V is for Veto, Vicky and Veep
James A. Garfield (1881), Richard Nixon (1969-1974), and George H. W. Bush (1989-1993).
Veto
When President Garfield moved into the WH he did so with his family and a large black Newfoundland that he named Veto. Veto was so named as a tongue in cheek reminder to Congress that the President held the power to veto any bill sent to him.
Veto apparently was already a hero dog before coming to the WH- he had held onto the reins of a rampaging horse until help arrived and another time when a barn was on fire he barked and barked to wake up his humans to alert them of the danger.
Unfortunately, Veto’s stay in the WH was short because just five months after moving in President Garfield was shot by an assassin and died two months later from the infection. (Representative photo)
Vicky
First Daughter Julie Nixon brought a grey French poodle named Vicky with her to the WH. Lots of photos of Vicki and her fellow dogs!
She’s very pretty!
So early 1970’s fashion!
So homey!!
Nixon with Checkers & Vicky. Checkers died soon after this picture was taken. Picture is a huge mural in the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA.
So why aren’t they looking at the camera?
You’ve seen them all separately, now see them all together!
Veep
Not technically a presidential dog, Veep was maybe a vice-presidential dog. Veep was given to George H. W. Bush, running mate to Ronald Reagan in July 1980. Reagan reportedly quipped, “We’re now canine relatives” because Veep came from the same litter of golden retrievers as Reagan’s dog Victory.
Nothing else is known about Veep – maybe Mr. Bush gave him to a staffer because as a running mate to a presidential contender he wouldn’t have had time to raise a puppy just then. If anybody knows what happened to Veep, please tell me!!
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Toby In Charge 