Well, apparently if you are a French general who led troops alongside George Washington and fought in several crucial battles including the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania and the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia, you bring the animal with you to the White House. Here's how that story was synopsized in a 1997 syndicated trivia column by L.M. Yes, all of them. Boyd, L.M. In turn, she provided raw milk (and possibly crippling diarrhea) to the first family for the last three years of Taft's presidency. Peter and Cheryl Barnes are a husband and wife writing/illustrating team that specializes in educational books for children. President Barack Obama adopted Portuguese water dogs Bo and Sunny during his two terms, and he was often seen walking them on the White House lawn with his family. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. 14 April 1997. During his many travels, he was gifted many things both practical, conventional and unconventional. The raccoon was later named Rebecca, and the first lady, Grace, would walk her on a bedazzled leash. History, Fun. Two dogs and two cats were necessary, and among the transitory possessions were two ducks which he trained to sit on the front porch to the infinite entertainment of passers-by. embroidery classes adelaide; what happened to derrick williams; aimsweb 1st grade reading passages; civil radio frequencies; adult children screening quiz By the time Billy arrived, Coolidge had amassed an assortment of dogs, birds, a wallaby and a domesticated raccoon named Rebecca, a filthy but favorite pet of the first lady. He was given the alligator by the Smithsonian Institution and kept it in a bathtub in the White House. An equally brief account appeared 70 years before that (in 1888) in an article by Harriet Taylor Upton in the children's magazine Wide Awake: When General Lafayette made his visit there, this famous East Room was given up to him to deposit the many curiosities sent him, some live alligators being among them. He took his shot and bolted out the White House gates (Apparently at that time, the White House gates were just sort of left open, just in case one of the neighbors wanted to wander on in and borrow something from the Lincoln bedroom). CNN cited a Mental Floss article by Ethan Trex that stated, "The sixth president also had a pet gator. Visit #MightyMike ? , Hardcover Now we're not promoting either tobacco use or promiscuous sex, but you have to admit that Ike the Ram was cool before the country even knew what cool was. Dorre, Howard. The Sultan of Oman gave Martin Van Buren, the eighth president, a pair of tiger cubs. A selection of land turtles gathered from the woods was all right; but two small alligators, presented to him by Clarence Woolley, were somewhat of a trial, for Allan believed they must be bedded at night in the bathtubs. At this time Hoover was living at 2300 S Street in Washington, DC and Allan was roughly fourteen years old. Adams was a surly man that few in Congress admired and who enjoyed swimming naked in the Potomac in the wee hours of the morning, earning him the nickname "shrinky-dink" . It has become a very popular trope on social media: Happy Presidents' Day. Large reptiles made another appearance a century later at the White House during the Depression, during Herbert Hoovers presidency in the early 1930s. 19 / 46. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Children's Alligator & Crocodile Books (Books), Children's American Historical Fiction (Books), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. June 10, 2022 . Photograph by The White House, Sipa USA, Newscom. So, not only did he spread his seed across a large chunk of the globe, but he lived until 1955 outliving Coolidge by 23 years. Scratch that - Audrey Hepburn had a deer, Dali had an ocelot, and Queen Victoria had Tibetan goats. Peter is a journalist and broadcaster who reports on public policy issues in Washington, D.C. Peter and Cheryl have two children and live in Alexandria, Virginia. Irwan, the reptile's owner, said he bought the animal 20 years ago from local fishermen who were planning to kill it. Take President John F. Kennedy, whose family menagerie in the early 1960s included Macaroni the pony, multiple horses, hamsters Debbie and Billy, dogs, parakeets, a canary, Zsa Zsa the rabbit and a cat; they all resided with the Kennedys at the White House. They eventually sent him to a nearby zoo. (Although that was nothing compared with Roosevelts bulldog Pete, who almost caused an international incident when he tore the pants off a French ambassador.). Harry, the hyena, was king of the wild animals until recently. We can't disprove these accounts, mind you, but given the journalistic standards of the day it would be wise to take them with a grain of salt. 1922. He used it to terrify guests for about two months before finally . Theodore Roosevelt kept an alligator in the White House while he was president. While she spent her days being pregnant, Billy continued to sew his wild oats with another hippo gal pal, Matilda, who popped out an additional eight kids. Many of the 45 presidents of the United States have been animal lovers, with pet choices far beyond the ordinary run of cats and dogs. Anyway, he went about his business on the White