Richard Nixon pets Checkers, a dog given to him by a supporter and the namesake of his groundbreaking national television address.
Pictures Capture the Bond Between Politicians and Their Dogs
Twice, presidents' love of dogs has helped them dodge criticism.
There’s something about September 23 that brings out the dogs among politicians.
On this day in 1952, vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon made a speech that defined his career and set the tone for the next six decades of political communications—and that speech would forever be named for his pet cocker spaniel, Checkers.
Nixon’s speech came eight years to the day after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered what would come to be called his “Fala Speech,” due to its reference to FDR’s beloved Scottie dog, Fala.
Now, in some corners of the Internet, September 23 is celebrated as Dogs in Politics Day. A double meaning, since both FDR and Nixon alluded to their pets to avoid hounding from political opponents.
With his
