About the Episode

Charlotte talks about some of the most famous pets belonging to past US presidents, including:

• Warren G. Harding’s dog Laddie Boy, who was as celebrated as the president himself and even had his own birthday parties
• Roosevelt’s dog Fala, and the speech the president gave to address rumours circulating that he had left the dog on a trip and spend taxpayer money to retrieve him
• The rivalry between Socks the cat and Buddy the dog, belonging to the Clintons
• The hilarious letter George H. W. Bush sent to all White House staff regarding his fat dog Ranger
• And some of the weirder White House pets, from sheep and swearing parrot to tiger cubs and an alligator.

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher walk Reagan’s dog Lucky on the White House lawn in 1985

Roosevelt and his dog Fala