House lawn, boinking the sheep until there were 18 of 'em, munching away at the grass and supplying wool which was auctioned off to help the Salvation Army, a group whose beliefs prevented members from drinking and smoking. chase overdraft fee policy 24 hours; christingle orange cloves; northeast tennessee regional fire training academy; is srco3 soluble in water; basic science topics for nursery 2; bellflower property management; gifts from the holy land bethlehem; Taft was the fattest president to ever grace the White House. U.S. Government Printing Office. Please try again. , ISBN-13 : Our U.S. presidents had all kinds of pets--lots of dogs and cats, of course--but they also had some very strange pets. He helped the colonists against the British. Some have even gone on to be famous in their own right Barack Obama's dog Bo was a frequent star of White House photo ops. On the chance that you're considering a gator as a pet, don't do it. Tipping the scales at a weighty 300+ pounds, it seems only fitting the 27th president of the United States would have a cow as his first pet. Thu, Feb 23, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2013. Of the many species on earth today that can trace their ancestry back to prehistoric times, evolution has touched crocodiles perhaps least. The first is an Associated Press item, dated 9 February 1921, announcing the impending arrival of a new White House pet in the company of President-elect Warren G. Harding: Florida Alligator Will Be White House Pet. Mr. The Presidential Pet Museum. What a delightful time we, my 5 and 7 year old Grandsons, had reading this. Hilarity ensued when members of Congress and others asked to be excused to use the lavatory. John quincy adams is said to have kept an alligator in the white house. They are creators of the best-selling "Woodrow, the White House Mouse" and other children's books that teach young readers about government and civics. Modern presidents know better than to have wild animals as pets. #WINTERinCincy pic.twitter.com/cX2zpcC06Q, Newport Aquarium (@NewportAquarium) February 19, 2018. If only Harrison had been as wise as Obi Wan (or any Jedi for that matter, 'cause how cool would it be to have a Jedi as the leader of the free world), he would've thought twice about adding the animal to the stable of pets the first family had already amassed. I have not recommended it to anyone and do not intend to do so! It's a great way, though, to get kids learning while they're reading and having fun, and the activities prove that a variety of kids can enjoy the book, which isn't limited to one audience. 1. Needless to say, the bears were good and pissed off upon arrival. Willow, U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's new pet cat, is seen in a White House handout photo as she wanders . Caroline and the pony featured in a Life magazine spread on the first family, and singer-songwriter Neil Diamond claimed that the images inspired his hit song "Sweet Caroline.". At this point begins a string of events that would lead Billy to become more influential in the hippo world than Coolidge was among the humans. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Willow is the first kitty to pounce, play, and nap at the White House since 2009, when former President George W. Bush's black cat, India, ruled the residence. A special thanks to Patr. While George W. Bush was president, he had three dogs and a cat at the White House. "The First Family's Pets: Hoover White House Pets." He has had it for 20 years. Over the past decade in Adelaide River . Woodrow Wilson kept sheep on the White House grounds to help with lawn care during his presidency. But some presidents have brought somewhat more exotic pets with them to the White House, with Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge owning a large menageries during their times. The wool was auctioned to raise money for the American Red Cross, a group that helps people in emergencies. President John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) kept an alligator in a bathtub. The reason for the president chosing that name for his dog is lost to history. They had an English Mastiff along with 7 other dogs, 3 cats, 3 Canaries, a mockingbird, a goat, and several cows. Willow, the Bidens' green-eyed tabby, explores the White House. All Rights Reserved. Many workers were overseas, so the sheep cut the lawn by eating the grass. He was the United States President from 1825 to 1829 for four years and did not get elected for a second term and the only president to have lost major votes and still won the election. In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt kept a crocodile as a pet. Well aware of the animal's temperament, Jefferson decided to keep the cubs anyway, describing them as "perfectly gentle" with a taste for "Indian bread" and possibly Indians, too. And so, Old Ike kept watch over his flock and swallowed copious amounts of tobacco. Reptile City is the perfect place for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and expertise. The White Houses official dog, King Timahoe, is frequently remembered as the first dog to enter the premises. