According to various historians, at one time the lincolns white house menagerie grew to include turkeys, horses, rabbits, and two goats named nanny and nanko. May 19, 20 this pin was discovered by suzanne colley. A raccoon at the white house tails from history 9781534405417. First lady grace coolidge with rebecca the raccoon at the white house easter egg roll in 1927. The wife of john quincy adams, the sixth president, had silkworms. The real calvin coolidge calvin coolidge presidential. He lit the first national christmas tree on the white house lawn in 1923. His father was a storekeeper, and his mother cultivated in him a love of nature and books. He also received a raccoon as a gift to be served as part of thanksgiving dinner. These pets were just as, if not more so, recognizable to americans as the president and first lady themselves. Aside from the more conventional cats, dogs, and birds, coolidge. Calvin coolidges pet raccoon rebecca presidential pets.
Presidential pets have come from a number of different sources. Calvin coolidge may have been known for his reticence, but he. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to youtube on your. Coolidges favorite pet, he was acquired by grace coolidge in 1922 after she became enamored with collies, having seen one of the breed perform in a circus. A quiet man, coolidge seemed an unlikely commander in chief. Aug 18, 2016 calvin coolidge was such an animal lover that he turned the white house into something of a zoo. From alligators to zebras, hundreds of animals have lived in the white house. Rob roy 19221928 was a white male collie owned by calvin coolidge. President calvin coolidge enjoyed horseback riding for exercise, and to save time acquired an electric horse for the white house with two variable gaits, trot and gallop. Though the majority of white house pets have been those of the feline or canine variety, calvin coolidge decided that the mansion was also the ideal place to house a raccoon. The first white house dog to receive regular newspaper coverage was warren g. Raccoon, sent as a thanksgiving dish to president coolidge.
Creatures from mice to bears have made a home at the white house and its grounds. Pauline wayne, a cow belonging to president william howard taft, was the last to be kept on the white house grounds and give milk for the presidents family. A dedicated animal lover and pet owner himself, president abraham lincoln let his sons tad and willie, keep all the pets they wanted. Now that sunny has joined bo, lets look back at some of our favorite white house pets. The coolidges and their churches by lawrence wikander. It is said he had a pair or raccoons as pets while in the white house. A visit from the president custer state park resort. When a raccoon arrives at the white house, president calvin coolidge and first lady grace name her rebecca and welcome her as a pet. Hardings dog laddie boy pets also featured on presidential elections.
That christmas, president calvin coolidge gave her an embroidered. President calvin coolidge enjoyed horseback riding for. Raccoons at the white house white house historical. When the president was the quietest man in the room. Warren hardings dog had his own chair at cabinet meetings, and socks, bill clintons cat, was the first presidential pet with his own website. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father, who was a. The thanksgiving raccoon that became a presidential pet in november 1926 president calvin coolidge pardoned a live animal intended for his thanksgiving dinner and adopted it as a pet. White house, presidents and first families, and americas history when you explore presidents park and when you visit the white house visitor center. Calvin and grace coolidge certainly lived up to those words and more. The collection of animals in the coolidge white house exceeded even the teddy roosevelt white house in both numbers and varieties of animals. Jul 02, 2018 he and his wife, grace, owned pets both wild and domesticated. Rebecca tries to fit in with the other animals already living there. White pine camp adirondack vacation rental historical.
Great animal lovers, grace and calvin coolidge especially adored dogs. Calvin coolidge may have been known for his reticence, but he showed little of his. Theres a new portuguese water dog roaming the white house grounds. Calvin coolidge 30th president, 19231929 had a small zoo at the white house, which. This is a gem of a book with so many interesting stories and personalities surrounding coolidge s. The coolidge era and the consumer economy 1922 1929, strictly for noncommercial educational and research purposes. White pine camp classic adirondack lodging lake placid. President calvin coolidges wife, grace, cuddles a favorite pet, rebecca the racoon.
