Fala: Washington, DC, USA

Fala, FDR's Scottie is the only presidential pet memorialized in a statue. Find Fala, ever at his
master's side just off the National Mall in Washington, DC. Photo: NPS

In the US, today is President’s Day, when we remember and honor those who have led our country through the good times and the bad. I’m taking the opportunity to talk about a memorial to a president that includes his famous pup.The pets of presidents are often the only thing that a divided American populace can agree on. A few recent examples include Bo and Sunny, the Obama’s dogs, Barney, one of George W. Bushes dogs, and the Clinton family cat, Socks. Nixon’s speech about his dog Checkers is often credited with saving his early political career. These critters all had a higher approval rating than their owners. Pets are often suggested as a way to soften a politician's image, though that can backfire. Avid dog lover Lyndon Johnson created a national uproar by picking up his beagle by the ears. Donald Trump recently made news by stating emphatically that he won’t be “nominating” a first pet to his team, although there have been offers of puppies from his supporters. Despite Trump’s claim that dog ownership would be a political stunt for which he doesn’t have time, it’s a time honored tradition for the occupant of the White House to have a pet. And that pet is usually a dog. If you want to learn more about presidential pets, please visit our friends at the Presidential Pet Museum. Their exhaustive list of White house pets is available here.

Fala and FDR sit in the "room" dedicated to FDR's 3rd term.
Photo: NPS

Only one dog has been memorialized in statue next to their presidential master. Fala, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier sits alongside his master in the statue by artist Neil Estern in the Washington DC memorial. Why is Fala the only white house pet depicted in statue? Part of the answer might be his owner. FDR was the longest serving president in US history, and he always always had a dog or two. For FDR pet ownership was certainly not a political ploy, it was part of his life. As a young man growing up on an estate in Upstate New York, FDR owned a succession of dogs including a Spitz, an Irish setter, a Newfoundland, a Saint Bernard, and a German Shepard. On their honeymoon Franklin and Elanor bought their first Scottish Terrier, Meggie. From that time on the Roosevelts almost always had a Scottie as part of their household. As an aside, Meggie was quite a character, a true one-person-dog, Meggie didn't have much love for the spotlight, and was unmanageable if Elanor wasn't near. She terrorized the cleaning staff, allegedly bit a senator, and bit the nose of reporter Bess Furman who attempted to interview the pup. After this incident Meggie was rarely seen in the White House, and future Roosevelt dogs were supposed to spend their time at the presidents personal home in Hyde Park NY.

The Roosevelts and Fala. Photo PPM

Fala was a gift to the president from breeder Mrs. Augustus Kellogg, delivered by his cousin, Margaret Stuckey. Fala was born on April 7, 1940, and originally named Big Boy. FDR who was proud of his own Scottish heritage renamed the dog after one of his ancestors, The Outlaw of Fala Hill, which was quickly shortened to Fala. Fala fit right into the First Family. Unlike Meggie, Fala was well trained and did a number of tricks for reporters, politicians, and visiting dignitaries. Fala could even pull his lips back into a passable smile to show off for guests.

Fala riding in FDR's convertible. Photo: PPM

Fala was spoiled by the White House Staff, visitors and the president himself. Fala used his looks and his array of tricks to his advantage. FDR had to ask staff not to feed Fala treats; over-eating was making him sick. A bone for the dog was delivered every morning on the same tray with the president's breakfast. While he was supposed to be spending most of his time at Hyde Park, Fala soon became the president's constant companion. A chair was moved into place at the foot of the White House bed so Fala could sleep comfortably at the president's feet. And Fala went everywhere with the president, travelling by car boat and train around the country and even out of it.

Fala's Member #1 Barker's for Britain tag.
Photo: FDR Library

Fala was first dog during World War II, and he did his part for the war effort. Before the US entered the war he traveled with his master to the Atlantic Charter Conference where he met with Churchill's poodle, Rufus. He was honorary president and founding member of Barkers for Britain, a group of pet owners supporting food deliveries to the UK. In 1942 Fala donated a dollar to the war effort in a special fundraising campaign and became an honorary private. The publicity this generated caused many pet owners to donate in their pets names creating a small honorary dog army. In September of 1943 he assisted with inspections of defense and munitions plants. Fala's name even became something of a codeword for troops in Europe. To guard against German infiltrates American servicemen would ask each other questions about home. During the battle of the Bulge one of the sanctioned questions was the name of the president's dog.

When Fala went a trip to the Aleutian Islands with Roosevelt a story developed that he had been left on one of the islands and that the Navy had sent a destroyer back to retrieve the little dog. The alleged cost for this mission ranged from two to 20 million dollars, depending on the source. There are no documents to back up the claim, which appears to be entirely fabricated. It prompted a response from Roosevelt who was on the campaign trail. In a speech at the Teamster's Union he told the crowd that the attacks on him and his family, "now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family don’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent them." He went on to explain that as a Scottie, Fala was offended at the inference that he had wasted money. The crowd and the American public loved the speech, and Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term.

Fala calls a press conference. He was a favorite of reporters, photographers, and the public. Photo: CNN

The teaser for Fala's movie.
Photo: Barkpost

All of Fala's "work" to help the war was made possible by new media technologies. Fala was a regular on television, radio and movie news reels. He was the first presidential pet to receive the sort of star treatment we associate with them today. As a public relations tool, Fala was part of the war effort and a tool to defend against wasteful spending. He also helped soften his master's image in newsreels and newspaper articles. I've included some video at the bottom of this post you can check out if you're interested. MGM even worked with the government to produce a film about Fala. The public loved Fala; photographers and reporters followed him. All this attention was great for Fala and the president, but the secret service didn't appreciate it. They gave Fala the codename "Informant," since everyone seemed to know where he was at all times.

Fala walks beside his master's funeral
train. Photo: Barkpost

Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Fala who wasn't with his master at the time, was described as acting strangely around the time of his death. Fala outlived his famous master by seven years, remaining with his widow, but never seeming to accept that the president would not return. He remained watchful, and jumped up any time a police siren could be heard; that sound had always heralded FDR's arrival. Elanor Roosevelt said of their time together, "Fala accepted me after my husband’s death, but I was just someone to put up with until the master should return.” The nation continued to follow Fala, he received get-well-soon cards when he was injured by a bull mastiff, and sympathy notes when he tangled with a skunk. On April 5, 1952, at the age of 11 Fala was euthanized after his health failed. He was buried near his master's grave on the family estate. Elanor would join them in the family plot about ten years later.

Fala's grave Hyde Park. Photo: Barkpost

None of this has really answered the question I put forth early in this post Why Fala? Why is Fala the only pet included in a US president’s statue? Part of that can be chalked up to Roosevelt's propensity to take the dog everywhere, and the media climate of the time certainly contributes to our memory of Fala. Fala's statue depicts him standing near Roosevelt, who is seated and wearing a cape. Roosevelt used the cape to hide his wheelchair for photos. Roosevelt's disability (the result of polio as young adult) was an open secret, known by many, but not discussed. In some ways the answer to why Fala is memorialized may be the way that Roosevelt is memorialized. This memorial embraces what was hidden in Roosevelt's lifetime and ultimately captures it's subject as a very real human being in a way that most memorial's don't. There's something else that may explain why Fala is the only presidential pet memorialized in statue. Someone had to do it first. Fala may simply be the first, just as he was the first to receive star media treatment. With interest in the history of pets and animals on the rise, and the number of memorials to animals increasing annually, Fala's memorial may soon be joined by more. Which Presiden'ts pet will be next? Perhaps a future Nixon memorial will include Checkers, or a memorial to Johnson will include a the beagle held up by his ears.