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge had menagerie of animals living with them during their time in the White House, including a donkey, a bobcat, and geese. What ensued was a wild goat chase down Pennsylvania Avenue, involving the grandchildren and the president himself, clutching his top hat and holding his cane as his constituents pointed and laughed. The largest and toothiest of these are the alligators of not one, but two, presidents. Fortunately the family fell in love with her, and instead adopted Rebecca as a pet. According to the 1922 annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, one "Allen [sic] Hoover" donated two alligators that year to the National Zoological Park in Washington. 5. There's a wee grain of truth in that (as we learned from theblogof the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum), but the fact is that Hoover's son, who graduated from Stanford University the same year his father was elected and went straight from there to Harvard Business School, never resided at the White House. Still, badgers are fierce little bastards and one wonders how the little girl was able to even get a hold of one, let alone hurl it at a passing Theodore Roosevelt as his train pulled out of some backwater train station in Kansas. Billy the Pygmy Hippo found his way to the White House via Liberia after he was captured there by Harvey Firestone, maker of Firestone tires. Yes, you read that rightthis . It was its last meal. Main Menu. September 5, 2013 By Presidential Pet Museum. We live in purgatory: My wife has a multimillion-dollar trust fund, but my mother-in-law controls it. True to his name, this miraculous crocodile began to heal and recover from his drastic injury. Over the course of the next 25 years, Billy got busy getting busy with Hannah. But the timespan from when it would have happened to when she wrote about it and the utter lack of corroborating accounts are too much to ignore. 6 . Jeffersons favorite pet was his mockingbird named Dick, however, which would often perch on the presidents shoulder. Kirkus Reviews. One of the most famous pets in White House history is Macaroni, the pony that belonged to President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. President Andrew Jackson was an ex-soldier born in a Tennessee log cabin, known for his love of swearing. In the end, Chito decided Pocho could stay as a member of his family. Allan was fascinated by alligators as a young man, to be sure, and even raised two as pets, according to Herbert Hoover himself: Herbert Hoover makes reference to the alligators in the second volume of his memoirs: Allan was still in the stage of adventure where all sorts of animals must be accumulated. The commander in chief also had two Scottish terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley, but Spotty was the only pet to live in the White House during two administrations. Then again, you realize that in Roosevelt's world, a thrown badger was probably a common form of greeting. In terms of the nominations, Theodore Roosevelt is tied with Franklin D. Roosevelt. 5. The Roosevelts had all kind of animals, including lizards, snakes and a one-legged chicken. In the end, Congress won and the cubs were removed from the White House and placed in a Washington zoo. Arkell and Artist Gillam of Judge, both of whom are interested in one of the stables of horses at the track. Jensen, Amy La Follette. Cheryl Barnes is one of those rare people you meet who is doing it all, and in Cheryl's case, with style and grace. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. "Russell Harrison's Alligator Didn't Influence His Friends' Luck." According to www.whitehousepets.com, the alligator was given to him by Marquis de Lafayette. Accessed 19 February 2018. All rights reserved. KnowledgeNuts.com would like to show you notifications for our latest post and updates. Ac lectus vel risus suscipit sit amet hendrerit a venenatis. A White House zoo? Van Buren loved the animals, and battled Congress to be allowed to keep them in the White House. Spotty, the English springer spaniel of President George W. Bush, runs through the White House lawn with a tennis ball. Mary Thorn. This was no turkey, however, but a raccoon. But this viral video will make you rethink about the very definition of the word. All rights reserved. National Archives: Hoover Heads blog. Kaprosuchus can have lengths of up to 20 feet. : No more changing the clocks? -- Meet Rambo, a gentle alligator whose Florida owner says he "eats at the dinner table, sleeps in my bed and follows me around like my dogs." But now his owner, 55-year-old Mary Thorn . blue shield of northeastern ny customer service number which president had a pet crocodile. The list of "dangerous animals . We weren't surprised to learn that it's been making the rounds for more than a hundred years. First Lady Louisa Adams also kept silkworms, and she harvested their silk for her personal sewing. However, it is known that some presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, kept alligators as pets during their time in office. "In Prague, Be Polite to the Cabby or You'll Be Sorry." Finding no sources cited in the article, we decided to look into both stories for ourselves, beginning with the tale of Gen. Lafayette re-gifting an alligator to John Quincy Adams. Mourasuchus: 23-5.3 million years ago, one of the largest crocodiles ever, up to 39 feet long, with a duck-like bill and