Mom and Dad are known for leaving elaborate directions for our dog sitters.  However, nothing compares to Abraham Lincoln who not only left specific instructions, he gave his dog sitters a sofa for the comfort of his for his beloved pup!  In honor of Presidents’ Day, I’d like to share with you the story of Abraham Lincoln’s devotion to his dog Fido, a yellow mixed breed dog with floppy ears.  Before becoming President, Fido was Lincoln’s constant companion, and the two could be seen regularly doing errands around Springfield together.  Fido would patiently wait outside of businesses for best friend, and was often seen carrying packages home for him.  However, all that changed when Lincoln was elected President of the United States.

The residents held a huge celebration when Abraham Lincoln was elected President, complete with booming canons, exploding fireworks, and clanging church bells.  All that noise terrified Fido.  In addition, Fido was not a fan of trains, and would have to endure an arduous train ride if he was to move to the White House.  Not wanting to cause Fido further stress and expose him to the chaos of Washington, with a heavy heart and under protest of his sons, Lincoln decided that it would be best if his beloved dog remain in Springfield.  However, being a devoted dog owner, Lincoln was not about to leave his dear friend with just anyone.  After careful consideration, Abraham Lincoln selected John Roll’s family to care for the dog.  John Roll was the family’s carpenter, and had recently remodeled their home in Springfield.  John Roll also had two sons, John and Frank Roll, who were very fond of Fido and enjoyed playing with him.  The family promised to take good care of the dog, and would return him to his loving family once Lincoln’s term was complete.

However, as any helicopter dog parent can appreciate, before leaving the dog with the Roll family, Lincoln gave them very specific instructions.  Fido had the run of the Lincoln household, and it was clear he should enjoy the same privileges while staying with the Rolls.  Fido was never to be tied up alone in the backyard.  Also, whenever Fido scratched at the door, he was to allowed back into the house, muddy paws and all.  In fact, the Roll family were instructed that under no circumstance were they to scold Fido for tracking mud into the house.  The Roll family were also directed that the dog was to eat in the dining room with them at mealtimes and that the family was to share their table scraps.  Fido’s comfort and contentment was very important to Lincoln family.  Before heading off to Washington, the family even gave the Rolls their horse hair sofa, so that Fido would feel more at home!

Being the President’s dog, Fido enjoyed the life of a celebrity with anecdotes about him in the local newspaper, and Lincoln would receive letters updating him on his beloved dog.  In 1863, Lincoln’s barber, William Florville wrote, “Tell Taddy that his dog is alive and kicking doing well.  He stays mostly at John E. Rolls with his boys who are about the size now that Tad & Willy were when they left for Washington.”  However, Lincoln, being fond of animals, couldn’t imagine life at the White House without a dog.  So the family was soon joined by Jip, who roamed the White House halls and was Lincoln’s frequent lunch companion.  The family also welcomed rabbits, goats, and cats into the White House.  In fact, rumor has it Lincoln was a cat person!  Treasury official Maunsell B. Field once wrote that Lincoln “was fond of dumb animals, especially cats.  I have seen him fondle one for an hour.”  Abraham Lincoln even surprised General Ulysses S.Grant, when he interrupted a meeting in the spring of 1865 at army headquarters to turn his attention to motherless kittens.  According to witnesses, Lincoln placed the kittens on his lap and said, “Poor little creatures, don’t cry; you’ll be taken care of,” while he tenderly petted them.  However despite the new new pets, it was clear Lincoln always remembered timid Fido back in Springfield, and was known for stopping presidential parades on the spot if he observed an animal in distress.

When Lincoln was assassinated, Fido greeted mourners at the Lincolns’ Springfield home, and paid respect to his beloved owner.  Fido was the first presidential dog to have his photo taken, and following Lincoln’s death this photo was reproduced as a carte-de-visite and sold to souvenir collectors.  Sadly, less than a year later Fido met the same fate as Abraham Lincoln and was assassinated at the hands of an angry drunk.  The man was sitting on a curb whittling, and when Fido jumped up with his muddy paws to greet him the man plunged his knife into him.  John Roll, the boy who took on the task of caring for the President’s dog, later wrote in his journal,  “We possessed the dog for a number of years when one day the dog, in a playful manner, put his dirty paws upon a drunken man sitting on the street curbing who in his drunken rage; thrust a knife into the body of poor old Fido. He was buried by loving hands.  So Fido, just a poor yellow dog met the fate of his illustrious master – Assassination.”

The name Fido comes from the Latin word “fidelitas” which means faithful.  Abraham Lincoln truly was faithful to his devoted dog Fido, as much as Fido was to Lincoln.  For more information about President Abraham Lincoln’s relationship with Fido and other animals, we recommend Abe & Fido: Lincoln’s Love of Animals and the Touching Story of His Favorite Canine Companion, by Matthew Alego; and the Presidential Pet Museum.