Yesterday was National Love Your Pet Day. Before that, this past Monday was Presidents’ Day. So, you’ll understand why I have patriotic pets on my mind. It leads me to consider all the different kinds of creatures who once made their former homes within the walls of the one and only White House as Presidential Pets. Most people are familiar with the fact that a fair share of dogs and cats have made up the time-tested menagerie through the years, but what about all those less-than-conventional critters?
There’s a surprising number of them to boot, many of which you’ve probably never even heard of. Therefore, in paying tribute to the more exotic ensemble, this Flashback Friday Feature will focus on some of the most peculiar presidential pets to ever grace the White House in Washington, DC.
The Alligator of John Quincy Adams
First Lady Louisa Catherine Adams, wife to John Quincy Adams, had an interesting hobby. She kept “pet” silkworms, as accounted by the sixth President personally in his diary from 1828. But Adams himself wasn’t without his own quirky critter. As the popular story goes, it was during an 1825 American tour that the French Revolutionary hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, gifted Adams with none other than an actual, real-life alligator. The alligator made his home in an unfinished bathroom in the East Room of the White House.
Andrew Jackson’s Cursing Parrot
An alligator in the White House bathroom may have been more extreme, but Andrew Jackson’s preferred pet was a pretty bold pick as well. He owned an African Grey parrot named Poll—originally intended for his wife, Rachel. What history tells us about Jackson is that he was a colorful character. So, it should come as no surprise to discover that his bird picked up a pretty vibrant vocabulary. Per an unconfirmed, albeit amusing tale, the bird actually had to be removed from Andrew Jackson’s 1845 funeral due to its swearing at the attending mourners.
Martin Van Buren’s Congressional Burden
Following suit of Presidents 6 and 7, our eighth President, Martin Van Buren, received the gift of two tiger cubs from Kabul al Said, the Sultan of Oman. Despite readying the White House for their presence, Congress intervened to deny the suitability of their presence in-house. They argued that the cubs had started their journey while Jackson was still President, making them the property of the United States. Van Buren opposed them, citing they were gifts intended for “the President,” which he now was. In the end, the cubs were relocated to the zoo.
Buchanan’s Big Offer
While the offer was eventually declined, it’s still interesting to note that the King of Siam (now Thailand) once suggested gifting our 15th President, James Buchanan, with a herd of elephants. The king suggested that they may be useful in unsettled parts of the nation and could be utilized as pack animals and for steam power. When inaugurated, Lincoln rejected the notion, citing that the environment was not suitable for such creatures to thrive.
He may not have owned elephants during his time in the White House, but Buchanan was the proud owner of at least one or two Bald Eagles. So, in reality, he didn’t skip out on yielding a zany pet status altogether.
Whiskers the Harrison Goat
As a family man and pet man, President Benjamin Harrison was known for recessing the Oval Office at noon to play with his grandkids and their animals on the White House lawn on most days. Among their many pets, the 23rd President bought them a goat named Whiskers. A high-strung creature, one popular account tells of a day when Whiskers broke loose of the White House gates and Harrison, in his full capacity as Commander and Chief, had to run after the goat, calling after him all the while.
On another note, in revisiting the John Quincy Adams example, it’s also noted that Harrison owned two alligators. They lived in the White House Conservatory. He also had two opossums.
Roosevelt’s Rambunctious Brood
Between his kids and his menagerie of many pets, as President 26, Roosevelt transformed the White House into a complete zoo. The critter cast of thousands spanned far and wide, with some of its most notable novelties including a green snake named Emily Spinach, a badger named Josiah, a blue macaw named Eli Yale, at least five guinea pigs, rabbits, a pig, a lizard, a zebra, a one-legged rooster, five bears, and even a hyena. In all, Roosevelt may have owned up to 40 pets total during his tenure!
Taft’s Holstein
While not as attention-drawing as Roosevelt’s roost, 27th President Taft had a unique pet of his own. It was Pauline Wayne, a Holstein cow. She was gifted to him in 1910 to replace his cow Mooley Wooly, who had passed away earlier that year.
Woodrow Wilson’s Wool Producers
While no large cow was gracing the White House grounds during the 28th presidency, Woodrow Wilson was known to keep a grazing flock of 48 sheep on the lawn. This was during the World War I era, in which the sheep served a purpose in helping to supplement manpower and the need for trimming the grass. They also earned $52,823 in proceeds benefitting the Red Cross via the auctioning of their wool.
The Cool Coon of the Coolidges
As the 30th President, Calvin Coolidge nearly gave Roosevelt a run for his money with 25 pets to his credit. His most famous one, though, was none other than Rebecca the Racoon. Originally sent from Mississippi, Rebecca was intended by the sender to be prepared as a delicacy for Thanksgiving Dinner. The First Family rejected this notion, however, and rightfully adopted Rebecca into their midst to become a beloved family member.
In addition to Rebecca, they acquired a second raccoon companion for her named Rueben. The other plethora of pets included a bobcat, a donkey, lion cubs, ducks, a wallaby, an antelope, a large white goose, a baby bear, and a pygmy hippo, among others. Some were gifts, however, and eventually sent to live rightfully in the zoo.
Herbert Hoover’s Opossum
Herbert Hoover also adopted an unlikely companion during his time as President. His pal was “Billy Possum”—named after William Howard Taft, affectionately. He became part of the Hoover Household after having wandered onto the White House grounds.
Macaroni the Kennedy Pony
While owning horses and ponies wasn’t such a novelty long ago, by the time John F. Kennedy took office, it was a rarer sight to see one in attendance on the White House grounds. All the same, Macaroni the pony was a beloved pet who even proved to have a popular fan following. He was gifted to Caroline Kennedy by then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson. Both Kennedy children could be seen riding a sleigh around the White House grounds, pulled by the pony on snowy days. Furthermore, because they had other pets that included rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy even designed a special area for the children in with their “babies”—complete with all the works.
This is just a sampling of the critter compilations that have comprised the White House throughout various presidencies in time. While some of the earlier accounts may (or may not) have been exaggerated, it’s still fun to think about. Furthermore, there have likely been many others in addition to these that nobody knows about even to this day. And who knows which other cool creatures may one day grace the scene as well?