WHITE HOUSE PETS (1953-PRESENT)

After allegedly sending back ships to rescue his dog, Roosevelt was ridiculed and accused of spending thousands of taxpayers' dollars to retrieve his dog. At a speech following this Roosevelt said, "you can criticize me, my wife and my family, but you can't criticize my little dog. He's Scotch and all these allegations about spending all this money have just made his little soul furious." What was later called the "Fala Speech" reportedly helped secure re-election for Roosevelt.

Miss Beazley, a Scottish Terrier given to Laura Bush by her husband

Richard Nixon was accused of hiding a secret slush fund during his candidacy for vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. He gave a televised "Checkers speech" named after his cocker spaniel; denying he had a slush fund but admitted that, "there is one thing that I did get as a gift that I'm not going to give back.” The gift was a black and white cocker spaniel, Checkers, given to his daughters. Although Nixon had been in danger of being kicked off the ticket, following his speech he received an increase in support and Mamie Eisenhower reportedly recommended he stay because he was “such a warm person”.

Pets also featured on presidential elections. Herbert Hoover got a Belgian shepherd dog during his campaign, King Tut, and pictures of him with his new dog were sent all across the United States during his campaign.

On the other hand, many believe that President Lyndon B. Johnson’s image was damaged because of his pets. He was photographed picking his two Beagle dogs named Him and Her up by their ears. Much of the public was outraged and animal lovers spoke out against it. Others, however, did not understand the basis of the uproar and President Harry S. Truman was even reported to have said, "What the hell are the critics complaining about; that's how you handle hounds." While it may not have hurt his presidency, this scandal shed a new light on the president's image.

WHITE HOUSE PETS (1953-PRESENT)

President Barack Obama, 2009-present; Bo, Portuguese water dog. Sunny, also a Portuguese water dog

President George W. Bush, 2001-2009; Miss Beazley, Scottish terrier, Spot, English springer spaniel, offspring of Millie
Barney, Scottish terrier, India “Willie,” cat, Ofelia, longhorn cow at ranch

President Bill Clinton, 1993-2001; Socks the cat, Buddy, chocolate Labrador retriever

President George H.W. Bush, 1989-1993; Millie, English springer spaniel, Ranger, one of Millie’s puppies; often called Bush’s favorite dog

President Ronald Reagan, 1981-1989; Lucky, Bouvier des Flandres, Rex, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Victory, golden retriever, Peggy, Irish setter, Taca, Siberian husky, Fuzzy, Belgian sheepdog, Horses at ranch

President Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981; Grits, border collie given to Amy Carter by her teacher (and soon returned)
Lewis Brown, Afghan hound, Misty Malarky Ying Yang, Amy Carter’s Siamese cat

President Gerald Ford, 1974-1977; Liberty, golden retriever who had a litter of pups while at the White House
Misty, one of Liberty’s puppys, Lucky, dog, Shan, Susan Ford’s Siamese cat

President Richard Nixon, 1969-1974; Checkers, Richard Nixon’s dog while vice president, Vicky, poodle, Pasha, terrier
King Timahoe, Irish setter

President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-1969; Him and Her, beagles, Edgar and Freckles, also beagles, Blanco, collie, The famous Yuki, mixed-breed dog, Hamsters, Lovebirds

President John F. Kennedy, 1961-1963; Charlie, Caroline Kennedy’s Welsh terrier, Gaullie, poodle, Pushinka, mutt that was a gift from Soviet premier Nikita Khrusche, Gaullie, poodle Pushinka, mutt that was a gift from Soviet premier Nikita Khruschev
Shannon, Irish cocker spaniel Wolf, Clipper, German shepherd, Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie, Streaker, Pushinka and Charlie’s puppies, Tom Kitten, cat Robin, canary Bluebell and Marybelle, parakeets Macaroni, Caroline Kennedy’s pony, Tex and Leprechaun, ponies Debbie and Billie, hamsters Zsa Zsa