The White House has been home to many pets over the years, from dogs to cats to snakes and even a cow. Yes, a cow. Her name was Pauline Wayne, and she belonged to a US President. Which President, you ask? None other than William Howard Taft.
Taft was the 27th President of the United States, serving from 1909 to 1913. He was a large man, weighing over 300 pounds, and was known for his love of food. It's no surprise, then, that he would want his own personal cow to provide him with fresh milk every day.
And that's exactly what Pauline Wayne did. She was a Holstein cow, with black and white spots, and was kept on the White House lawn. Taft would often be seen milking her himself, and the milk was used in the White House kitchen for cooking and drinking.
Pauline Wayne was not the only oddity to grace the White House lawn over the years. According to Atlas Obscura on Slate, there have been egg rolls, a drunkenly planted tree, and even a raccoon that was kept as a pet by Calvin Coolidge.
But Pauline Wayne was perhaps the most unusual of them all. She was a cow, after all, and not the kind of animal you would expect to find in the heart of Washington, DC. But Taft loved her, and she became a beloved part of the White House family.
After Taft left office, Pauline Wayne was sold to a local dairy farmer. But her legacy lived on. She was the first and only cow to ever live at the White House, and she remains a fascinating footnote in the history of the US presidency.
Presidential pets have always been a source of fascination for Americans. From George Washington's horse to Joe Biden's dog, they provide a glimpse into the personal lives of our leaders. They also serve as a reminder that even Presidents need companionship and love.
The tradition of Presidential pets dates back to the early days of the Republic. John Adams had a dog named Satan, while Abraham Lincoln famously owned a pair of goats that his son used to ride around the White House.
But it wasn't until the 20th century that Presidential pets became a regular fixture at the White House. Teddy Roosevelt had a menagerie of animals, including a pony, a hyena, and a badger. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a Scottish terrier named Fala, who became a media sensation.
Other notable Presidential pets include John F. Kennedy's dogs, Pushinka and Charlie, who were both given to him by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Richard Nixon's dog, Checkers, was the subject of a famous speech during his campaign for Vice President. And of course, Barack Obama's Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, who became a social media star during his time in the White House.
The current President, Joe Biden, has already made headlines with his pets. He and his wife, Jill, have two dogs, Champ and Major, who have been featured in numerous photo ops and even had their own "indoguration" ceremony. And just recently, they added a cat named Willow to their family.
It's clear that Presidential pets will continue to be a beloved part of American politics and culture. And while they may not all be as unusual as Pauline Wayne the cow, they will always be a reminder that even Presidents need a little bit of furry (or feathery, or scaly) companionship in their lives. As for Pauline Wayne, she will always be remembered as the cow who lived at the White House and provided fresh milk for a President.
