Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Celebrating First Dogs

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I'm sure we are all glued to our screens today, watching the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris (who's got their pearls on??) but we should take a moment to celebrate the new First Dogs, Champ and Major Biden!

Here's Joe with Major.

And Joe with Champ.

I can't tell you how happy these photos make me. And I love that the Bidens' house looks like ours--dog beds and toys everywhere. 

Our Dax and Jasmine want you to know that they're pretty happy about the new dogs in the White House, too. You can guess why.

I'm sure you all know by now that Major is the first-ever shelter dog in the White House. He even had his own In-dog-uration on Sunday, hosted by the Delaware Humane Association. (Major is not the first rescue dog, however. That title goes to LBJ's Yuki, who was found by Johnson's daughter at a Texas gas station.)

But Major and Champ are not the first German Shepherd dogs in the White House. Herbert Hoover had two GSDs, King Tut and Pat. King Tut didn't care for White House life and was re-homed to the country, but Pat became well known for patrolling the White House grounds, wearing a tag stamped with "#1 Dog" on his collar.


Nor is Major Biden the first White House German shepherd called "Major." The Franklin Roosevelts had a "Major," too, but he apparently wasn't nearly as well behaved as the Hoovers' Pat. Major Roosevelt chased the White House cleaning staff and nipped visitors' fingers. We hope Major Biden will set a better example!

 


But the last German shepherd to occupy the White House was Clipper Kennedy. Although the Kennedys had a regular pack of canines, Clipper was Jackie Kennedy's favorite. She even took him to obedience school, where little John John and Caroline watched his training. 

 

So I think it's high time we saw GSDs in the White House again--and I suspect the Bidens will appreciate having staff to help vacuum up the German shepherd hair!

REDS and readers, do you have a favorite First Dog? Has a First Dog ever inspired you to own a breed?

And a big question--should the new First Dogs have their own social media account?

P.S. Cat lovers, don't despair. The Bidens are said to be adding a cat to the household! 

P.P.S. Tell us how you're celebrating the inauguration today!


69 comments:

  1. I love these pictures!
    Dogs are wonderful . . . but I’m particularly fond of golden retrievers, so I guess President Gerald Ford’s dog, Liberty, gets to be the “favorite” . . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liberty! I knew one of the presidents had a golden retriever, but I couldn't remember who it was.

      Delete
    2. I knew there was a Golden First Dog, but I couldn't remember which president! Thanks, Joan. And they are such a lovely breed.

      Delete
  2. It is so nice to have people who love animals back in the White House! I'm always a little distrustful of people who don't like animals. I can't really name a favorite White House dog, although I remember Yuki--as well as LBJ's beagles--and was fascinated by the notion of finding a street dog and taking him in. No wonder I grew up to volunteer in dog rescue!

    You know, of course, that I'm holding out hope for a border collie in the White House some day. During the primaries I saw a photo of Pete Buttigieg with three gorgeous border collies, but I don't know if they were his, or just there for a photo op. Then again, maybe a bc would be better suited to support the Speaker of the House? The famous border collie eye could be useful in rounding up votes because, c'mon! Who can resist that stare? You must obey the border collie! Just ask any one of mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those LBJ beagles were named Him and Her. I'll never forget how he pulled on their ears, but they didn't seem to mind.

      Delete
    2. Border collies, Gigi! Beautiful, soulful. Certainly good for rounding up stray guests.

      Delete
    3. Gigi, Mayor Pete (now Pete Commutigieg) has two rescue pups, a beagle/lab mix named Truman and a one-eyed puggle with a LOT of attitude named Buddy. They have their own Twitter at @firstdogsSB!

      Delete
    4. Gigi, one president had a "mixed breed" that looked a lot like a border collie. But I read about so many dogs that, again, I can't remember which president...

      Delete
  3. I'm so excited. I cooked today, so all I have to do is warm up chicken casserole tomorrow and not miss anything on the Inauguration coverage. I might make some quick cinnamon rolls (from the refrigerated can) in the morning to go with coffee while I watch events unfold. The topic was what food are we eating tomorrow, right, Debs? Hahaha!