Dolley madison used to take her parrot to parties, and calvin coolidge gave his raccoons free run of the oval office. Coolidge s pet is on rampage, lansing state journal, february 16, 1928. Even though george washington did not live in the white house, he is also included. Warren harding was followed in the white house by the greatest white house zookeeper in our history, calvin coolidge. He had dogs and birds, cats and raccoons, a hippo, a bear, and lion cubs. And calvin coolidge, the 30th president, had a raccoon named rebecca that walked on a leash. Adorable new book chronicles the pets of americas leaders from obamas dog bo to fdrs terrier big boy and calvin coolidge s pygmy hippo e. While there have been over 100 dogs belonging to presidents and their families, an astonishing variety of other animals have been quartered at the white house. Grace coolidge, the wife of president calvin coolidge, had dozens of pets at the white house, including two raccoons, horace and rebecca. Bush read wackiest white house pets to over 11,000 texas school children during this televised event. See more ideas about calvin coolidge, american presidents and presidents.
He had six dogs, a cat, two lions, a goose, a bobcat, an antelope, a wallaby and a raccoon named rebecca he would take for walks on a leash. Through its architecture, stories, paintings and objects, the white house is an example of the. Calvin coolidge was such an animal lover that he turned the white house into something of a zoo. Raccoon, sent as a thanksgiving dish to president coolidge, became a white house pet instead first lady grace coolidge with rebecca the raccoon at the white house easter egg roll in 1927. From cats and dogs, canaries and mockingbirds, to wombats and raccoons, the coolidges surrounded themselves with fourfooted or feathered creatures. It focuses on the pets that have lived in the white house over the years. To start with, the state legislature passed a resolution formally inviting the president that spared no praise for the region. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father, who was a notary public. The thanksgiving raccoon that became a presidential pet. Author in chief explores whether a presidential memoir.
Dip a toe, paw, or fin into history with this facttastic level 2 readytoread, part of a new series all about pets and the people who owned them. Both calvin coolidges wife, grace, and theodore roosevelts family had quite a few. Arthur sears henning, start for black hills, chicago tribune, june 14, 1927. Tiger tige blacky and i were the first of the coolidge cats to live in the white house. Coolidge won a full term for himself the next year, and remained in office. Over the years the white house has been home to a unique assortment of pets. After being sent the raccoon, later named rebecca, to be cooked for thanksgiving dinner in 1926, the coolidges opted to spare her life instead and keep her as a pet. Calvin coolidge 30th president, 19231929 had a small zoo at the white house, which included a bear cub, two lion cubs, a wallaby, an antelope, pekin ducks, and billy the pygmy hippopotamus. Two first ladies have also written books related to white house pets. Blacky regularly enjoyed cream in a saucer and liked to hang out in the white house elevator.
Their most famous canine family member was rob roy, a white collie. Videos you watch may be added to the tvs watch history and influence tv recommendations. Harding, just as the harding scandals were coming to light. July 4, 1872 january 5, 1933 was the 30th president of the united states, serving from 1923 to 1929.
Welcome to white pine camp, a lovingly restored adirondack great camp that once was the 1926 summer white house of president calvin coolidge. One of the most famous presidential pets was franklin delano roosevelts. So i was looking forward to this years release of calvin coolidge in the black hills by local journalist seth tupper, detailing the presidents summer vacation the black hills in 2017. President adams alligator and other white house pets. Rebecca raccoon rebecca was a raccoon kept as a pet by us president calvin coolidge and first lady grace coolidge. Grace coolidge s pet raccoon, rebecca, was a celebrated resident of the white house, dragged out for easter egg rolls and held like a cat while the first lady posed for the camera. The written permission of any owners, andor any other rights holders such as for publicity or privacy rights, is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected. Palo alto palo a black and white english setter, a bird dog that coolidge soon gave to colonel starling, chief of the secret service detail in the white house bessie collie rebecca raccoon, key 3 79 77 rebecca was intended for a thanksgiving feast.
White pine camp offers a yearround retreat in unparalleled natural surroundings. The white house calls this th president a conservative man of strong character, who had the good fortune to lead the country in a time of great prosperity. Coolidges pet is on rampage, lansing state journal, february 16, 1928. The following list of presidential pets is not complete, however, as no doubt many a presidential cat or cow passed through without much public notice. Wayne bryant eldridge, tom kerr the best pet name book ever. He fell into the role when president hardingunder whom coolidge served as vice presidentdied of a heart attack. See more ideas about calvin coolidge, american presidents and u. The 2020 democratic presidential contenders are going to the dogs and a turtle. Herbert hoover, the 31st president, had an opossum. White house pets 1953 to present presidential pet musuem. Title what is to become of white house pets when coolidges. Before, during, and after their white house years, the coolidges kept a dizzying array of pets.
