Thanks to J.D. Vance, we can assume that many “childless cat ladies” that might have voted for the Trump-Vance ticket have migrated to Harris-Walz, but what about all the childless (and not childless) dog people?
Trump has reportedly never owned a dog and doesn’t seem to like them. That may have contributed to his defeat in 2020, since he was the first dog-free president since William McKinley (in office 1897-1901). James K. Polk and Donald Trump were the only presidents not to own any kind of pet.
By contrast, Joe Biden is a dedicated dog owner – and then some! He stuck with his ill-tempered German Shepherd, Commander, who bit Secret Service personnel on 24 different occasions. He finally gave in and sent Commander back home to Delaware – where he waits patiently for their weekend visits and will likely be delighted when Joe and Jill leave the White House for good next year.
“There is no doubt that dogs play a major role representing the first family and White House throughout the years, and that they will continue to do so in the years to come,” wrote Arden Lesorovage in her 2019 essay “Presidential Pooches.”
“While not every president will have a dog as their most trusted companion, the ones who do will undoubtedly bring some public consideration to their pet. This attention can come from pure love for their dog, be used as a way to enhance public relations, or distract from scandal, but regardless of what the public does, the first family will always appear more relatable with the addition of a presidential pet.”
So, what about Kamala, Tim Walz and J.D. Vance? Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff do not presently have a dog, but a number of photos available online show her affectionately petting dogs while on the campaign trail. Vance and spouse Usha have Atlas, a handsome nine-and-a-half-month-old German Shepherd whom they profess to adore – and looking at the photos, I believe them. In one, a joyous Usha holds the big puppy in her lap.
And if you think that Tim Walz is a kind, down to earth, regular guy, his dog story proves it. In 2019, serving as Minnesota’s governor, he made good on a promise to his son that the family could have a dog. Walz chose a three-month-old Labrador retriever mix that they named Scout. The puppy was one of 10 found abandoned on a rural road in Oklahoma, and he’s been a “very good dog” ever since. In a recent photo, Walz is seen hugging Scout, who seems quiet and content – a pose that will be familiar to millions of dog owners, especially those with Labs.
Most presidential dogs are amiable sidekicks, loving companions who are there for you regardless of your job. But one dog may have kept his owner in office – Richard Nixon’s dog Checkers. Accused of illegally accepting gifts while in office, Nixon came clean in a speech. He gave a full accounting, pointing out that he had done nothing wrong, and then came to Checkers.
“We did get something – a gift – after the election. A man down in Texas heard Pat on the radio mention the fact that our two youngsters would like to have a dog. And believe it or not, the day before we left on this campaign trip, we got a message from Union Station in Baltimore saying they had a package for us. We went down to get it. You know what it was?
It was a little cocker spaniel dog in a crate that he’d sent all the way from Texas. Black and white spotted. And our little girl – Tricia, the 6-year-old – named it Checkers. And you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we’re gonna keep it.”
That speech, on Sept. 23,1952, saved Nixon’s career and changed American history. It humanized Nixon, recasting him as a decent, dog-loving family guy who was being viciously assaulted by rival politicians.
Thirty of 45 presidents owned dogs while in office. Checkers and Franklin Rosevelt’s dog Fala are familiar to many of us, but Rutherford B. Hayes was by far the most dog-friendly President. He had eight dogs (and three cats), including a Newfoundland, a Mastiff and a couple of hunting dogs.
Theodore Roosevelt had literally dozens of animals, including a lion, horses, a laughing hyena, a garter snake and multiple dogs. The president’s favorite was Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
“Much the most individual of the dogs and the one with the strongest character was Sailor Boy; a Chesapeake Bay dog,” Roosevelt wrote in his autobiography. “He had a masterful temper and a strong sense of both dignity and duty. He would never let the other dogs fight, and he himself never fought unless the circumstances imperatively demanded it; but he was a murderous animal when he did fight.”
Conclusion: If you’re running for President of the United States, it helps to have a dog. So, Kamala, tell Doug to get a mutt right now and maybe Melania will follow suit. There are lots of dog owners out there who don’t want a dog-free White House – it’s good to know that the potential VPs have dogs!