pelican-like pouch, fossils found in South America, a unique specimen on our list of ancient crocodiles. did a president ever keep a crocodile? The steaks were excellent. Abraham Lincoln (16th President, 1861-1865) and his family took care of many animals, including a pig, a rabbit, ponies, cats, and dogs. John Quincy Adams however, was no myth. Coke was originally supposed to make you smarter or something. (Vice President Mike Pence, on the other hand, has a dog, a cat and a rabbit named Marlon Bundo that snagged a book deal and inspired a John Oliver parody. The English actor found the good side of being bad. He owned a gamecock, a parrot, several dogs, and a bevy of horses and ponies. Still, it reminded us of a more literal claim about alligators in the nation's capital, namely the oft-repeated "fun fact" that at least two previous chief executives, John Quincy Adams and Herbert Hoover, kept alligators as pets on the White House grounds. Farm animals have also had their turn. Gilberto "Chito" Shedden has had the killer reptile as . It also records that both the alligator among other things he gives he got while traveling were stored in the east room of the white house. ProStarSolar > Blog Classic > Uncategorized > which president had a pet crocodile. A small dog that spent a decade tormenting a crocodile on her owner's property in Australia has been eaten by the animal she taunted for so long. Known as the "Crocodile Man", Costa Rican animal lover 'Chito' swims, plays, and . A n Indonesian woman was mauled to death by a pet crocodile after she fell into the giant reptile's pen, Agence France-Presse reports. By - June 6, 2022. Suspendisse ultrices hendrerit a vitae vel a sodales. And so, as Barack Obama harbors Portuguese water dogs, we remember a time when the leader of the free world kept a pet that refused to be tamed--and was often perfectly capable of devouring a human. San Francisco Chronicle. The gray tabby jumped on stage, interrupting her . Who exactly supplied the ram with the cigarette butts and black lumps of chewing tobacco is up for discussion, but at a time when the stuff was being handed out to kids on Halloween, it couldn't have been too hard to come by. So where did she get it? FDR was a huge fan of animals, and Harry was his favorite pet. Our U.S. presidents had all kinds of pets lots of dogs and cats, of course but they also had some very strange pets. She gave birth to Spotty, who moved into the White House with the seocond President Bush! 2. The author was able to properly name every president except the current one. Quentin's animal adventures didn't end there. As an official gift, Obama was given crocodile insurance, which would have paid out A$50,000 to his wife, Michelle, if the president had been attacked by a crocodile. Of course, there are also some downsides to owning a crocodile as a pet. Finally, Old Whiskers decided he'd towed the bratty grandkids for the last fucking time. Among the pre-Internet mentions we encountered was a variant in the 1958 bookThe White House and Its Thirty-Three Families, by Amy La Follette Jensen, suggesting that the creature wasn't so much a gift to the White House as an item temporarily stored there: Most of the excitement [in the Adams White House] came from visiting diplomats, and throughout July and August of 1825, visitors had the thrill of meeting General Lafayette. You might suspect that Old Whiskers was a nickname for the 23rd president, a stodgy ol' coot with more than a passing resemblance to Obi Wan Kenobi but it was in fact the name of the goat he shared an address with, which was given to Ben's grandchildren by the ol' coot himself. The president then adopted the alligator as a pet. They share a unique body form that allows the eyes, ears, and nostrils to be above the water . 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider But President Adams wasn't the only commander-in-chief with an unusual pet. He kept it in a bathtub in the East Room of the White House. Presidential Pet Museum. President Donald Trump won the 2016 election by promising, in part, to "drain the swamp" in Washington, D.C.,a vow that prompted GOP pundit Newt Gingrich to serve notice on fellow Washingtonians that "the alligators should be worried.". We like to imagine Adams leaning to a trusted adviser and asking, "Why do you suppose I am so despised in the Congress?" But they took a liking to the animal and instead she became a beloved if mischievous family pet. The president and first lady accepted a puppy as a gift from one of their friends, Senator Edward Kennedy. Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2014, Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016. Foxiz News Network. The newest White House pet is Willow the cat . Why was the goat so bitter? Edit. Parenthetically, our research uncovered at least two other reported instances of alligators taking up residency in the executive mansion, both predating the Hoover story. Start the day smarter Take our news quiz . The animal had been sent to the White House from Tennessee to be part of the first family's Thanksgiving meal. Zebulon Pike. But so far there is no record of anyone coming forward as a victim of the alligator prank. Our site is an advertising supported site. If you are interested in these magnificent creatures and have fallen in love with them, then you might want to know some crocodile names. Menu. