The True Story of John Quincy Adam's Pet Alligator Martin van Buren, Jackson's successor, was also gifted wild beasts as a pet by a foreign dignitary. Harry, the hyena, was king of the wild animals until recently. Along with pterosaurs and dinosaurs, crocodiles were an offshoot of the archosaurs, the "ruling lizards" of the early-to-middle Triassic period of the Mesozoic Era.This epoch in history began about 251 million years ago and ended 65 million years ago. Among the best-loved was a raccoon called Rebecca. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. 'She's a sweetheart': Owner to farewell 'beautiful' suburban pet croc "The Household of John Quincy Adams." Many of the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have been animal lovers, with the hallowed presidential tradition of keeping a pet in the White House stretching back to its very first occupant, John Adams. Hoovers younger son, Allan, had two pet alligators that frequented the White House grounds, amazing and quite possibly terrifying guests. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. (Although that was nothing compared with Roosevelts bulldog Pete, who almost caused an international incident when he tore the pants off a French ambassador.). A tiny dog famed for terrorising a large crocodile has been eaten by the reptile she tormented for over a decade. As the saying goes, behind every myth is a story about something that happened to inspire it. Known as the "Crocodile Man", Costa Rican animal lover 'Chito' swims, plays, and . which president had a pet crocodile - bigbangblog.net Unauthorized use is prohibited. At this point begins a string of events that would lead Billy to become more influential in the hippo world than Coolidge was among the humans. Owner Kai . which president had a pet crocodile. Scratch that - Audrey Hepburn had a deer, Dali had an ocelot, and Queen Victoria had Tibetan goats. Please whitelist in order to read our content as well as support our work. But amidst all the unfounded storied and non-collaborating fun facts, here are some facts about the cloudy pet alligator story. The reason for the president chosing that name for his dog is lost to history. White House staff reportedly weren't so keen on Rebecca, due to her habit of clambering onto furniture, damaging expensive upholstery with her claws. FDR was a huge fan of animals, and Harry was his favorite pet. David Emery is a Portland-based writer and editor with 25 years of experience fact-checking rumors, hoaxes, and contemporary legends. Quincys pet alligator has been a topic surrounded by a lot of speculation that it eventually begins to sound and feel like a myth. While she spent her days being pregnant, Billy continued to sew his wild oats with another hippo gal pal, Matilda, who popped out an additional eight kids. They are also very intelligent creatures, and can even be trained to perform tricks. At which point, Adams leaned back with a nice, hearty laugh. Owning an alligator is illegal in Illinois. Though he concedes that the storycould be true, Dorre feels the paucity of evidence points in the other direction: I doubt that renowned suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton made up the story. Among those to whom Russell Harrison exhibited his pets during the races now in progress at Bennings were W.J. This Former U.S. President Had The Most Pets - Grunge.com She is an award-winning writer/illustrator/publisher of dozens of books, co-founder of a successful publishing company, an accomplished and well-regarded public speaker, the former executive director of the Wheelchair Foundation, which has shipped hundreds of thousands of wheelchairs to handicapped people around the world. That was Herbert Hoover's son, Allan, according to the historical footnotes. But they took a liking to the animal and instead she became a beloved if mischievous family pet. President James K. Polk, 1845-1849 . Take President John F. Kennedy, whose family menagerie in the early 1960s included Macaroni the pony, multiple horses, hamsters Debbie and Billy, dogs, parakeets, a canary, Zsa Zsa the rabbit and a cat; they all resided with the Kennedys at the White House. Our website offers a wealth of information on all things reptilian, from care and husbandry tips to in-depth articles on the natural history of these amazing creatures. However, Grant's favorite pet of all was his dog Rosie, who he reportedly talked to while he ate. Well, apparently if you are a French general who led troops alongside George Washington and fought in several crucial battles including the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania and the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia, you bring the animal with you to the White House. He was a close friend of Nixon and was frequently spotted walking and traveling with him. Man Owns 6-Foot-Long Pet Crocodile: 'He Became Part of the Family' Photograph by The White House, Sipa USA, Newscom. which president had a pet crocodile. Adams was a surly man that few in Congress admired and who enjoyed swimming naked in the Potomac in the wee hours of the morning, earning him the nickname "shrinky-dink" . John Quincy Adams's Pet Alligator Was A Crock - Plodding through the Him sired a litter of puppies in 1965, and LBJ . 19 February 2018. Sorry, but the page you are looking for doesn't exist. The most popular pet by some way is a dog, owned by 30 of the 45 presidents. Quentin's animal adventures didn't end there. The list of "dangerous animals . Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. He volunteered his time and money to help the Americans. MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum/NARA, United States Library of Congress/Public Domain, no hard evidence that he ever actually said this, Joe Biden was named the winner of the 2020 election over Donald Trump, Joe and Jill Biden plan to bring their German shepherds Champ and Major with them to the White House, Why Major Biden becoming the first shelter dog in the White House is a big deal, whose family menagerie in the early 1960s, wasnt the last alligator to saunter into the White House, brought a flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn, The U.S. housing market is crumbling under the weight of higher mortgage rates and rock-bottom affordability: Prices fell the most in these U.S. states, Am I crazy? After my mother died, my cousin took her designer purse, and my aunt took 8 paintings from her home then things really escalated. AN ALLIGATOR HAS JUST TRIED TO EAT MY NOBLE SCROTUM!". During World War I, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, kept a herd of sheep on the White House lawn to help support the war effort. However, it is known that some presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, kept alligators as pets during their time in office. Yes, you read that rightthis . Old Whitey, a wartime mount Apollo, a former circus pony. After a buttery-soft Taft left office, Pauline--the last cow ever to call the White House home--was shipped back to Wisconsin. The sad reality is that the embrace of animal affection after a difficult presidential campaign did not calm down. Irwan, the reptile's owner, said he bought the animal 20 years ago from local fishermen who . Ac lectus vel risus suscipit sit amet hendrerit a venenatis. He was able to help the Americans win the war and was treated as a hero. He helped the colonists against the British. The book itself takes on the feel of a combination story/activity book that kids will enjoy filling out after reading what's essentially a creatively-written history lesson. The Good, the Bad and the Sheriff's Horse: a choose the page StoryQuest adventure. