Whether Democrat or Republican, most of our US Presidents have one thing in common, a love of animals. Most have had pets in the White House, and of course the most common Presidential pet is your best friend and mine, the dog. Here are five well known White House pets, or “First Dogs”

Warren G. Harding and Laddie Boy

President Harding was very fond of his Airedale Terrier, Laddie Boy. How many other pooches can say they got their own hand-carved cabinet chair so they could attend Presidential meetings? Laddie Boy was also treated to a White House birthday party every year where the neighborhood dogs were invited and ate birthday cake made from dog biscuits.

Laddie Boy was a very “vocal” pooch. He would send correspondences to dogs and people, and newspapers would publish these pretend interviews.

A copper statue of Laddie Boy was made using 19,134 pennies donated by members of the Roosevelt Newsboys’ Association across the country. It can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution.

Franklin D. Roosevelt and Fala
Photo courtesy of Reese Rickards

Fala, a Scottish Terrier, was one of the most visible Presidential pets. He even had his own press secretary to handle the thousands of letters he received.

Fala helped provide a bright spot during World War 2. He was made an honorary Army private since he donated $1 to the war effort. He was also the star of a 1942 movie about his life, which can be viewed at the Roosevelt Museum and Library.

Richard Nixon and Checkers

Although Checkers never quite made it to the White House, it’s the most famous pet of President Richard Nixon. This cocker spaniel was given to the family during Nixon’s vice presidential candidacy by a Texas supporter. As the election season progressed, press reports alleged that Nixon had profited from a secret political slush fund.

In his now famous “Checkers Speech”, he focused on the details of his finances. He also said that they were going to keep Checkers, no matter what.

George H.W. Bush & Millie

Millie was a Springer spaniel who came with the Bush family to the White House. She “wrote” her autobiography – Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush, which managed to outsell George H.W. Bush’s own autobiography.

Her son Spot has the honor of being the only pet in the White House twice – he was born at the White House, and later returned when George H.W. Bush’s son George W. Bush took office.

Bill Clinton and Buddy

Buddy was a Chocolate Labrador Retriever that the Clintons adopted in 1997. He never got along with their other famous pet – a cat named Socks, and had to be separated all the time. Since they never became friends, Socks was given to Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, when Bill Clinton left the White House.