John Adams was the second US president, but the first to reside in the White House. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) had . 3 years ago. Irwan, the reptile's owner, said he bought the animal 20 years ago from local fishermen who . : 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. The General, a horse 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. Crocodiles have an image problem in the Philippines. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was famous for his many pets. FDR was a huge fan of animals, and Harry was his favorite pet. Associated Press. The clip shows a crocodile coming near a man sitting on a boat. 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. Our website offers a wealth of information on all things reptilian, from care and husbandry tips to in-depth articles on the natural history of these amazing creatures. Jeffersons favorite pet was his mockingbird named Dick, however, which would often perch on the presidents shoulder. "The First Family's Pets: Hoover White House Pets." Nixons second dog, a Yorkshire Terrier named Pasha, was frequently spotted walking alongside Nixon on a daily basis. Father and son lived in the White Houseand so did their dogs. 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. President Theodore Roosevelt stands as his son, Quentin, sits on a pony. U.S. Government Printing Office. 3434 carolina southern belle; why is austria a developed country; which president had a pet crocodile. , Dimensions But Allan Hoover divested himself of both specimens shortly thereafter, when his interest in reptiles gave way to stamp collecting. Congress argued that the cubs had been gifted to the United States, not Buren personally, and that it was up to Congress to decide what to do with them. Martin van Buren, Jackson's successor, was also gifted wild beasts as a pet by a foreign dignitary. Something went wrong. Suspendisse ultrices hendrerit a vitae vel a sodales. He initially serves as the main antagonist of the Baroque Works Saga and the Arabasta Arc, but later becomes a major temporary ally during the Impel Down Arc and the Marineford Arc. Feature film based on the children's book about a crocodile that lives in New York City. Now the feline lives in style at the White House alongside a German shepherd puppy named Commander. An article there explains how Presidents Adams and Hoover each supposedly came into possession of the unconventional pets: Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette received many gifts and honors during his tour of the 24 states in 1824 and 1825, but probably none more unusual than an alligator. . 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. [16] This made Spotty the first animal to live in the White House under two different administrations, having been born there in 1989 and . When Roosevelt's son Archie got the measles, his brother Quentin thought a visit from the family pony might cheer him up. lisa robertson local steals and deals today. Rudy Francis was feeding crocodiles at a Malaysian farm on February 20, 2017 when the unimaginable happened: The croc latched onto his arm. They were speaking metaphorically, of course, about Trump's intention to rid the federal government of corruption and waste. Bodie. My grandson loves alligators, crocodiles. Zebulon Pike. The list of "dangerous animals . Plodding Through the Presidents blog. The Coolidges also had a bobcat named Smokey, who was a gift from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. The top prize is possibly the most bizarre (and potentially dangerous) of all. Finally he had the mother of all a nicotine fits which ultimately claimed his life. 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. But amidst all the unfounded storied and non-collaborating fun facts, here are some facts about the cloudy pet alligator story. If that wasn't enough to convince you we've put some pretty great men in the White House, then check out The 5 Most Badass Presidents of All-Time. Most sources record that an alligator was one of such unconventional gifts. President Herbert Hoovers (1929-1933) younger son Allan had two pet gators in the early 1930s, which actually roamed on the White House grounds. A story of cat adoption inspired by the author's true adoption story of her two kittens. But so far there is no record of anyone coming forward as a victim of the alligator prank. which president had a pet crocodile. Look inside to find your favorite pet. The tradition of pets in the White House, especially dogs, is well-established.President Barack Obama had Bo, a Portuguese water dog. So there is the question of where the alligator came from and according to the website snopes.com, the only written record they came across was The White House and Its 33 Families by Amy La Follette Jensen. In fact, most modern presidents have owned cats and dogs. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both had a ton of animals, some of which were quite bizarre. Nixon frequently took her on trips and was known for his playful nature, which she demonstrated in many of her interactions with him. 