As Champ and Major prepare to move into the White House, we wanted to help them prepare for their roles as First Dogs of the United States by sharing the tales of the pups who have come before them. These patriotic pooches have stood by their owners’ side greeting foreign dignitaries, presiding over meetings in the Oval Office, and have occasionally provided comic relief to take reporters’ attention away from the President. A few were even the center of their own scandals. Although Joe Biden’s Major may be surprised to learn that he is not the first dog named Major to call the White House home, he does bring something unique to the position.
George Washington’s presidency was ushered in with Drunkard, Sweet Lips, and Tipsy, among others. Although at the time the British may have said that describes his choice in cabinet members, these were in reality the names of his beloved American Foxhounds. Washington never actually lived in the White House though. The distinction of being the first dogs to roam those prestigious halls goes to John Adam’s mix-breed dogs, Satan and Juno. Although little is known about Satan and Juno, they performed their duties so well that it was years later before another pup assumed the role of First Dog. Instead there were a series of birds, horses and a few other odd pets including bear cubs and silk worms. That is until Le Beau took office under John Tyler’s administration. Le Beau was an Italian Greyhound eager to take a bite out of politics…not to mention the White House furnishings, and was often disciplined by First Lady Julia Tyler.
The role of First Dog took on greater importance when James Buchanan was sworn in to office in 1857. A bachelor, Buchanan’s Newfie, Lara, added a feminine touch to the Presidency with her calm nature and easy going personality, but did raise some concern with her bear-like appearance. Although Abraham Lincoln was a doting dog owner to Fido who preferred to remain behind in Springfield, little is known about his other dog Jip, who did accompany his family to Washington. No doubt that’s only because Jip was too busy during the Civil War to sit down and pen his memoirs. A dog that could have caused a war is Faithful, a Newfie belonging to the 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant. Upon taking office Grant warned, “If this dog dies, every employee in the White House will be at once discharged.” Luckily for the staff, Faithful fulfilled her term in office faithfully.
Rutherford B. Hayes had eight dogs helping him run the country. One dog in particular though, a Greyhound named Grim, was a favorite of reporters, because he loved to howl along when the First Lady sang the National Anthem. During his brief time in office, James Garfield’s Newfie, Veto, was an important reminder to Congress that Garfield was not easily swayed, and would use his power to veto. Veto received some insight into what it would take to keep Congress at bay when he saved a prized horse from stampeding by holding his reins until help could arrive.
Not all First Dogs of the United States let their responsibilities disrupt their social calendar, as evident in a newspaper article in Chicago Daily Tribune, on February 12, 1894, which stated that Grover Cleveland’s French Poodle, Hector, would be wintering at Buzzard’s Bay. Benjamin Harrison’s Collie, Dash, also believed in the importance of recreation, and was often seen playing on the White House lawn with the President and his grandchildren.
Theodore Roosevelt surrounded himself with a variety of dog breeds, and even boasted of having a Coyote as a pet! But of all the dogs a Manchester Terrier, named Jack, earned the highest praise from the President. When Jack died Roosevelt reminisced, “Jack was human in his intelligence and affection; he learned all kinds of tricks, was a high-bred gentleman, never brawled, and was a dauntless fighter.” Initially buried on the White House grounds, at the end of Roosevelt’s term Jack’s remains were exhumed and reburied at the family’s Long Island estate.
Laddie, an Airedale Terrier, could not resist a selfie and was a media darling during Warren Harding’s administration. He even was known for photobombing the President himself on more than one occasion. Laddie was not the only dog to steal the limelight from the President. Prudence Prim and Rob Roy, White Collies, were often seen posing for photos with Calvin Coolidge. Rob Roy even posed with First Lady Grace Coolidge in her official portrait.
It is said that Herbert Hoover owes his election to his beloved Belgian Shepherd, King Tut. Often seen as stiff an unapproachable, a photo with King Tut won over the hearts of voters. Following the election, King Tut patrolled the grounds making sure the guards were on duty protecting the President. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s German Shepherd, Major, also assumed the role of body guard. A former police dog, Major took a disliking to the British Prime Minister and ripped the pants of the visiting dignitary much to the embarrassment of the Roosevelts and the delight of reporters. Despite his rough treatment of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, Major did not get banned from the White House. That honor goes to Dwight Eisenhower’s Weimaraner, Heidi. It seems Heidi was prone to accidents. After relieving herself on the rug in the diplomatic reception room, Heidi found herself receiving a oneway ride in the President’s limo to the family’s farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Like most dog owners, John F. Kennedy understood the importance of walking his dogs. He and Jackie would often sneak off the White House grounds at night to take a stroll with their two favorite dogs, Charlie and Clipper, with the Secret Service following close behind! While JFK played with his dogs, Lydon Johnson put his dogs to work. Blanco, a Collie, and Him, a Beagle, personally put their paw print signatures on each of the President’s Christmas cards. Richard Nixon’s dogs enjoyed a more relax Christmas during their term in office. There to cover the President’s Holiday, Charles Kuralt noted, “Most remarkable…is the spectacle of a nattily dressed Richard Nixon romping on the sitting-room floor with his dogs.”
This article would be remiss if I didn’t also pay tribute to the first Golden Retriever to live in the White House. Namely President Gerald Ford’s beloved Golden Retriever, Liberty! Liberty stole the hearts of an entire nation. But of course she did. After all she was a Golden Retriever! But life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue didn’t always go smoothly for Liberty. Once while answering nature’s call, Liberty accidentally got herself and President Ford locked out of the White House at 3:00 AM! Ronald Reagan also had a Golden Retriever as a faithful confidant. However, Victory opted to stay away from the fast paced world of Washington, and instead oversaw the Reagans’ ranch in California. They could be seen working side by side at the ranch during Reagan’s vacations. Victory was soon joined at the ranch by Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres, who during his brief time at the White House was more often than not seen distracting Reagan from his presidential duties. While in Washington, Reagan had Rex, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, to help him with his work, and was often seen pulling Reagan away from reporters’ questions.
Millie, George H. W. Bush’s beloved Springer Spaniel, was ahead of her time! She published her memoirs in Millie’s Book as Dictated to Barbara Bush. This nonfiction book described her busy schedule attending meetings with the President, and became a New York Times best seller in 1992, selling more copies than George H. W. Bush’s biography. Bill Clinton’s Chocolate Lab, Buddy, was much too busy fulfilling his role as First Dog to write his own book, but Hillary Clinton did edit a book containing many of the fan letters Buddy received. Following in Buddy’s paw prints, George W. Bush’s Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beasley also had a loyal following of fans. However, Vladimir Putin wasn’t one of them. Putin insulted the First Dog by pointing out that his dog was “bigger, stronger and faster than Barney.” The last dogs to call the White House were Bo and Sunny, President Barack Obama’s Portuguese Water Dogs. Bo made it his mission to encourage reading, starring in four books and often accompanying First Lady Michelle Obama when she read to patients at the Children’s National Medical Center. Sunny had a more carefree role at the White House, but enjoyed greeting guests, albeit a bit too enthusiastically.
When Major steps into the White House he’ll be making history as the first rescue dog from an animal shelter to serve next to the President. Major and Champ, we look forward to your time as First Dogs of the United States. If you need a little guidance on how your predecessors handled the role, we recommend visiting the Presidential Pet Museum, the National Archives and the Library of Congress for more information.