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Among the flock was Old Ike, an ornery ol' ram with a penchant for tobacco. Whatever the case, Adams certainly knew just what to do with the reptiles: He put them in the White House bathtub, then invited government officials to his place. What is the Significance of Luck in Japan? They also have a very long lifespan, so owners need to be prepared to care for them for many . Other presidents have bought farmyard animals to live on the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Woodrow Wilson had a flock of sheep, and JFK's daughter had a pony. Among the best-loved was a raccoon called Rebecca. 0. The White House and Its Thirty-Three Families. A MediaComms.IO company. Among Calvin Coolidges animals were bobcats, wallabys, pygmy hippos, bears, and raccoons. Sunny, a 1-year-old Portuguese water dog whose disposition seems to match her name, has joined Every year, September 23 is designated National Dogs in Politics Day, celebrated on the anniversary Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Save. Did you know President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator? Former President Barack Obama's daughters lobbied hard to get a pet. Unable to add item to List. In terms of the nominations, Theodore Roosevelt is tied with Franklin D. Roosevelt. The crocodile refused to return to the wild and chose to stay with Chito. They are also very intelligent creatures, and can even be trained to perform tricks. On the more practical side of history, President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) brought a flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn. An Indonesian family is happily living with their 440-pound pet crocodile. He was able to help the Americans win the war and was treated as a hero. 3 years ago. One broke free and managed to corner the museum owner in the kitchen, upon which the animal was promptly shot dead. Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2013. K - 12th grade . In mainstream Filipino society crocodiles are considered dangerous man-eaters, and compared with corrupt government officials or selfish . We have to assume that the whole affair took place in fast-motion while somebody played "Yakety Sax" in the background. The General, a horse Old Whitey, a wartime mount Apollo, a former circus pony. Or find out about some adorable animals that can totally kick your ass in The 6 Cutest Animals That Can Still Destroy You. Edit. Nixon frequently took her on trips and was known for his playful nature, which she demonstrated in many of her interactions with him. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Now what exactly does one do with the gift of a live alligator, you might ask? Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Once he borrowed a bunch of snakes from a pet store. Photograph by Library of Congress, Corbis, VCG via Getty Images. The clip shows a crocodile coming near a man sitting on a boat. Look inside to find your favorite pet. The Brent Spiner lookalike was able to acquire a couple of grizzly bear cubs which he promptly sent to President Jefferson as either a gift or an assassination attempt. Family, faith and fitness are all integral to her life, and Cheryl loves what she does. Credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress. 3. Schwartz, Thomas F. "Not a Croc: The Hoover Alligators." That Christmas, President Calvin Coolidge gave her an embroidered collar with the title, "White House Raccoon," her nickname in the press. The stories sound both funny and scary with just the right amount of everything that is considered too good or too hilarious to be true and maybe it was. Unfortunately, we dont know what President and Mrs. John Quincy Adamss initial reactions were to this unusual re-gifting. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) had two grizzly bear cubs, one male and one female, which were given to him by American explorer Capt. Name the U.S. President who sometimes let a couple of pet alligators loose to wander from room to room in the White House. yahoo psmpackersandmovers@gmail.com; eric bass developer net worth Facebook mcguire's irish pub recipes Twitter ochosi day of the week Youtube President Martin Van Buren (1837-1841) was given a pair of tiger cubs by the Sultan of Oman, but Congress confiscated them. January 17, 2019 4:07 AM EST. George W. and Laura Bushs Scottish terrier Barney became a star in his own right in 2002 after he was featured in the White House Christmas video, and the Barney Cam co-starring fellow terrier Miss Beazley became an annual White House tradition during Bushs tenure. | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping. The raccoon was also leashed a few times. And then there were Roosevelts exotics, which were given to him by dignitaries. Our U.S. presidents had all kinds of pets--lots of dogs and cats, of course--but they also had some very strange pets. New York: McGraw Hill, 1958. , Item Weight "A poignant coming-of-age tale with a compelling mystery at its heart." Try again. Residents of the White House have had fur and feathers, claws and hooves, scales, stripes and prehensile tails.
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