Among them, a tobacco chewing ram called Old Ike. CNN cited a Mental Floss article by Ethan Trex that stated, "The sixth president also had a pet gator. But amidst all the unfounded storied and non-collaborating fun facts, here are some facts about the cloudy pet alligator story. She even managed to yell the critter's name. Parenthetically, our research uncovered at least two other reported instances of alligators taking up residency in the executive mansion, both predating the Hoover story. "Alligators in the White House Bathtub, Oh My!" Some were found on the property, many came with the new . 2. Ac lectus vel risus suscipit sit amet hendrerit a venenatis. Whats our next move? Billy the Pygmy Hippo found his way to the White House via Liberia after he was captured there by Harvey Firestone, maker of Firestone tires. The animal had been sent to the White House from Tennessee to be part of the first family's Thanksgiving meal. Our site is an advertising supported site. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2013. Finally he had the mother of all a nicotine fits which ultimately claimed his life. 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. 4. Deasy Tuwo, who ran a . You won't believe some of the animals that presidents and their families have kept as furry friends. Of course, there are also some downsides to owning a crocodile as a pet. By the time Billy arrived, Coolidge had amassed an assortment of dogs, birds, a wallaby and a domesticated raccoon named Rebecca, a filthy but favorite pet of the first lady. Firestone believed the pygmy hippo would make a wonderful gift for President Coolidge, already a collector of strange and exotic pets. He in return gave the alligator to President John Quincy Adams. Known as the "Crocodile Man", Costa Rican animal lover 'Chito' swims, plays, and . A n Indonesian woman was mauled to death by a pet crocodile after she fell into the giant reptile's pen, Agence France-Presse reports. After a forest fire moves through a small California town, a class of fifth grade students reflect on how they survived, and those who didn't make it. 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 . Ok, so the choice of pet itself isn't exactly unusual. Two dogs and two cats were necessary, and among the transitory possessions were two ducks which he trained to sit on the front porch to the infinite entertainment of passers-by. By providing food and water for birds, he induced scores of them to daily visit us. 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. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. 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. Marquis de Lafayette, the famous French military officer who served as a general for the colonies during the Revolutionary War, returned to America later in life to pay a visit to President John Quincy Adams. At which point, Adams leaned back with a nice, hearty laugh. Where the New First Cat Fits in the History of Presidential Pets. His father wouldn't move into the White House until 1929. In terms of the nominations, Theodore Roosevelt is tied with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was famous for his many pets. Unauthorized use is prohibited. 6 . During an 1825 tour of the United States, French revolutionary hero the Marquis de Lafayette visited the White House. The 28th President of the United States was narrowly re-elected to a second term in 1916, running on a campaign of, "Hey, I kept us out of the war!" Owner Kai . I would not recommend it, period!! Dorre, Howard. Yes, all of them. Among the best-loved was a raccoon called Rebecca. 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. White House staff reportedly weren't so keen on Rebecca, due to her habit of clambering onto furniture, damaging expensive upholstery with her claws. The president's sons Tad and Willie especially loved their goats Nanny and Nanko. No, to the best of our knowledge, no president has ever kept a crocodile as a pet. Both visitors declared the alligators to be veritable mascots, and after a little persuasion they induced Mr. Harrison to go out to Bennings with them after each of the trio had rubbed fat pocket-books across the scaly backs of the saurians, the latter apparently enjoying the sensation and craving more. President James K. Polk, 1845-1849 . Accessed 19 February 2018. There's a wee grain of truth in that (as we learned from theblogof the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum), but the fact is that Hoover's son, who graduated from Stanford University the same year his father was elected and went straight from there to Harvard Business School, never resided at the White House. Upon moving in at 1600 Pennsylvania, Old Whiskers got busy thinking of a way to make the president look like a dumbass. Harry, the hyena, was king of the wild animals until recently. In late November 1926, a . However, we do know that President Adams did what any president should do: He lodged the gator in the White Houses unfinished East Room and its nearby bathtub. But it turned out "pygmy hippo" was a misleading term (no doubt coined by the crooked hippo pet industry) and Billy eventually grew too big to stay at the White House. by Romero Esposito | Dec 30, 2022 | Crocodiles. Well aware of the animal's temperament, Jefferson decided to keep the cubs anyway, describing them as "perfectly gentle" with a taste for "Indian bread" and possibly Indians, too. 27), 1888. 