    Speaking of the dogs, Champ and Major, a new book came out today, and I received my pre-ordered copy. It is a picture book entitled Champ and Major: First Dogs by Joy McCullough and illustrated by Sheyda Abvabi Best. I wish I could share a picture of it here, but you can find it at Amazon. I'm not sure if all the local bookstores will have it yet.

    I am overjoyed that there will be doggies (and a cat) in the White House once again. I'm like you, Gigi, a bit distrustful of those who shun animals. I can't wait to see Champ and Major enjoying the living quarters and maybe sneaking down to the first floor, too. Happiness and joy and compassion and love are returning to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Woohoo!

    Oh, and I wouldn't mind seeing a Brittany Spaniel at the White House.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't forget Clinton's dog, Buddy. Clinton told some great stories about that dog.

      Delete
  4. Yes, the return of First Dogs to the White House is a positive sign!

    Bo and Sunny were adorable with their shaggy faces and boundless energy. I remember one of the reasons the Obamas chose Portugese Water Dogs was because of Malia's allergies. Seeing the Obama daughters playing with Bo and Sunny or Obama running down the White House hallway with Bo brought a smile to my face.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy for you dog lovers, but I'm holding out for a First Cat!

    I'm completely excited for the inauguration. The bubbly is chilling, the Delaware/India/Jamaica dinner menu is planned, and I'll see if I can dig out a string of pearls. As much as I adored the Obamas, I have never been so elated for a change in the White House.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edith, I read the Bidens were, in fact, going to be getting a cat. More proof that our new president is committed to bipartisanship, since every cat I've known has been a conservative. Once a cat has things how it likes it, it doesn't ever want anything to change :)

      Delete
    2. Delaware crab cakes, Jamaican jerk roasted potatoes, and Indian-spiced carrots and broccoli. Yum!

      Delete
    3. Yum!! Tell us how it all turned out!

      Delete
  6. Happy Inauguration Day, everyone!

    I agree that people who don't like animals usually aren't my kind of people. We were as excited as Debs to see the GS dogs in Biden's household. The Christmas video of the two of them was hilarious! Kenai will probably watch any part of the day that includes his kinfolk.

    We are thrilled and delighted to see this very decent and dedicated man become our President. There is so much that needs to be repaired now that it is hard to know where to start. Withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement was just the beginning of an onslaught of deregulation of environmental rules and attempts to overturn long-standing protections of our air, water and wildlife.

    We are also very happy to see Kamala Harris, the first woman to become VP, for who she is, her capabilities, her demeanor and importantly, who she replaces. Her presence in the Senate is one of the most exciting aspects of our new leadership.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree on Kamala Harris. I'm thrilled to see women at the highest levels of power (let's not forget Nancy Pelosi!) not because of some vote-pandering stunt but because they have the chops and can do the job. It's long past time for that.

      Delete
    2. I LOVED the Christmas video, Judy!
      I think the departing president (departed!!!!!!) was the first in 100 years not to have a dog in the White House.

      Delete
  7. I gave my pearls to my daughter many years ago. But then I'm not a pearl wearing girl anyway. Having dogs in the White House again is wonderful. I had a marvelous GSD, back in the day. Her name was Maggie/Magda/Margaret. She made our lives so much better.

    I did love watching the Obama children playing with their dog, but I can't remember his name.

    I will watch TV all day, holding my breath, hoping and praying that there are no incidents today.
    I'm with you Edith, not since the Obamas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were two Obama dogs: Bo and Sunny. Both adorable. But let's give the Bushes their due. Millie and Barney rocked the White House, too.

      Delete
    2. I adored Bo and Sunny, but I love spaniels and also had a real soft spot for the Bushes' Milley and Barney.

      Delete
  8. For most of my childhood, we had a cocker spaniel. Even though this was the Veep's Dog, I still vote for Checkers. Wasn't the dog's fault, in that speech, was someone else. On Nome Street our desert will be Orange Fool - a recipe from Mount Vernon -- to remind us the current Orange Fool is back in Florida.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds delicious, Coralee! And, hey, if it doesn't taste delicious, you can always go the symbolic "down the disposal" ritual.

