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April 21, 1945
Dear Fala,
You probably don’t remember me. But I knew you back in our kennel days when we were a couple of young pups—in fact we chewed our first bone together, remember? In writing you this letter, I’m speaking for dogs throughout the world. For we are all deeply grieved to hear of the death of your master. Your personal loss is felt by all of us. You know as well as I do that leading a dog’s life is no bed of roses. But a dog’s life is for dogs. Human beings shouldn’t horn in on our territory. But lately a lot of men and women and kids have been leading a dog’s life, and your master was one of the humans who didn’t like to see that sort of thing happening. That’s why we respected him—he wanted to keep human beings in their right place. And he did something about it. He made plans, and people had confidence in his plans because his integrity and sincerity were felt the world over. In other words, he made a lot of people see the light, or as we’d put it, he put them on the right scent. Let’s hope they can keep their noses to the ground and work it out for themselves, even though his personal guidance has been taken away from them.
With deepest sympathy,
Fido
(via Letters of Note)
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And Fala Would Lick Them
Stamp ceremony outside the Hyde Park, New York, Post Office for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Stamp showing the Roosevelt home in Hyde Park, New York, in the background. From left to right in the first row on the platform: Elliott Roosevelt; Faye Emerson (Mrs. Elliott) Roosevelt; former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; Postmaster General Robert E. Hannegan; Third Assistant Postmaster Joseph J. Lawler; and Irma (Mrs. Robert) Hannegan. The dog in the lower left corner is probably Fala, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog. July 26, 1945 (Truman Presidential Library)
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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 way Fala does when that little dog runs away to hunt in the swamps. With Fala, I call futilely for a long time, and after I go home in disgust he comes serenely trotting down the road, looking to right and left as much as to say: ‘Look at me, I have been on an adventure all alone!’ “ — Eleanor Roosevelt, My Day, July 7, 1945
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Fala walks with mourners at President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s funeral in 1945. (LIFE)
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Fala, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog, seen during the funeral procession for the President, Warm Springs, Georgia, April 12, 1945.
(LIFE)
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Sunday, April 15th, 1945 ~ The burial service for late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, at Hyde Park. Standing at left, Margaret ‘Daisy’ Suckley tends “Fala”. Standing to Miss Suckley’s right is fellow-cousin Laura Franklin Delano. Contributor’s collection (Robert Bruce). (Find A Grave Photos)
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Fala, Scottish terrier of FDR, running outside the FDR Library which houses the president’s papers and mementos, Hyde Park, N.Y., 1945. (LIFE)
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Fala, Scottish terrier of FDR, chasing his master’s car on the property of FDR’s country house, Hyde Park, N.Y., 1945. (LIFE)
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Fala is led to FDR’s funeral in Washington by Margaret Suckley. (LIFE, April 30, 1945)
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Fala, Scottish terrier of FDR, sitting behind desk of his master in study of country house, Hyde Park, N.Y., 1945. (LIFE)
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Daisy Suckley leading Fala after the gravesite ceremony of his master, F.D.R., on April 15th, 1945. Miss Suckley is in conversation with her cousin ( and F.D.R.’s as well ) Laura Franklin Delano, who is barely visible behind the unidentified woman in the fur cape. To the right is a member of the Secret Service who accompanied Daisy and Laura to the ceremony. Daisy is taking Fala to her family estate, ‘Wilderstein’ ( Fala’s first Home ) in neighboring Rhinebeck, New York, until later claimed by Mrs. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt had left instructions that Fala was to be given to Miss Suckley in the event of his death. Contributor’s collection (Robert Bruce). (via Margaret Lynch “Daisy” Suckley (1891 - 1991) - Find A Grave Photos)
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Fala, Scottish terrier of FDR, wearing little sailor’s cap & looking in mirror at country house. Photo: Time Life Pictures./Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Jan 01, 1945 (LIFE)
