The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, moved into the White House in 1901, bringing with him not only his family but also an astonishing menagerie of pets. Far from the typical image of presidential pets, the Roosevelt household was a veritable zoo, featuring everything from the conventional to the truly bizarre. This included, famously, a collection of snakes that once caused quite a stir during a presidential meeting, perhaps even inspiring a future crossword clue about “pet snakes home”!
The Roosevelt children were at the heart of this animal-loving family. Their pet roster read like a whimsical inventory: Jonathan Edwards, the small bear; Bill, the lizard; a plethora of guinea pigs with distinguished names like Admiral Dewey and Bishop Doane; Maude the pig; Josiah the badger; Eli Yale the blue macaw; Baron Spreckle the hen; a one-legged rooster; and even rumors of a hyena and a barn owl. Peter the rabbit and Algonquin the pony were also cherished members of this unusual First Family. President Roosevelt himself delighted in these animals as much as his children. Algonquin, in particular, held a special place. In a charming anecdote, when young Archie Roosevelt was unwell, his brothers Kermit and Quentin decided a visit from Algonquin was just the cure. They famously took the pony up in the White House elevator to Archie’s room, though Algonquin, captivated by his reflection in the elevator mirror, proved reluctant to leave!
Among the more startling of the Roosevelt pets were, undoubtedly, Quentin’s snakes. On one occasion, Quentin, during a pet store visit, acquired not one, but four snakes. What followed was a scene straight out of a comedy. Young Quentin, eager to share his new acquisitions, marched straight into the Oval Office, interrupting a serious meeting his father was holding. Senators and officials initially responded with polite smiles at the sight of the President’s son. However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Quentin, in his youthful exuberance, released the snakes onto the table. Chaos ensued as dignitaries scrambled away from the unexpected reptilian visitors! The snakes were, after the initial pandemonium, safely retrieved and swiftly returned to the pet shop, much to the relief of the White House staff, and perhaps some of the visiting officials.
Snakes weren’t the only reptiles to find a home in the White House, however. Quentin’s sister, Alice Roosevelt, also had a pet snake, a garter snake named with characteristic Rooseveltian wit, Emily Spinach. The name, Alice explained, was inspired by the snake’s green hue and slender figure, reminiscent of her Aunt Emily and the leafy vegetable.
Beyond reptiles, the Roosevelts were also devoted dog lovers. Their canine companions included Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake retriever; Jack the terrier; Skip, a mongrel; and the rather infamous Pete, a bull terrier with a penchant for nipping legs, which eventually led to his exile to the Roosevelt family home in Long Island. Alice Roosevelt also owned a Pekingese named Manchu, a gift from the last Empress of China, which she claimed to have witnessed dancing on the White House lawn under the moonlight.
The Roosevelt’s White House pet collection was a testament to their vibrant and unconventional family life. From ponies in elevators to snakes in the Oval Office, their animal companions added a unique and memorable chapter to the history of the American presidency, offering a truly unique answer to any “pet snakes home” crossword clue, even if it’s not the answer the puzzle maker intended!
(Reprinted from the National Archives and Records Administration)
