Presidential Pets–Answers

How Well Do You Know Our Presidents' Dogs?

Question 1:

What president had a dog who pulled off the French Ambassador's pants at a White House event?

• Ulysses S. Grant
• Teddy Roosevelt
• Woodrow Wilson

Correct answer: Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt's pit bull, Pete, horrified White House guests by tearing off the ambassador's pants with his teeth.

Question 2:

What assassinated president had a dog who was murdered?

• Abraham Lincoln
• William McKinley
• John F. Kennedy

Correct answer: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's mutt, Fido, was stabbed to death by a drunk in the street a year after Lincoln was assassinated.

Question 3:

What Cold War-era president housed four "pupniks" after his dog had a Soviet romance?

• John F. Kennedy
• Gerald Ford
• Jimmy Carter

Correct answer: John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's terrier, Charlie, mated with Pushinka, daughter of Sputnik dog-in-space Laika.

Question 4:

What president ordered a destroyer to retrace its route when he learned his dog had been left behind?

• Harry S. Truman
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Dwight D. Eisenhower

Correct answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt had a destroyer turned around to fetch his Scottie, Fala, from the Aleutian Islands. The rescue cost taxpayers an estimated $15,000.

Question 5:

What president caused public outcry when he picked up his beagle puppies by the ears?

• Theodore Roosevelt
• Herbert Hoover
• Lyndon B. Johnson

Correct answer: Lyndon B. Johnson. A picture of Johnson lifting his beagles, Him and Her, by the ears was afront-page item in newspapers around the world. Johnson thought this was the correct way to pick up puppies.

Question 6:

What president had a spaniel whose dog house was decorated with framed political photographs?

• John F. Kennedy
• Ronald Reagan
• George H. W. Bush

Correct answer: Ronald Reagan. Reagan's King Charles spaniel, Rex, had his own luxurious home.

Question 7:

What president said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog"?

• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Harry Truman
• Bill Clinton

Correct answer: Harry Truman

Question 8:

What president claimed his dog Checkers was the only campaign gift he accepted?

• Calvin Coolidge
• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Richard Nixon

Correct answer: Richard Nixon. "The kids love the dog, and we're going to keep it," Nixon said of the black-and-white cocker spaniel.

Question 9:

What president had 36 dogs, but would not let his slaves keep dogs?

• George Washington
• John Adams
• Thomas Jefferson

Correct answer: George Washington. Washington had 36 foxhounds, but feared that if his slaves had dogs, the slaves' dogs might harass his sheep.

Question 10:

What president had a dog who sat in his own hand-carved chair during cabinet meetings?

• James Buchanan
• Rutherford B. Hayes
• Warren Harding

Correct answer: Warren Harding. Harding's Airedale Laddie Boy had not only his own chair, but his own valet.

We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter!

Sincerely yours,

Dr. George Kramer, DVM and the Staff at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists
www.atlanticcoastvet.com