First Pet Results		Obama's Dog Results
Seamus Clinton: 167 Oreo McCain: 124 Jet Huckabee: 30		Standard Poodle: 133 Bernese Mountain Dog: 121 Miniature Pincher: 44 Yorkie: 49 Cocker Spaniel: 49

A Great Legacy of First Pets

• A 1952 Vice Presidential candidate named Richard Nixon was publicly accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions. Nixon gave an emotional speech, now referred to as "The Checkers Speech," in which he admitted wrong-doing, but refused to give up one gift-a dog his girls had fallen in love with. His name was Checkers. Many historians believe that it is this speech that secured Nixon the nomination. Checkers is buried at Bideawee's Pet Memorial Park in Wantagh. For information on our Pet Memorial Parks, please click here. To schedule a tour, please contact us.



• Warren Harding's Airedale, named Laddie Boy, had his own chair at Cabinet meetings. It has been reported that he would stare menacingly at his own reflection in the shiny wood of the table. Laddie Boy was also "hired" to provide commentary on current events for the Washington Star.



• Ernie, George and Laura Bush's long-haired orange cat did not make the trip to Washington with them. Ernie is apparently a "free spirit" whose behavior may have not gone over too well in the White House-particularly with the historical furniture maintenance team. Too bad they didn't call Bideawee's feline behavior experts for advice before deciding to leave her behind!



• Calvin and Grace Coolidge had a pet raccoon, a gift from supporters, named Rebecca. They also adopted Old Whiskers, a cranky goat, who one day took off down Pennsylvania Avenue with the presidential grandchildren on his back.



• Vice President Lyndon Johnson gave Caroline Kennedy a pony, which she named Macaroni. During the height of the Cold War, the Kennedy children also received the gift of a dog, named Pushinka, from Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev.



• Millie, George and Barbara Bush's English springer spaniel, outsold the President's memoirs with her own.



• FDR's Scottish terrier, Fala, was best friend and constant companion to the President. Roosevelt was said to prefer Fala's company to the company of most people. Fala outlived her master, but was ultimately buried at his feet.



• In October 1777, during the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania, British General William Howe's dog got loose and made his way to the American side. Although some of the soldiers were not keen on returning the dog to their enemy, George Washington, an avid dog lover said to have had over fifty dogs in his lifetime, insisted. The dog was delivered back to the British under a flag of truce with a note reading: General Washington's compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the collar appears to belong to General Howe.