Laddie Boy, celebrity dog of President Harding

Laddie Boy, a large Airedale Terrier, achieved celebrity status as the White House dog, during the term of President Warren G. Harding.

He and President Harding would retrieve golf balls on the White House lawn. The White House staff had birthday parties for him, inviting the neighborhood dogs to join for a dog biscuit cake.

But Laddie had a sober side too. He took his duties seriously as he sat on the front steps to greet dignitaries and delegations. He also had his own hand carved chair to sit on when he attended Cabinet meetings.

Newspapers often published mock interviews as Laddie Boy shared the wisdom (and probably a lot of gossip) of his position. Although there were a lot of scandals and rumors of White House hanky panky in Harding's short term, Laddie Boy maintained a flawless reputation.

President Harding died in office. When he lay ill at a hotel in San Francisco, it was reported that back at the White House Laddie Boy howled for three days, knowing there was something wrong with his master.

Many years later when Laddie Boy died, 19,000 members of the Newsboys Association donated a penny each to be melted down and formed into a sculpture of the dog. The statue is now in the Smithsonian collection. More information

Presidents' dogs: Lincoln - Teddy Roosevelt - Franklin Roosevelt - Kennedy - Nixon - Reagon - Clinton

Comments

[Khyra]

It is always furry khool to learn about great khanines of the past!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[rosemary]

Quite the doggie.....while it is higher math for me....19,000 pennies paying for a statue...how large is the statue? Was that a lot of money for a Bronze? Nickle? Zinc? Copper? Aluminum? Paper Mache statue?

[Lindsay]

The fact that so many people donated a penny is impressive to me. He sounds like he was a great dog.

[Jimmy]

Makes me want to go to the Smithsonian!

[Shannon]

That gave me goosebumps. What a good friend and companion he had in that dog.

[Harrison]

Go Terriers!

Oh, wait, sorry. Still in the wrong mindset...

I love readin' 'bout Presidential dogs and this is a great story--along with the one 'bout Jack, too. Thanks for postin' both of 'em.

[Karina A.]

Wow, like Harrison said, this is a great story. If I was looking for an excuse to visit the Smithsonian I think I found it. Wondering why 19,000 pennies though? Is that what it'd take to make the statue or does it have a meaning behind the number? I'll keep scratching my head like rosemary...

[Col]

I always enjoy stories of the White House dogs. Laddie Boy sounds like a very special fellow.

[cube]

Thanks for sharing that interesting story. Now I'm really curious about the statue of Laddie Boy.

[jkatze]

Oh for heaven's sake! READ the article! "19,000 members of the Newsboys Association donated a penny each to be melted down and formed into a sculpture of the dog."
How hard is this to understand?

[phoenix seo]

He's so cute!!!