FDR's Fala

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's constant companion, Fala, a Scottish Terrier, was the most famous dog in the world. A beloved witness to history, Fala was also the center of political controversy.
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  • No Room At The In Eleanor Roosevelt often traveled through Portland [Maine] on her way to Campobello Island, President Roosevelt and the first lady’s summer home off the Maine coast. In 1946, while traveling with her dog Fala, the former first lady sought lodging at the Eastland Hotel. She was told that she could stay but that her dog would have to stay in a nearby kennel. She refused to leave her dog and a national controversy ensued. Much was made in the national press of the Eastland management’s decision not to allow the president’s dog to stay in the hotel. Some papers would claim it was pure politics. Others claimed that the same rules applied to everyone. Roosevelt, Fala, and their chauffeur continued on to the Royal River Cabins in Yarmouth and passed the night there before they resumed their trip ro Campobello. The headline in the local paper read: “Dogdom’s Greatest Snubbed Here.” — from The Rines Family Legacy by Frederic L. Thompson Photo:  Franklin D. Roosevelt Library

    No Room At The In

    Eleanor Roosevelt often traveled through Portland [Maine] on her way to Campobello Island, President Roosevelt and the first lady’s summer home off the Maine coast. In 1946, while traveling with her dog Fala, the former first lady sought lodging at the Eastland Hotel. She was told that she could stay but that her dog would have to stay in a nearby kennel. She refused to leave her dog and a national controversy ensued. Much was made in the national press of the Eastland management’s decision not to allow the president’s dog to stay in the hotel. Some papers would claim it was pure politics. Others claimed that the same rules applied to everyone. Roosevelt, Fala, and their chauffeur continued on to the Royal River Cabins in Yarmouth and passed the night there before they resumed their trip ro Campobello. The headline in the local paper read: “Dogdom’s Greatest Snubbed Here.” — from The Rines Family Legacy by Frederic L. Thompson

    Photo:  Franklin D. Roosevelt Library

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  • Fala at Hyde Park (MGM, 1946) Pete Smith was the head of the publicity department at MGM studios when, in 1931, someone was needed to write and narrate Metro’s factual short subjects. This was Smith’s job until 1935 when he was given his own series called “Pete Smith Specialties.” In 1937 two men brought Smith a 16mm film they had made about a stray dog. He liked it and hired them to expand and rewrite it to be about Fala, President Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier. The first installment was called simply “Fala” and was released in 1943. (foxmusic)

    Fala at Hyde Park (MGM, 1946)

    Pete Smith was the head of the publicity department at MGM studios when, in 1931, someone was needed to write and narrate Metro’s factual short subjects. This was Smith’s job until 1935 when he was given his own series called “Pete Smith Specialties.” In 1937 two men brought Smith a 16mm film they had made about a stray dog. He liked it and hired them to expand and rewrite it to be about Fala, President Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier. The first installment was called simply “Fala” and was released in 1943. (foxmusic)

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  • President Truman delivering an address at the dedication of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home at Hyde Park, New York as a national shrine, on the first anniversary of Roosevelt’s death, as singer Marian Anderson, the Rev. George Anthony, Director Newton Drury of the National Park Service, Eleanor Roosevelt, Secretary of the Interior Julius Krug, Admiral William Leahy, and the late President’s dog, Fala, look on., 04/12/1946 (National Archives)

    President Truman delivering an address at the dedication of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home at Hyde Park, New York as a national shrine, on the first anniversary of Roosevelt’s death, as singer Marian Anderson, the Rev. George Anthony, Director Newton Drury of the National Park Service, Eleanor Roosevelt, Secretary of the Interior Julius Krug, Admiral William Leahy, and the late President’s dog, Fala, look on., 04/12/1946 (National Archives)

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  • Eleanor Roosevelt and the late President Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, at the dedication of the Franklin D. Roosevelt home at Hyde Park, New York, as a national shrine., 04/12/1946 (National Archives)

    Eleanor Roosevelt and the late President Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, at the dedication of the Franklin D. Roosevelt home at Hyde Park, New York, as a national shrine., 04/12/1946 (National Archives)

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