      Delete
  9. I'm a standard poodle person, so Obama's Portuguese Water Dogs are my favs. My amaryllis bulb produced its first flower last night which is a great portent of our future. Here comes the sun!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love these photos Debs! Lottie is wondering about the future of a Havanese in the WH. T-Bone really couldn't care less.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T-Bone doesn't break character, does he! LOL

      Delete
    2. I vote for a ginger boy for First Cat--playful, lovable, loving!!

      Delete
    3. Told you. Cats are Republicans.

      Delete
    4. C'mon, Julia. The Clintons had Socks long before they got Buddy.

      Delete
    5. And the Clintons are center left Democrats, Gigi. With a big tent attitude. So I'm inclined to agree with Julia! LOL

      Delete
    6. I wonder what Major and Champ will have to say about a cat. Our German shepherds LOVE their cats. The previous two loved their cats, too. It's pretty touching.

      Delete
    7. Well, maybe, Karen and Julia, but I am not a Republican, and I have three cats, so where does that leave us?

      Delete
  11. You made me smile Debs. It is the First I hear about First Dogs at the White House. I imagine that dogs roaming the place can give some normalcy to the Imposing House. Animal lovers are also my kind of people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danielle, last night I was wishing I could be a fly on the wall and see the dogs settle into their new home. Hopefully the Bidens will post some pictures.

      Delete
    2. DANIELLE: I agree with you that I did not remember seeing much TV coverage in Canada about the First Dogs (and pets) at the White House. I only remember seeing Bo and Sunny during the Obama years and Socks the cat (Clinton).

      And I guess we do not official First Pets at the PM Residence in Canada? I cannot remember a single one.

      Delete
    3. Grace : I'm not aware of pets at the PM' house either.

      Delete
  12. Hooray for the return of White House pets! I'm a cat person so, like Edith, I'm waiting for the Biden pet-to-come. But their dogs clearly bring them so much joy and laughter -- and won't it be wonderful to have laughter back in the White House.

    I'm drinking my morning coffee out of a 1993 inaugural commemorative mug, a tangible reminder of where I was 24 years ago today. I spent 1992 through mid-1995 living in DC and working for my employer's government affairs office. And, not surprisingly, the company threw a huge three-day wingding to celebrate (after the company brass got over their shock that Clinton beat Bush 43). While I'm no fan of corporate influence over politics, it was fun to enjoy the process for a few days. And to watch the inauguration and parade from the Willard Hotel, although the view from the windows was horrible. My one and only brush with such pomp and circumstance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Error: Clinton beat Bush 41, not 43. Clearly, I hadn’t had enough coffee when I wrote that.

      Delete
    2. I love that you had that experience, Chris. I love the letter that George H. left for Bill Clinton. That is how an outgoing president should greet the incoming one.

      Delete
  13. I love this post! Excited about the first dogs and so much more.

    And I am frankly envious of any of you who get to sit glued to the coverage today. Completely unrelated to politics, today is the culmination of a huge project at work. January 20 was selected as the date more than a year ago, when no one was really thinking about an inauguration. So I will have to catch what snippets of news coverage I can while physically in the office for what promises to be at least a 12-hour work day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank goodness for the Internet, Susan, so you can watch it later, if need be.

      Delete
    2. Susan, I hope you at least catch some snippets, and will be finished in time to watch the evening festivities.

      Delete
  14. Oh a White House cat: Yes! (Can you guess which four-leggeds I have?)

    I'll be streaming the inauguration here on the Canadian prairie, with gratitude and hope in my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm not celebrating today--that will build day by day by day. Maybe minute by minute. My sister texted me as soon as the Orange Fool had lifted off and was heading for Florida. Just this immense sense of relief, that's what I'm feeling.

    And the more dogs the merrier, as far as I'm concerned. And yes to a border collie in the Senate AND the House, Gigi--that stare could take down a Cruz or a Hawley in nothing flat! And a cat or two, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Border Collies all around! Part of my job, when we have live concerts, is to round up the musicians. They're generally pretty easy to manage, but I have said, a time or two, "Don't make me bring in the border collies."

