Presidential Pets

Since it's President's Day, I thought I would share some of the more interesting presidential pets.

Thomas Jefferson owned two bear cubs which were a gift from Lewis and Clark.

John Quincy Adams had an American alligator.

Theodore Roosevelt owned a badger [Josiah], pig [Maude], zebra [unknown name] and a one-legged rooster [name unknown]. The photo is of a young Roosevelt with his pet parrot. 

Taft let two cows graze the White House Lawn. Their names were Mooly Wooly and Pauline Wayne. Unsure of which cow that is illustrated below. 

Calvin Coolidge by far had the best pets! Including but not limited to raccoons [Rebecca and Horace], donkey [Ebeneezer], bobcat [Smoky], lion cubs [Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau], pygmy hippo, wallaby, duiker, AND A BLACK BEAR! That is First Lady Grace Coolidge holding Rebecca the raccoon. 

Can any of you tell me the name of the newest first pooch?

Calvin Coolidge's Many Presidential Pets

President Calvin Coolidge once said “Any man who does not like dogs and want them about, does not deserve to be in the White House.” This probably went for other animals as well, for Coolidge and his family acquired even more pets than the Roosevelts.

During Coolidge's two terms in office, the White House almost literally became a zoo. Exotic animals such as lion cubs, bears, an antelope, wallaby, bobcat and a pygmy hippo were all part of the menagerie. And, of course, there were more typical pets, over 12 dogs, 4 cats and at least 3 canaries.The Coolidges owned a beloved donkey named Ebeneezer, and commandeered one of the White House trees to build a special house for their 2 raccoons—Rebecca and Horace.

Rebecca was quite lively and enjoyed playing in the First Lady's bathtub with "a little water in it and a cake of soap." Another one of Rebecca's favorite games was climbing up the President and draping herself about his neck. The picture below shows First Lady, Grace Coolidge, out at the Easter Egg Roll with Rebecca.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.