For his patriotic birthday, five facts about calvin coolidge. Nov 05, 2018 in 1926, president calvin coolidge received a raccoon as a thanksgiving dinner gift. Amity shlaes, author of the forgotten man, delivers a brilliant and provocative reexamination of americas thirtieth president, calvin coolidge, and the decade of unparalleled growth that the nation enjoyed under his leadership. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. I have an interest in animals and a love for them so this was an interesting book to read. The calvin coolidge white house was justifiably called the pennsylvania avenue zoo one of the bestknown fourlegged white house residents during the coolidge years a raccoon had actually been meant to be eaten. Raccoons at the white house white house historical association. President coolidge liked to wear me around his neck.
Previous white house pets have set the bar pretty high. Calvin coolidge, the 30th president of the united states, became president on the death of warring g. He came into the white house at a time when many of the scandals in hardings administration had recently come to light. Both calvin coolidge s wife, grace, and theodore roosevelts family had quite a few. Calvin coolidge s vice president, charles dawes won a nobel peace prize. As a guest of john quincy adams, general lafayette kept a live alligator in the east room. This raccoon could have been a presidents thanksgiving. Summary portion of the front page of the sunday star for dec. Theres a good reason the white house is known as the peoples house. White pine camp lakefront adirondack cabin rentals at.
Grace and calvins pets in the white house by david pietrusza. Calvin coolidge was a popular president who led the nation from 1923 to 1929. Calvin coolidge was the only son of john calvin and victoria moor coolidge. Calvin coolidge and his wife kept an astonishing number of animals for the first family. I think it is calvin coolidge, but calvin isnt his middle name.
The library of congress is providing access to the materials in prosperity and thrift. Their feline residents included tiger, blacky, bounder, timmie and even a bobcat named smoky. This lighthearted look at the presidents highlights little known facts and wacky details about all fortyfive presidents, including the most recentlyelected president, donald j. Nearsilent, famously prudish, yet also quite funny and the proud owner of the white house pet raccoon, our 30th president, calvin coolidge, makes a pretty strong argument for never ignoring the. Calvin coolidge white house historical association. Welcome to white pine camp, a lovingly restored adirondack great camp that once was the summer white house of president calvin coolidge. He restored integrity to the executive branch while continuing hardings conservative probusiness policies. But coolidge saw the friendly young creature and decided it would make a much better pet. The bizarre history of white house pets mental floss. He was vice president when warren harding died in 1923. Coolidge acceded to the presidency after the death in office of warren g.
Jan 04, 2014 grace coolidge with rebecca, a cherished pet raccoon. The coolidge pets calvin coolidge presidential foundation. First lady grace had a treehouse built for her instead 76 80. He believed in cutting taxes and reducing national debt. Calvin had a direct telephone line installed between the white house and his fathers home in plymouth. Herbert hoover got a belgian police dog belgian malinois, king tut, during his campaign and pictures of him with his new dog were sent all across the united states in 1944 franklin d. In spite of his shyness, coolidge was the first president to make wide. President calvin coolidge, who assumed office in 1923, picked up where roosevelt had left off. Presidential pets museum williamsburg, virginia atlas obscura. Calvin coolidge was so fond of pets that he built a large menagerie during his time at the white house. Over the years, the white house has been home to a unique assortment of pets. Adorable new book chronicles the pets of americas leaders from obamas dog bo to fdrs terrier big boy and calvin coolidges pygmy hippo email most watched news videos. In this riveting biography, shlaes traces coolidges improbable rise from a tiny town in new england to a youth so unpopular he was shut out of college fraternities. President calvin coolidge 19231929 the coolidges owned a menagerie of pets.
A raccoon at the white house book by rachel dougherty, rachel. Or that calvin coolidge had twentysix pets including two lions and a hippo. The list of presidential pets is endless and the stories about them and their owners are bizarre, hilarious, touching, and filled with incidents that point out many a first family soft spot, peculiarity and, in every case, unabashed love of animals. Grace coolidge with laddie boy, an airedale terrier, and rob roy, a white collie united states presidents have often kept pets while in office, or pets have been part of their families. In 1905 he married grace anna goodhue, a teacher at the clarke institute.
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