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. He was able to help the Americans win the war and was treated as a hero. : Joe and Jill Biden plan to bring their German shepherds Champ and Major with them to the White House in January 2021, and many people reacted with joy that there would be pets in the White House again after Trump became the first president in more than 100 years to eschew keeping a furry or feathered friend. A one-legged rooster was customary for Teddy Roosevelt, whereas William McKinley kept two-legged roosters. , Reading age Cranky. A new study has found that this 2,000-year-old crocodile mummy was embalmed right after its death. Many of the 45 presidents of the United States have been animal lovers, with pet choices far beyond the ordinary run of cats and dogs. Start the day smarter Take our news quiz . John Adams was the second US president, but the first to reside in the White House. toby o'brien raytheon salary. And Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, had a raccoon named Rebecca that walked on a leash! However, his most well-known pet was Checkers the cocker spaniel, who . 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. Presidential Pet Museum. Crocodiles have an image problem in the Philippines. Please try your request again later. Hey, fast food chains Stick to food. : That's been the animal of choice for the last several presidents. To cut lawn-cutting costs in the White House during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson brought in a flock of sheep to graze the lawns and keep the grass trim. Powell to talk to Congress about the possibility of more interest-rate hikes, not fewer, Jon Stewart to GOP state senator: You dont give a flying f about gun violence. (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. State law prohibits individuals from owning any "dangerous animal" except for those kept at a zoo, research lab, veterinary hospital, animal refuge or federally licensed exhibit. Favorite Presidential Pets. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Although the story is highly circulated they have been no evidence to back it up. The Roosevelts had all kind of animals, including lizards, snakes and a one-legged chicken. Gilberto "Chito" Shedden has had the killer reptile as . : (Wheres YouTube when you need it?). Life is good. 19 / 46. All Rights Reserved. Unfortunately, we dont know what President and Mrs. John Quincy Adamss initial reactions were to this unusual re-gifting. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Reptile City is the perfect place for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and expertise. Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! The most popular pet by some way is a dog, owned by 30 of the 45 presidents. Arkell and Artist Gillam of Judge, both of whom are interested in one of the stables of horses at the track. Allie. President Theodore Roosevelt's eldest son, Teddy Jr., holds a macaw named Eli circa 1902. Boyd: Q. The legislative branch claimed that the cubs had been sent to the United States while Andrew Jackson was still president, and they were therefore the property of the U.S., and not Van Buren. Please try again. 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. Adams was a surly man that few in Congress admired and who enjoyed swimming naked in the Potomac in the wee hours of the morning, earning him the nickname "shrinky-dink" . The White House and Its Thirty-Three Families. It has become a very popular trope on social media: Happy Presidents' Day. Other presidents have bought farmyard animals to live on the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Woodrow Wilson had a flock of sheep, and JFK's daughter had a pony. And some of these pets have been downright strange, and wouldnt even be legal to keep today. me dice amor y no somos nada? Family, faith and fitness are all integral to her life, and Cheryl loves what she does. We live in purgatory: My wife has a multimillion-dollar trust fund, but my mother-in-law controls it. Just look at how happy that raccoon makes Grace. Our U.S. presidents had all kinds of pets--lots of dogs and cats, of course--but they also had some very strange pets. My grandson loves alligators, crocodiles. | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping. Of the many species on earth today that can trace their ancestry back to prehistoric times, evolution has touched crocodiles perhaps least. Every once in a while, a dolt drops a gem. She is an award-winning writer/illustrator/publisher of dozens of books, co-founder of a successful publishing company, an accomplished and well-regarded public speaker, the former executive director of the Wheelchair Foundation, which has shipped hundreds of thousands of wheelchairs to handicapped people around the world. Spotty, the English springer spaniel of President George W. Bush, runs through the White House lawn with a tennis ball. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. Finally, Old Whiskers decided he'd towed the bratty grandkids for the last fucking time. "John Quincy Adams's Pet Alligator Was a Crock." By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Most sources record that an alligator was one of such unconventional gifts. He helped the colonists against the British. 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.