Did you know September 23rd is National Dogs in Politics Day? From FDR's Fala to Biden's Major, dogs have always had a place in the halls of power — and we think that says something important about who we are as a country.
Why September 23rd?
National Dogs in Politics Day falls on September 23rd for a very specific reason. On that date in 1952, Richard Nixon — then a senator and vice-presidential candidate — delivered what became known as the Checkers Speech. Facing accusations of financial impropriety, Nixon addressed the nation on live television and, in a moment of calculated sentiment, mentioned the family dog: a black-and-white cocker spaniel named Checkers, given to his daughters as a gift. He said, regardless of what anyone said, they were keeping the dog. The speech saved his political career. The dog became a symbol. And the date became, eventually, a celebration of every four-legged figure who has ever wandered the halls of American power.
"Every great leader needs a loyal dog by their side — and the history of the White House proves it."
A Long History of Presidential Dogs
Dogs have lived in the White House for most of American history. George Washington bred hounds at Mount Vernon and is credited with developing the American Foxhound. Abraham Lincoln's son Tad kept a yellow mixed-breed named Fido who became one of the first presidential pets to be photographed. Theodore Roosevelt had so many animals at the White House — including a one-legged rooster and a badger — that the dogs barely stood out. But it was FDR's Scottish Terrier, Fala, who became perhaps the most famous presidential dog of all. Fala traveled with Roosevelt everywhere, attended conferences, and was so beloved that when a Republican opponent falsely claimed FDR had sent a destroyer to retrieve the dog from the Aleutian Islands, Roosevelt's rebuttal — delivered with dry wit and obvious affection for the animal — became one of the most memorable moments of the 1944 campaign.
Dogs on the Road and in the White House
We think about presidential dogs a lot when we're traveling with our own dogs. There's something clarifying about having an animal with you on a long trip — they don't care about the news cycle, they're not interested in your opinions about policy, and they will absolutely lose their minds with joy over a rest stop with good grass. That's a useful perspective. The presidents who kept dogs seemed to understand this. LBJ's beagles, Him and Her, were famous enough to appear on the cover of Life magazine. The Clintons' Labrador Buddy and the Bushes' Scottish Terrier Barney both had their own dedicated White House web pages. Bo and Sunny Obama were regulars in official photographs. Whatever you think of any of these administrations, the dogs were universally good.
Celebrating the Day
We mark National Dogs in Politics Day the same way we mark most things on the road — with a walk, a treat, and a moment of appreciation for the animals who make the journey better. If you're traveling with dogs, today is a good excuse to let them lead the way for a while. Take the trail they want to take. Stop at the smell they want to investigate. Let them be, briefly, in charge. History suggests it works out fine. And if you want to go deeper, look up the Checkers Speech on YouTube. It's a remarkable piece of American political theater, and the dog, for what it's worth, looks completely unbothered by the whole thing.