      Delete
  16. Two comments: German Shepherds were one of America's favorite breeds in the 50s and 60s, fell out of favor a bit, and have been climbing in popularity this past decade. I wouldn't be surprised if they became a very trendy dog in the next four years.

    And, today is my nephew Robbie's birthday! He was born on Obama's second inauguration, with my brother and sister-in-law in the hospital and able to hold him shortly afterwards. So he always gets a big celebration on his day - but an especially thankful one this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's our great-niece Alice's 4th birthday, too! She was born during the previous inauguration, and we're all glad she - and the rest of us - have survived to see this one.

      Delete
  17. Real presidents have dogs!

    I've always been interested in the animals that have lived in the White House so this post is just right for me. There was a fairly brief, but yet too long, period when I lived in a house without a dog. It just wasn't comfortable, so I sold that house and acquired a dog. Big improvement!

    Houses also need cats so I'm happy to hear that there will be a First Cat. If they take my advice they will get 2 and the fun will be ongoing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Judi! Two cats are always more fun than one. And we have for years had both--at the moment, two dogs and THREE cats.

      Delete
    2. I'm also in favor of sharing the house with both dogs and cats. They all get along together so well. Chess (male border collie) must be a cat magnet since both Scrap (now passed on) and Gift seem to dote on him.

      Delete
  18. It just hit me: he is out of the White House. Forever. I can finally breathe again.

    Obviously, I'm celebrating that. I have a split of Prosecco chilled, and we are planning to watch on TV today.

    Almost as important, to me, as the switch in occupants of the White House is that today is the first day the United States will have a female Vice President, the proverbial heartbeat from the Presidency. This is a day I have hoped for so long, and it's making me tear up with joy every time I think of it.

    As for First Dogs, I was always partial George and Laura Bush's Barney. GW got a goofy, happy look whenever he thought of Barney, and I have loved that name all my life, since Barney was the name of my little brother's imaginary fireman friend when he was three. Now I'm getting all gooey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suspect we are all going to be gooey today, Karen! And I want to watch every minute!!

      Delete
  19. Ever since high school, I loved the image of those giant Newfoundlands. I was reading With Love From Karen at the time. I don't think I have a favorite First Pet, just happy a person who loves animals is in the house.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dogs in the White House!! Even better: human beings in the WH

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love that there are critters in the house again! I've long been a fan of GSDs, but I've not owned one since college. I've been looking into several GSD rescues with an eye to adopting in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, Kait!! They are just the best! (Dax and Jasmine agree!)

      Delete
  22. I've always had a soft spot for both Georges and their dogs. Cracked me up that Big George would take Millie into the shower with him to give her a bath. Millie has a dog park named after her here in Houston. And Little George and his Scottie, Barney. So cute!
    I've been watching the inauguration and it has been inspiring. So good to see former Presidents and First Ladies there in support of the newest.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Biden’s are not acquiring a cat, they have one. The New Yorker has a story about and from the first cat.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm all for more pictures of pets on social media, so I'd follow a First Dog account. And I have always had a liking for German Shepherds.

    I wonder if a president had a greyhound? Wait, George Washington had at least one.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I had a cockapoo puppy in Jan. 2009; unless I'm mythologizing, I took Archie to the park for the first time on Jan. 20, and watched the taped inauguration after we returned home. Archie's breeder and I agreed that the Obamas could do with a cockapoo, but in the end the Portuguese Water dogs were close enough and cute enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cockapoos would have been non-allergenic, too! And cute!!

      Delete
  26. Does anyone remember the episode of Murphy Briwn that centered on Socks Clinton? Murphy always had an adversarial relationship w the White House and was horrified when Socks mistakenly jumped in her car? Then she had to try and return him. Very funny...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, I didn't know about Clipper! What a great photo.
    And today? PEOPLE! Who love and respect each other! And music and laughter and grace and respect and incisiveness and remembrance and skill and experience. AND dogs. Imagine!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love this post so much. Annie and Otto watched the inauguration with us. It was a great day!

    ReplyDelete