Unlikely presidential pets showcased by Bush family

It was a time for comfort and joy.

So in 2002, first lady Laura Bush decided to decorate the White House in the fashion that brought her much peace: celebrating presidential pets.

Although dogs of all kinds dominated the display, unusual pets of presidents — including a Shetland pony, raccoons, sheep, even an alligator — were in the spotlight as well.

Many people didn’t get to see the White House that year because it wasn’t fully open for tours after 9-11.

But it’s not to late to see All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas at the White House 2002, which is on display at the George W. Bush presidential center.

“This is for the people who didn’t get to see it in 2002,” said John Orrell, public affairs specialist at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. “We are definitely getting a positive reaction. I think people are enjoying getting to see the White House pets.

“It gives everyone an insight of what it was like to live in the White House.”

The centerpiece is an 18-foot tree decked out with hundreds of ornaments — red, silver and gold along with renderings of native birds designed and handcrafted by artists in all the states.

One from Texas features a mockingbird with wings spread in front of a yellow star.

“It’s gorgeous, really,” said Monica Benitez, 18, of Garland, a senior at Naaman Forest High School who visited the library Monday. “I think it’s really creative.”

Pets, pets and more pets

Another big attraction: the 25 hand-crafted papier-mache sculptures of presidential pets that were displayed throughout the White House that year.

Of course the pets of George W. and Laura Bush — Spot, an English Springer Spaniel; Willie, an American shorthair; and Barney, a Scottish terrier — were prominently displayed.

Spot, by the way, was the only presidential pet to live in the White House during two different presidencies. Spot was born there during President George H.W. Bush’s tenure and he came back during George W. Bush’s terms.

Bush’s parents’ pets — Millie and Spotty, two English springer spaniels — drew special recognition as well for their time in the White House during the tenure of George H.W. and Barbara Bush.

Laura Bush has said she wanted this display to show the joy the pets brought the family during even the toughest times.

“They really had given a lot of comfort to me in that year,” she has told the media.

But many others were displayed as well, including:

▪ Layfayette’s alligator, the American alligator owned by President John Quincy Adams and his wife, Laura. The alligator found a temporary home in a White House bathtub.

▪ Eli Yale, a hyacinth macaw; and Algonquin, a calico Shetland pony, who belonged to President Theodore Roosevelt and his wife, Edith.

▪ Old Ike, a Shropshire ram; and Wilson’s sheep — who grazed on the White House grounds to keep maintenance costs low during World War I and belonged to President Woodrow Wilson and his wife, Edith.

▪ And Rebecca and Reuben the raccoons; as well as Rob Roy, a white collie who belonged to President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace. Rebecca was sent to the White House to be eaten as part of the 1926 Thanksgiving dinner, but when the Coolidges found out she was friendly and domesticated, they “decided to keep her as a family pet,” a sign in the library says. Rebecca often wore a leash when she was taken for walks on the White House grounds. Reuben was later given to the family to be a companion for Rebecca.

White House displays

Each year the presidential center displays the decorations from a Christmas when the Bush family was in the White House.

It started last year with the 2001 display.

The 2002 display, which will be open to the public until Jan. 13, also includes 20 other trees displayed throughout the White House and a 150-pound gingerbread huse.

And videos taken of Barney were put online.

Chjristmas gifts to the Bushes, ranging from a wooden football on a stand signed by University of Texas coach Mack Brown to hand-painted ornaments and stockings for their pets, are also on display.

Last year, the Bush center’s Christmas ornament was a smaller version of a bright red cardinal sitting on a branch that the former president painted.

This year’s ornament is based on another painting by the 43rd president of a Texas mockingbird.

This story was originally published December 8, 2014 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Unlikely presidential pets showcased by Bush family."