The White House is a Dog House Once Again
by Douglas A. Lonnstrom, Ph.D.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have famously little in common. One stark difference, though not as exhaustively discussed in the media, may be the cipher to understanding the results of the 2020 presidential election.
There are plenty of theories explaining why the former president lost his bid for a second term. Some theories dissect the electorate through a deep analysis of the suburban vote. Others have drawn conclusions from shifting policy positions or swing state exit polls. But, the real reason is much simpler, far sweeter, and exposes the polar difference between the two men — America wants dogs in the White House.
President Trump did not own a dog. What’s more, he has never shown any affection toward pets. In fact, he’s the first commander-in-chief in more than 100 years without chew toys scattered across the South Lawn. On the contrary, President Biden owns two German shepherd dogs, and one is a rescue (which must have counted for extra votes). Champ and Major recently moved into the White House, following the Bidens after a few days to allow the First Family to settle in at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In a world that, at times, seems to be going to the dogs, it stands to reason that Americans want a leader who embraces the warmth and devotion that only a dog can provide.
Is it possible that a dog’s loyal devotion can re-engineer a person’s capacity for empathy? Or, are gentler souls more inclined to seek out a dog’s companionship? That’s not to say all dog owners are saints, and who knows if a furry friend could have taken some of the bite out of Trump’s incendiary rhetoric (which, it’s being argued, fueled the events of January 6)? There’s no way of telling what impact a dog may have had on the Trump presidency, but there’s anecdotal evidence suggesting dogs have left indelible marks on many of his predecessors’ presidencies.
Ruffly (first and only dog pun) half of all American households own a dog, which personally connects some 200 million members of the electorate to a four-legged family member. Some of these people must have voted for Biden as much as they voted for Champ and Major. After all, there was an organization called “Dog Lovers for Joe.” I don’t pretend this organization seismically altered the electoral map, but with swing states won and lost by fewer than 15,000 votes — no voting bloc was insignificant.
Need more proof that Americans love a commander-with-leash? (When I said there would be only one dog pun, I was lying.) George Washington owned 12 dogs, all hounds. Calvin Coolidge had a pack of 11, Herbert Hoover owned nine dogs, and Franklin D. Roosevelt lived with eight, including the famous Fala, a Scottish terrier who sat on the President’s lap during fireside chats. John F. Kennedy had kids in the White House, and dogs. The most imposing of the seven was an Irish wolfhound named Wolf (Kennedy also had a cat named Tom Kitten, not to mention a canary, a rabbit, two parakeets, and a couple of hamsters.)
The most famous Presidential dog was most likely Richard Nixon’s cocker spaniel named Checkers. In 1952, Dwight Eisenhower chose Nixon as his running mate, but a scandal brewed. Nixon was accused of taking money for political favors. Prominent Republicans implored Ike to dump Nixon. Reports suggest Nixon’s place on the ticket was tenuous before the famous Checkers speech, but not after. Nixon went on television and said that he would keep one political gift, a black and white dog that his children named Checkers. America melted, Eisenhower won the election, and in 1968, Nixon was elected the 37th President of the United States. Underestimate America’s infatuation with pets at your own political peril. Lyndon B. Johnson awkwardly learned that lesson in 1964.
While walking his beagles, Him and Her, along the White House grounds, Nixon’s predecessor hoisted Him onto his hind legs by tugging the dog’s ears and encouraged the beagle to bark. A picture of the incident appeared in Life magazine and LBJ was accused of animal cruelty. Johnson was forced to issue a public apology, and his approval rating never recovered (the war raging on in Vietnam didn’t help). It was a cruel twist of fate considering history remembers LBJ as perhaps the most doting dog-lover to ever hold the office (he was especially fond of a mixed-breed named Yuki who enjoyed howling his way through duets with his owner).
I tell my students there are exactly three keys to a life of happiness and fulfillment. First, find a partner who completes you, someone you love who is also your best friend. Second, embark on a career, not a job. A job is a way to grind out a living. A career is a calling, and it makes Monday mornings so much easier. Third, and perhaps most important, get a dog. With every wag of its tail — with every slobbery kiss — and with every exuberant greeting at the door, the dog will bring more bliss to your life than you can possibly imagine.
Why does former President Trump not own a dog? He says he’s too busy. Maybe. But America didn’t buy it. Dog owners know how much joy pooches provide in their own houses, and it stands to reason some wanted to see that joy returned to the White House. How many people? It’s hard to say. But when you consider just a few thousand votes among a couple hundred million dog owners, it’s not that far-fetched.
Douglas A. Lonnstrom, Ph.D., is a professor of statistics and quantitative business analysis at Siena College in Loudonville, NY.
