look at the official portraits of some of our past leaders and compare them to photographs of them with their beloved pets. It’s hard to believe they are the same men.
First Pet, subtitled The Presidents and Their Beloved Canines, Felines and Other Four-Legged Creatures Who Made Their Home at the White House, is a photo album of American presidents, their families, and the animals they chose to share the White House. There are lots of dogs, cats, horses, and rodents featured in this collection assembled by the Associated Press. But White House residents were not limited to people and four-legged animals. There were those that flew, and slithered, hopped and swam.
While all of our presidents did not have pets (Andrew Johnson left flour out at night for a family of mice), most of them did. George Washington had at least twelve dogs and eight horses; Martha had a parrot. Among Thomas Jefferson’s menagerie were grizzly bears he received from Zebulon Pike (they didn’t live in the White House, though).
Exotic animals were once popular gifts to presidents; Martin VanBuren had two tigers, and John Quincy Adams hosted an alligator (Mrs. Adams raised silkworms). The Coolidges had raccoons and other wild animals, including a BOBcat. Taft’s cows grazed “on the lawn in front of the State, War and Navy Building.”
First Pet is a fun book; the variety of animals that shared our first families’ affections is surprising. Benjamin Harrison’s opossums were nothing in comparison to the zoo that Teddy Roosevelt assembled (including a kangaroo rat, zebra, coyote, wildcat, lion, badger, pig, snake, hyena, and flying squirrel — along with many others!). Calvin Coolidge also entertained a plethora of pets.
Article comments
1 - A Geek Girl
I grew up with goldfish. My folks did not believe in animals in the house. Of course I have a cat and a dog. I'm starting to think that maybe I don't belong in the house. They think they own the place. I doubt being President impresses the pets much. I bet they think they own that house as well.
2 - Bo
This is the other Bo, part chow/retriever. I also have a book, BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger. It's the first book written by a dog ever published in non-fiction. It's 100% funny, 100% true. I also dedicated it to rescue workers and donate 10% to help homeless dogs...and cats.
Woof!
3 - Lynn Voedisch
I trust a president more if he (or she!) owns a pet. It shows they have more compassion than the average macho geek. I even liked Bush more because of Barney.
The only thing I held against Clinton was the fact that he gave Socks away to his secretary when he got his dog. I mean really, the cat was there first!