In honor of Presidents Day we’d like to pay tribute to two Presidential Golden Retrievers, Liberty and Victory. One lived at the White House during President Gerald Ford’s administration, and the other served as President Ronald Reagan’s personal confidant. Both stole the hearts of an entire nation. But of course they did. After all they were Golden Retrievers!
Liberty almost didn’t pass her security clearance to make it into the White House though! No not by the Secret Service, but from her breeder. It was a family friend who was given the mission to get this pup for the Ford family. However, not wanting to make a fuss that this Golden Retriever would soon by serving side by side with the President of the United States, this friend was a bit vague in answering the breeder’s questions. White House photographer and family friend, David Hume Kennerly, told the Minneapolis breeder that the puppy was a gift for a “middle-aged couple who had four kids” and lived in “a white house with a big yard and a fence around it.” When asked if the family owned or rented, he replied, “I guess you might call it public housing.” Being a reputable breeder, he was suspicious of Kennerly’s answers, and further inquired did the family have a steady job to afford food for the 8 month old growing puppy? It was at that point Kennerly realized he was in danger of not getting the puppy, and had to reveal the name of the family. Thankfully, the breeder approved.
However, there was yet another obstacle this pup had to overcome before joining the family. Her original name was Streaker! Although in the colorful history of Washington, she probably wouldn’t be the first streaker to run across the White House lawn. Yet the family didn’t want any controversy in light of recent events with Ford’s predecessor. Therefore the Puppy’s name was changed to the more suitable one of Liberty. It was love at first sight when she finally surprised President Gerald Ford in the Oval Office.
That isn’t the only surprise Liberty had for Ford. Once while answering nature’s call, Liberty accidentally got herself and the President locked out of the White House at 3:00 AM! Being a dutiful dog dad, he donned his robe and took her outside to answer nature’s call in the wee hours of the morning, only to discover the doors to the family’s living quarters were locked when they tried to return to bed. Up and down the stairwell to the second, third, and back to the first floor the slipper clad President went with his dog. Luckily after a bit of barking and some pounding on the doors, the Secret Service finally came to their aid. As Betty Ford later pondered, “I still don’t understand how they [the Secret Service] missed the scene with the odd couple. Maybe somebody dozed off.”
Although this incident didn’t make the front page news, Liberty became a national celebrity when she gave birth to nine puppies at the White House. The nation rejoiced at the announcement that mother and puppies were doing well, and the White House was flooded with requests when their official photographs were made public at 8 weeks old. Following in Liberty’s paw steps, these pups went on to also live interesting lives including one who became a service dog for the blind. After serving her country and enjoying retirement with her family, Liberty passed away at the age of 11 in 1986.
Before Ronald Reagan became President, he knew Victory was his! Victory, the Golden Retriever, that is. While campaigning in Milwaukee a family friend presented the future Present with the puppy, and promised to care for him until he won the election. Well that was all the incentive Ronald Reagan needed for Victory. However after his election, Victory opted to stay away from the fast paced world of Washington, and instead oversaw the Reagans’ ranch in California. Although known as one of the most prolific diarists of all the Presidents, Ronald Reagan was rather quiet about the activities of Victory. However, the two of them could be seen working side by side at the ranch during Reagan’s time away from the White House.
Although most people have come to associate Rex, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Lucky, the Bouvier des Flandres, with the Reagans due to their time in the public spotlight at the White House, all of their pets held a special place in their heart. In fact when Victory passed away, the former President personally buried him in a little hilltop cemetery created especially for their pets on their ranch, with his own carved headstone.
To learn more about Liberty’s term in office, please visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Photographs of Victory and other Reagan pets, can be found at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Additional information on all Presidential Pups is available at the Presidential Pet Museum, the National Archives and the Library of Congress.
