May 2012
1 post
7 tags
How could you overlook FDR’s Fala? →
Letter to the editor (Washington Post, May 4, 2012):
“I was surprised when reading the lineup of other presidential pets in the May 1 front-page article on Bo, the first dog [‘The dog days of a reelection bid’], to see no mention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s beloved Scottish terrier, Fala. “Fala was of such transcendent importance that not only is he the only...
April 2012
3 posts
11 tags
7 tags
10 tags
Fala Still In The News →
References to Fala continue to be found in the modern media. The latest is this Businessweek story about pets in presidential politics (think President Obama’s Portuguese water dog Bo and Mitt Romney’s former car-roof-riding pet Seamus).
The magazine’s Julianna Goldman writes:
Dogs have played a significant role in presidential culture, helping to humanize the nation’s top...
March 2012
7 posts
11 tags
8 tags
7 tags
7 tags
9 tags
7 tags
7 tags
All of the President's Pets
Fala’s story continues to be told.
“You spend as much time in the White House as FDR did, you’re going to acquire a fair number of pets – but Roosevelt didn’t have an outlandish number. He seemed to favor Scotties like Fala and Meggie, but he also had bigger dogs like Majora (German Shepherd), Tiny (Old English Sheepdog), President (Great Dane), and Blaze (Bull Mastiff)....
February 2012
19 posts
8 tags
11 tags
9 tags
9 tags
6 tags
6 tags
10 tags
7 tags
10 tags
8 tags
10 tags
7 tags
8 tags
8 tags
11 tags
9 tags
7 tags
7 tags
Some Alone Time
“Here at home, our family of children grows. We have five around the place today, ranging from two to eleven in age. Our most independent character is a three-year old who thinks nothing of deciding to walk by himself from one cottage to the other, three quarters of a mile through the woods, up a steep hill. He seems quite amazed when anyone goes to look for him, and acts a little bit the...
7 tags
January 2012
20 posts
8 tags
5 tags
8 tags
9 tags
8 tags
12 tags
8 tags
6 tags
7 tags
What’s The Secret Word?
The White House chef had standing orders to deliver a bone to Fala every single day. And the dog slept in a special area at the foot of the president’s bed. Fala was so well known that during World War II American soldiers reportedly used his name as a “password” to insure German soldiers didn’t infiltrate U.S. battle lines. A simple “What’s...
6 tags
5 tags
8 tags
7 tags
7 tags
Watch
VIDEO: There’s never been a dog like Fala in the White House. Fala was always by the President’s side, starting with breakfast in bed. (Animal Planet)
»More Fala Videos
8 tags
9 tags
6 tags
6 tags
9 tags
8 tags
'Fala nearly wagged his tail off'
“I was sorry that the President had such a short stay in Warm Springs, Ga., but I think the change was good for him. He told me they had a wonderful dinner at the Foundation on Saturday night, and he had a good sleep in his cottage.
“For once, he left his dog, Fala, behind. I imagine he thought they are apt to get ticks in the South, and that the trip was not going to be long enough to...