"PRESIDENT'S AIREDALE TURNED OVER TO USMC"

FROM THE NORTH SHORE OF MASSACHUSETTS TO 'THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA'

Swampscott, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Breaking news from the Summer White House here in Swampscott, President Calvin Coolidge has made the executive decision that his Airedale*, 'Paul Pry**', will "make a better mascot" for the United States Marine Corps than he has as a pet at the Summer White House.

Paul Pry, "who was recently muzzled," was "turned over" to Marine Lieutenant Edgar Allen Poe.  The Coolidges, however, will not go dogless.  They still have their white collie, 'Rob Roy,' who reportedly "has retained a more dignified manner."

*Airedale is a dog breed originating in the valley of the River Aire in Yorkshire, England.  Known as 'King of the Terriers" because it is the largest of the breed.  Temperament is given as intelligent, outgoing, friendly, alert, confident & courageous.  Apparently 'Paul Pry' was an outlier.

**Paul Pry was half-brother of President Harding's 'Laddie Boy,' & was known to snap at the ankles of White House staffers.  Mrs. Coolidge described him as 'perfectly uncontrollable.'  The Marines couldn't handle him either, so he ended up his doggie days in a Navy Yard.

SOURCES

"Calvin Coolidge's Paul Pry," www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/

"President Exiles 'Paul Pry' Because Of a 'Mean Streak'," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 1, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Airedale Terrier

Photo by Angela Montillon

www.flickr.com/

"WHATS THIS WORLD COMING TO ANYHOW?"

 WHITE HOUSE COLLIE GETS INVITED TO JOIN COOLIDGES ON POTOMAC CRUISE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 10, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that the White House collie, 'Rob Roy'*, managed to get himself invited to join President and Mrs. Coolidge on a cruise down the Potomac on The Mayflower.

The Star says that yesterday afternoon, just as the Presidential limousine was about to depart, Rob Roy "trotted out to the car, placed his forefeet on the running board, and looked into Mrs. Coolidge's face."

For good measure, the dog "let out a pitiful and long drawn out whine."

Next thing you know, Rob Roy is "on board" the limo on his way to a cruise.

The Star says that 'Paul Pry,' the White House airedale who was left behind at the Executive Mansion, was most likely asking...

"What's this world coming to, anyhow?"

*Rob Roy (1922-1928) a white male collie who became President Coolidge's favorite pet.  The President said, "his especial delight was to ride with me in the boats when I went fishing."

SOURCE

"Foxy Collie Wins Mayflower Cruise by Simple Ruse," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., May 10, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Rob Roy

National Photo Company 

1924

Library of Congress

"ALWAYS HAD HIS NOSE IN EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS"

LADDIE BOY'S HALF-BROTHER TO BECOME WHITE HOUSE DOG

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 7, 1923, The Evening Star reports that the late President Warren G. Harding's canine 'Laddie Boy'* "will be succeeded by his half brother as the White House dog."

The airedale, offered to the President by Mrs. A.B. Calhoun of Atlanta, Georgia, has not yet been named** but "is expected to arrive at the White House kennels within a few days."

JFK+50 NOTE

The airedale was only one of ten dogs owned by the Coolidges.  The favorite was Rob Roy, a white male collie.  Mr. Coolidge also owned 2 racoons, a donkey, bobcat, lion cubs, a wallaby, black bear and pygmy hippo.  TR, however, had the most pets as POTUS, 48....BULLY!

*Laddie Boy (1920-1929) Airedale Terrier born in Toledo, Ohio & was presented to President Harding by Caswell Kennels.  LB became an instant celebrity & spent more time in the White House than its kennels.  LB tagged along on the golf course & had his own chair during cabinet meetings.

**Paul Pry was named by Grace Coolidge because "he always seemed to have his nose in everybody's business."  The airedale snapped at people's ankles and was described as "uncontrollable" by the press.  PP was sent to the Marines for training but they couldn't handle him either so he spent the rest of his days at the Navy Yard. 

SOURCES

"Calvin Coolidge's Paul Pry," Presidential Pet Museum, www.presentialpetmuseum.com/

"Laddie Boy's Kin, As Yet Unnamed, Gift to Coolidge," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 7, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"The Coolidge Pets," by Leah Houghton, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, www.coolidgefoundation.org/

"The White House's First Celebrity Dog," by Diane Tedeshi, January 22, 2009, Smithsonian, www.smithsonianmagazine.com/

 

 

Airedale Terrier

14 months old

Photo by Zuni1520

2011