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. : Unfortunately, we dont know what President and Mrs. John Quincy Adamss initial reactions were to this unusual re-gifting. There were six races on the program when the party from the White House reached the pool lawn and began to invest their money, but somehow luck seemed to be dead against them. At this time, according to the statutes of the college, dogs were not allowed to be kept on the college grounds. A one-legged rooster was customary for Teddy Roosevelt, whereas William McKinley kept two-legged roosters. All rights reserved. Edit. In November 1926 President Calvin Coolidge pardoned a live animal intended for his Thanksgiving dinner and adopted it as a pet. . Before animal rights organizations and activists argued for laws against individuals owning exotic pets, plenty of other wild animals also called the White House their home. Publisher When he was elected president in 1830 he brought his pet parrot, Poll, with him and it seems the bird picked up some of the president's own salty vocabulary. In all, she gave birth to 15 of his children. : First, the Coolidge clan turned him over to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Running to show his father, Quentin interrupted an important meeting and dropped the snakes all over his father's desk! The list of Regnery authors reads like a "who's who" of conservative thought, action, and history. Old Whitey, a wartime mount Apollo, a former circus pony. He has had it for 20 years. Bush, was also president. 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. Quincys pet alligator has been a topic surrounded by a lot of speculation that it eventually begins to sound and feel like a myth. Our U.S. presidents had all kinds of pets--lots of dogs and cats, of course--but they also had some very strange pets. It is believed that he stored the alligator in the east room bathtub of the White House. According to some reports, he enjoyed using the gator to scare his guests.". The Sultan of Oman gave Martin Van Buren, the eighth president, a pair of tiger cubs. . 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. : You won't believe some of the animals that presidents and their families have kept as furry friends. Well, the grandkids used Old Whiskers as a work horse, tying a harness and miniature stagecoach to the goat who would then pull the kids around the lawn of the White House. 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. Learn more. Edit. Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! 30 August 2017. 0. January 17, 2019 4:07 AM EST. : And, lastly, here is our favorite alligators-in-the-White-House story, as told in 1890 (the second year of President Benjamin Harrison's term in office) by the Washington correspondent of theNew York Tribune, via the San Francisco Chronicle: Russell Harrison's Alligator Didn't Influence His Friends' Luck. As the saying goes, behind every myth is a story about something that happened to inspire it. The dog was a Portuguese water dog that they named Bo. which president had a pet crocodile. A keen observation from a serious explorer who can't spell worth shit: This was an animal not to be trifled with. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Nikki Haley tells CPAC audience she cant believe that Biden is letting China get away with so much, Ron DeSantis skips CPAC, says Republicans act like potted plants when facing woke ideology. The wool was auctioned to raise money for the American Red Cross, a group that helps people in emergencies. In this case, it was zookeepers from across the country. Sir Crocodile, formerly known as Mr. 0, is a major antagonist in the One Piece franchise. Or they would have laughed about it if they had later found it funny and hilarious. Spotty, the English springer spaniel of President George W. Bush, runs through the White House lawn with a tennis ball. 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. A Florida alligator with a six-foot smile, more or less, is to succeed as White House pet President Taft's famous cow, Pauline, the pony that rode in an elevator in President Roosevelt's administration, and more recently, President Wilson's flock of lawn mowing sheep. MAGNIFICENT CAT MANDALA COLORING BOOK FOR ADULTS 50 Black Line Mandalas on Regal Fe My Supermother: A Christian children's rhyming book celebrating mothers from a bibl Thunderbird's War: Cuyahoga River Riders (Super Science Showcase Stories #3), I Escaped The Donner Party: Pioneers on the Oregon Trail, 1846, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. KnowledgeNuts.com would like to show you notifications for our latest post and updates. 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. Odd book, but preschoolers will like the pictures. And so, Old Ike kept watch over his flock and swallowed copious amounts of tobacco. (Although that was nothing compared with Roosevelts bulldog Pete, who almost caused an international incident when he tore the pants off a French ambassador.). The animal had been sent to the White House from Tennessee to be part of the first family's Thanksgiving meal. When John Quincy Adams was a guest, he used a crocodile to scare them. His six kids had snakes, dogs, cats, a badger, birds, guinea pigs, and more. So the cubs were sent to a local zoo. 2. Presidential Pet Museum. Many of the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have been animal lovers, with the hallowed presidential tradition of keeping a pet in the White House stretching back to its very first occupant, John Adams. Old Whitey and Apollo . Deasy Tuwo, who ran a . Save. Erin Scott/The White House via AP. He used it to terrify guests for about two months before finally . [15] Among the canines was Spot Fetcher, an English Springer Spaniel and the offspring of George H. W. Bush's dog, Millie. In terms of the nominations, Theodore Roosevelt is tied with Franklin D. Roosevelt. He is the longest-running major antagonist in the series. Mr. During an 1825 tour of the United States, French revolutionary hero the Marquis de Lafayette visited the White House. