If you’ve ever wondered about a US president’s pet life, look no further than his or her squirrel. Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt both had squirrels, as did Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson. In fact, a recent New York Times book reveals that Theodore Roosevelt had a pet squirrel named Pete, as did Quentin and Theodore Roosevelt.
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Quentin Roosevelt
President Quentin Roosevelt had a squirrel named Pete. Pete was notorious for attacking people and once bit a French ambassador. The president was forced to move the squirrel to a different location in Washington. Pete was also accused of attacking a police officer and cabinet members. The French government even lodged an official complaint against the president. Despite the president’s petty behavior, Pete remained a beloved member of the Roosevelt family.
Theodore Roosevelt
A little-known fact is that Theodore Roosevelt had a pet squirrel. His name was Pete, and he was so fond of catching squirrels that he was prone to biting people. In one incident, Pete bit the French ambassador, ripping the bottom of his pants. When the French government learned about the incident, they formally complained. But it was not just politicians and diplomats who were bit by Pete.
Jimmy Carter
In 1966, President Jimmy Carter was considering running for the United States Congress but decided instead to challenge a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia. At the time, the civil rights movement had created a conservative backlash in the South, making liberal Democrats like Jimmy vulnerable. Jimmy finished a disappointing third in the Democratic primary, losing the election to Lester Maddox. However, his pet squirrel Pete became a symbol of his personal values, and he was able to win the election in 1968.
Lyndon B. Johnson
President Theodore Roosevelt had a squirrel named Pete, and the President was very fond of him. Pete, however, had a habit of attacking people, and he was sent out of the White House to a rural area in New York. He once bit the French ambassador and was sent to live outside of Washington, D.C. The French government lodged a formal complaint against the President for this incident. Though Pete was not a member of the Roosevelt family, the president considered him to be a symbol of national pride.
Martin Van Buren
The second president, Martin Van Buren, was also fond of animals, including a squirrel named Pete. After his predecessor Andrew Jackson died, Van Buren was gifted a pair of tiger cubs from the Sultan of Oman. Congress refused to let him keep them because they were given as gifts to the United States. Instead, Van Buren donated them to a zoo.
Herbert Hoover
Presidents have long had pets. George Washington, James Madison, and Herbert Hoover each had at least one, and many had more. Andrew Jackson even had a parrot. He used his pet to teach him to swear, and his parrot was the lonely woman’s best friend. Presidents have also had livestock and working animals as pets, and sometimes foreign dignitaries have donated them to the White House zoo.
James Monroe
If you have ever wondered what James Monroe’s first presidential pet was, then you’re not alone. James Monroe’s wife, Maria, kept a squirrel named Pete, and they both slept together every night in the White House. While he never had any pets of his own, his wife did have a canary, and their daughters both kept a dog. But, if you’re interested in knowing more about the president’s pet, here are some of the stories.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
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