Pets in the Kennedy White House

Mrs. Kennedy

Horses:

  • Rufus, Palomino
  • Sardar, Arabian (gift of Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan, 1962)

Caroline and John Jr.

Horses:

  • Tex (gift from VP Johnson to Caroline, March 12, 1961- Middleburg, VA): Three year old gelding, Yucatan bay pony, brown with one black shoe.
  • Macaroni: Ten-year-old gelding, part Shetland, roan with four white stockings and star
  • Leprechaun (gift from the People of Ireland): Connemara pony

Dogs:

  • Charlie (gift of Joseph P. Kennedy): Welsh terrier
  • Pushinka (gift from Premier Khrushchev, 1961): Male parent Pushok, a participant in many ground experiments, and space dog Strelka.
  • Clipper: German Shepherd
  • Shannon (gift from the Barry Family in Ireland, 1963): Cocker Spaniel
  • Wolf (gift from Father Thomas Kennedy in Ireland, 1963): Irish Wolfhound 
  • Pushinka/Charlie Pups: Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie, and Streaker. Butterfly and Streaker were given away to Midwest children when two months old. White Tips and Blackie stayed at the Kennedy home on Squaw Island and were eventually given to friends of the family.

Cat: Tom Kitten

Canary: Robin

Parakeets: Bluebell and Maybelle

Hamsters: Debbie and Billie

Rabbit: Zsa Zsa

For more information please contact Kennedy.Library@nara.gov or 617.514.1629.