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The reptile has made the news, too. Nixons other dogs were frequently seen playing with the lively Pasha. Former President Barack Obama's daughters lobbied hard to get a pet. That's been the animal of choice for the last several presidents. When in doubt, sacrifice a limb. Nana's Precious Kittens (Nana's Precious Pets). New York: McGraw Hill, 1958. With a red brick to remind them of the St. John's river banks, and amid clusters of oranges, growing upon trees in the conservatory, the alligators seem perfectly at home, and apparently in thriving condition. 1. Needless to say, the bears were good and pissed off upon arrival. Today we learn about the outrageous pets that some of the American presidents once took care of! Upton, Harriet Taylor. And some of these pets have been downright strange, and wouldnt even be legal to keep today. Get the scoop on why we celebrate the Fourth of July! He helped the colonists against the British. Among Calvin Coolidges animals were bobcats, wallabys, pygmy hippos, bears, and raccoons. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Members of the family in the Executive Mansion did not take very kindly to the new animals, however, and they were place in an ordinary tin foot-tub and consigned to the conservatory, which is connected with the main floor of the mansion. All Rights Reserved. Like most teenage parents, the two eventually figured out what to do with the kids: let someone else deal with them. 0. 5. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Taft was the fattest president to ever grace the White House. Mahajangasuchus: 100.5-66 million years ago, estimated to be 16 feet long . Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. The raccoon was later named Rebecca, and the first lady, Grace, would walk her on a bedazzled leash. Once he borrowed a bunch of snakes from a pet store. 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). 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. (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. Among those to whom Russell Harrison exhibited his pets during the races now in progress at Bennings were W.J. That Christmas, President Calvin Coolidge gave her an embroidered collar with the title, "White House Raccoon," her nickname in the press. , Item Weight Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. During his many travels, he was gifted many things both practical, conventional and unconventional. We earn $400,000 and spend beyond our means. We snuggled down in a large chair together holding this beautifully illustrated book. Revolutionary War hero the . Even little buckaroos help out on the ranch! Which president has the craziest pet? 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. Florida Alligator Will Be White House Pet. President Adams' Alligator: and Other White House Pets (Little Patriot Press), Hardcover Picture Book, February 4, 2013. The sad reality is that the embrace of animal affection after a difficult presidential campaign did not calm down. Residents of the White House have had fur and feathers, claws and hooves, scales, stripes and prehensile tails. President Harry S. Truman is often credited with saying, You want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. But while theres no hard evidence that he ever actually said this, one thing is certain: most American presidents have kept animal companions while living in the White House. If you went to see the president and was instead scared by an alligator in the bathtub, it is assumable that you would at one point or the other speak up about it. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 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. Just look at how happy that raccoon makes Grace. Hoovers younger son, Allan, had two pet alligators that frequented the White House grounds, amazing and quite possibly terrifying guests. We may never know. It has become a very popular trope on social media: Happy Presidents' Day. All Rights Reserved. One or more U.S. presidents (or members of their families) kept live alligators in the White House or on its grounds. Adams decided to lodge the reptile in the then-unfinished East Room of the White House, which had its own bath tub. Contrary to what most Internet sources claims, the book recorded that General Lafayette was staying in the white house for about two months and had a pet alligator with him that scared most guest. 6 . He brought his collection of creatively named pets with him. The person is completely at ease even as the reptile moves closer to him. President Martin Van Buren (1837-1841) was given a pair of tiger cubs by the Sultan of Oman, but Congress confiscated them. Bo and Sunny, two lucky dogs, pose for a photo at the White House. Below, Business Insider looks at seven of the strangest. During his presidency, Richard Nixon had three dogs: Irish King Timahoe, Yorkshire Terrier Pasha, and French Bulldog Vicky. Along with pterosaurs and dinosaurs, crocodiles were an offshoot of the archosaurs, the "ruling lizards" of the early-to-middle Triassic period of the Mesozoic Era.This epoch in history began about 251 million years ago and ended 65 million years ago.