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America's Next Top Pet
Welcome to Ballotpedia's second annual presidential pet bracket! Following the paw prints of last year's 2021 Barking Brackets, we're thrilled to share with you our 2022 comPETitors!
Whether given as gifts or elected along with their families, pets have found their place as White House companions dating back to George Washington. While dogs are one of the most pup-ular four legged friends for presidents, you'll see from our 2022 comPETitors that some presidential pets are quite unique!
Our com-PET-ition was RUFF, and after a grrrr-ueling tournament, Rebecca has been voted the 2022 America's Next Top Pet ChamPAWion! The competition was close, but ultimately Rebecca clawed her way to the top, winning by just 3 votes, leaving Pauline Wayne udderly disappointed.
2022 ChamPAWion
Administration: Calvin Coolidge
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: I was actually supposed to be Thanksgiving Dinner for the Coolidges in 1927, but I survived when the First Lady decided to keep me as a pet instead! Not to brag, but I am super smart and know how to unscrew lightbulbs and open cabinets. I love holidays, especially Christmas, when I was gifted a "White House Raccoon" embroidered collar.[1]
- I'm a raccoon
- I had a raccoon friend named Reuben, but he kept running away and one time he just didn't come back
Lost in the ChamPAWionship
Administration: William Howard Taft
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: While my priority was to provide milk and butter to the Taft family, I also birthed a beautiful calf named Big Bill. My milk became so famous it could be purchased for 50 cents a bottle at the International Dairymen's Exposition in Milwaukee. One day, I got lost on the way to the dairy show and almost ended up in a slaughterhouse! Thankfully I escaped and was able to peacefully retire to the same farm I grew up at. [2]
- I was one of the last White House cows
- I came from Kenosha, WI and made the long commute to DC in a crate on a train
Lost in the Final Four-Legged
Administration: John F. Kennedy
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: I had the best time being cared for by Caroline Kennedy. I would take her and her friends for a ride around the White House grounds, and in the winter I would pull a sleigh. The popular song "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond is written about MY Caroline! He saw a photo of us, wrote the song, and now we are famous. We have also appeared on the cover of Life Magazine and enjoyed reading our fan letters.[3]
- I'm part Shetland with four white stockings and a star
- I wore a Moroccan saddle given to Caroline by King Hassan II of Morocco
Administration: William Henry Harrison
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: My brother and I were gifted to President Harrison's grandchildren, but he was secretly a softie who liked cuddling with us. We are named after the Republican Party platform that says, "Protection and reciprocity are twin measures of Republican policy and go hand-in-hand."[4]
- I'm an opposum
- My brother's name was Mr. Protection
Lost in the Elite Eight
Administration: William McKinley
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: I have always been one to woo the ladies. As the official White House greeter, my favorite phrase to say was "Look at all the pretty girls!" I especially enjoyed singing songs with my dad, President McKinley. If he started whistling "Yankee Doodle Dandy," I could sing the rest of it. [5]
- I'm a double yellow-headed Mexican parrot from the Amazon
- I was the official White House greeter
Administration: George W. Bush
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: I am a self proclaimed romantic who loves daydreaming and grazing in the pasture. I am a proud mother to Ellie and Logan, who are named after some our favorite staff members. With my cute speckles it is a shame they didn't name "cookies and cream" after me! [6]
- I'm a longhorn cow
- I lived in Crawford, Texas on George W. Bush's family ranch
Administration: Warren G. Harding
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: I am the friendliest squirrel you'll ever meet! I made it my duty to particpate in press conferences and attend news briefings so I could make sure everyone was staying on task. I surprised my humans by giving birth to a litter of kits- they lived in a nest on the White House grounds. [7]
- I'm a squirrel
- Our animal family included me, two dogs named Laddie Boy and Old Boy, and a few canaries
Administration: Theodore Roosevelt
PAW-litical office: Ballotpedia's America's Next Top Pet
BARKography: When I was a baby, I found my home in the Roosevelt family after I was given to my dad in Sharon Springs, Kansas. Called Josh for short, I quickly made myself at home in the White House. I had the best cage ever, that kept me safe from other animals and gave me room to burrow. Sometimes my friendly nipping was misinterpreted and I ended up resettling at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. [8]
- I'm a badger that was gifted to President Roosevelt by 12 year old Pearl Gorsuch
- I ate a hearty diet of milk and potatoes
Footnotes
- ↑ Wikipedia, "Rebecca (raccoon)", accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "Pauline Wayne, President Taft’s Famous Cow," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "Macaroni, Caroline Kennedy’s Pony," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "Benjamin Harrison’s Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "William McKinley’s Washington Post," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "Ofelia," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, Warren Harding’s Pete," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Presidential Pet Museum, "Theodore Roosevelt’s Josiah," accessed March 1, 2022
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