The Dogs of President Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge served as president from 1924 to 1928. In contrast to the “Roaring Twenties” Coolidge was known as a quiet man.

One well known story about him is that Dorothy Parker supposedly once told him that she had a bet that she could get more than two words out of him. His reply, “You lose.”

Having grown up on a farm, he remained an animal lover all his life. He was probably more comfortable in the company of animals than he was in the company of most people. He once said: "Any man who does not like dogs and want them about does not deserve to be in the White House."

Before, during and after their years in the White House, Calvin and Grace Coolidge kept a large number of pets, not just cats and dogs, but birds, raccoons, and wombats, to name a few.

They especially loved dogs. The most famous was a white Collie named Rob Roy. They later adopted Prudence Prim, a female white Collie who ate breakfast cereal with the President every morning.

A painting by Howard Chandler of Rob Boy with Grace Coolidge hangs in the Red Room of the White House today. She once wrote, "I am unable to understand how anyone can get along without some sort of pet.”

In his autobiography Coolidge wrote of Rob Roy:

He was a stately companion of great courage and fidelity. He loved to bark from the second-story windows and around the South Grounds. Nights he remained in my room and afternoons went with me to the office. His especial delight was to ride with me in the boats when I went fishing. So although I know he would bark for joy as the grim boatman ferried him across the dark waters of the Styx, yet his going left me lonely on the hither shore. Source

All the Presidents' Dogs

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Comments

[jackie]

he also was supposed to have said to a woman at a dinner, who told him 'if i was your wife i'd poison my self' he said if you were my wife i'd let you..

[Jimmy]

Dog lover + small-government conservative = good politics.

[rosemary]

I was talking to a friend on Tuesday about all of the doggies we have had....and I will be honest here....I love Violet and Petey beyond words....I have had small and large dogs. Violet and Petey are my beloved pets......Charlie and Penelope were my beloved friends......there was/is a difference with these dogs....and I do know that my life would only be half as rich if I didn't have them....and the cats too of course.

[cube]

I share Mr. & Mrs. Coolidge's love of animals. I feel sorry for those, who
for whatever reason, don't have pets in their lives.

I was surprised to read that that the portrait of Rob Roy & Mrs. Coolidge still hangs in the White House's Red Room... you mean, it hasn't been banished as was the bust of Winston Churchill?

[utenzi]

Jackie's thinking of Churchill's retort to Nancy Astor. Churchill was known for a quick wit and devastating comebacks. Coolidge, on the other hand, was known for being steady, silent and supportive of business and not for insulting women, regardless of what they looked like.

[Sling]

Is it just me,or is Grace Coolidge a total hottie?

[Dental Brandon]

That is such a wonderful painting...and I love collies (primarily because I grew up watching Lassie).

[Tammy]

I like his comment about any man who doesn't like dogs, doesn't deserve to be in the white house! :) (Although - my husband isn't a big fan of dogs... wonder what that says?!) :)

[Marion]

I'm with Sling...Grace Coolidge is a classic beauty. Especially with her dog...what an amazing painting!