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Later
Alligator
While on tour in the United
States, a man in Florida presented Lafayette with an alligator.
The French patriarch wasn't sure what to do with the creature
so he took it with him as he traveled up the East Coast.
When he arrived at the White House in late spring, Adams granted
his companions sleeping privileges in the East. As the summer
grew on so did the gaiter. In September the President was eager
to see Lafayette and his new found friend depart for France. |
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Grizzly Bear Hugs
After exploring the Louisiana
Territory, Lewis and Clark returned to Washington with a gift
for the President two grizzly cubs never before seen on
the East coast.
Jefferson was fascinated with them
and ordered a cage built for the White House lawn so all citizens
could see the bears. It wasn't long before they grew to an alarming
size and then transferred to new housing at the Washington Zoo.
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Hold That Tiger
When the Sultan of Oman presented
the President with two tiger cubs in 1837, President Van Buren
decided to house the treasures at the White House.
Congress declared that they belonged
to the people, not the president. They insisted the animals be
taken and displayed at the zoo. Congress won!
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Perverted Parrot
Andrew Jackson was as rough
and gruff as they come, and some of his personality apparently
rubbed off on his pet parrot Pol.
During the viewing of Jackson's body
the parrot was placed in the room to be at its master's side
before interment. The parrot used such obscenities and caused
so much ruckus it had to be removed from the premises.
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The Last Animals
Howard Taft was the last president
to have a cow at the White House. Pauline Wayne supplied the
daily milk for the first family, but was taken to a lcoal farm
shortly into the presidency.
Calvin Coolidge had the last farm animal,
his donkey, Ebeneezer at the White House. The lasy horse house
at the Mansion was Caroline Kennedy's pony, Macaroni.
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