White House Pets Ruler

12" Wooden Ruler made in U.S.A. of American-grown basswood.

Animals have lived at the White House ever since president John Adams moved into the building in 1800, and almost every president has kept pets while living there. George Washington had horses and hounds, and we know many of their names, but because he never lived in the White House, they are not included on this ruler.

Dogs have been, and still are, the most popular presidential pet, but quite a few of our nation’s leaders also kept birds and ponies.

It may appear that Abraham Lincoln gave his dog Fido a very traditional name, but in fact it is because of Lincoln that Fido, Latin for “I am faithful” became a popular dog name.

Some of the more interesting (and sometimes funny) names are ponies named Mason & Dixon, two opossums called Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection, a parrot called the Washington Post, a dog named Veto, and Amy Carter’s Siamese cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang.

The “head” is Franklin Roosevelt’s famous Scottish terrier Fala, who often traveled with the president and became the subject of a movie in 1942.

If you like this ruler, you might also be interested in United States Rulers, the First Ladies Ruler, Rulers and Patriots, or Women Rulers of Early America.