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both had a ton of animals, some of which were quite bizarre. "John Quincy Adams's Pet Alligator Was a Crock." Hey, fast food chains Stick to food. The person is completely at ease even as the reptile moves closer to him. 0. Associated Press. Bodie. Most of us imagine cats, dogs, birds or even fishes, when we hear the word pet. Did you know President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator? Even little buckaroos help out on the ranch! Modern presidents know better than to have wild animals as pets. The wife of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, had silkworms.Herbert Hoover, the 31st president, had an opossum.And Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, had a raccoon named Rebecca that walked on a leash!. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Joe and Jill Biden plan to bring their German shepherds Champ and Major with them to the White House in January 2021, and many people reacted with joy that there would be pets in the White House again after Trump became the first president in more than 100 years to eschew keeping a furry or feathered friend. Well, the grandkids used Old Whiskers as a work horse, tying a harness and miniature stagecoach to the goat who would then pull the kids around the lawn of the White House. me dice amor y no somos nada? As an official gift, Obama was given crocodile insurance, which would have paid out A$50,000 to his wife, Michelle, if the president had been attacked by a crocodile. San Francisco Chronicle. It can still kill any human who directly interacts with it, which is why knowledgeable keeper. State law prohibits individuals from owning any "dangerous animal" except for those kept at a zoo, research lab, veterinary hospital, animal refuge or federally licensed exhibit. The raccoon was later named Rebecca, and the first lady, Grace, would walk her on a bedazzled leash. She even managed to yell the critter's name. U.S. Government Printing Office. The president and first lady accepted a puppy as a gift from one of their friends, Senator Edward Kennedy. Edit. Now the feline lives in style at the White House alongside a German shepherd puppy named Commander. But in 1903, one little girl--perhaps the most awesome little girl ever born--decided to throw a badger. When Russell Harrison returned from his recent trip to Florida he brought with him two alligators as an addition to the White House pets. During Nixons presidency, these furry friends provided him with comfort and support during some of his most difficult times. The two made lousy parents, culminating in the death of their third child when Hannah rolled over and crushed it. Bettmann, via Getty Images. 0. She threw an actual badger at President Theodore Roosevelt. Which President had an alligator as a pet? In fact, most modern presidents have owned cats and dogs. Mary Thorn. All About the US Presidents' Dogs [Full List] - The Dogs Journal Discover the 1,000 Pound Crocodile that Became a Beloved Family Pet Two dogs and two cats were necessary, and among the transitory possessions were two ducks which he trained to sit on the front porch to the infinite entertainment of passers-by. He was the United States President from 1825 to 1829 for four years and did not get elected for a second term and the only president to have lost major votes and still won the election. One or more U.S. presidents (or members of their families) kept live alligators in the White House or on its grounds. The president's sons Tad and Willie especially loved their goats Nanny and Nanko. , ISBN-10 Residents of the White House have had fur and feathers, claws and hooves, scales, stripes and prehensile tails. Most sources record that an alligator was one of such unconventional gifts. Finally, Old Whiskers decided he'd towed the bratty grandkids for the last fucking time. After the event, President Joe Biden and his wife adopted the tabby and named it Willow after the first ladys hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Please try again. You might suspect that Old Whiskers was a nickname for the 23rd president, a stodgy ol' coot with more than a passing resemblance to Obi Wan Kenobi but it was in fact the name of the goat he shared an address with, which was given to Ben's grandchildren by the ol' coot himself. The Clintons had Socks the cat and Buddy the Labrador retriever; George H.W. 5. Although the story is highly circulated they have been no evidence to back it up. My grandson loves alligators, crocodiles. And then there were Roosevelts exotics, which were given to him by dignitaries. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: Directed by Josh Gordon, Will Speck. Our site is an advertising supported site. The online source most frequently cited for these claims is a highly entertaining web site called The Presidential Pet Museum. Former President Barack Obama's daughters lobbied hard to get a pet. President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge had menagerie of animals living with them during their time in the White House, including a donkey, a bobcat, and geese. A Florida alligator with a six-foot smile, more or less, is to succeed as White House pet President Taft's famous cow, Pauline, the pony that rode in an . They share a unique body form that allows the eyes, ears, and nostrils to be above the water . Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The clip shows a crocodile coming near a man sitting on a boat. The pony was a present from then Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and became a well-known sight on White House grounds, where it roamed freely. Although we couldn't find a source on this, it's likely Pauline supplied the gallon of butter that Taft and six White House aides needed to free the president from the White House bathtub every morning.