Bushes’ 14-Year-Old Dog Euthanized

Spot, the first family’s 14-year-old dog, was euthanized after suffering a series of strokes, the White House said Saturday.

“The president and Mrs. Bush and the entire Bush family are deeply saddened by the passing of Spot,” a White House statement said. “A loyal and loving companion, Spot was a beloved member of the Bush family for nearly 15 years. She will be missed.”

Born at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. during the first Bush administration, the English springer spaniel was overshadowed by more famous Bush pets.

First there was Millie, Spot’s mother, whose owner, then-First Lady Barbara Bush, wrote a book under her pet’s name. “Millie’s Book” was a “dog’s-eye perspective of behind-the-scenes goings-on at the Bush White House,” according to Publisher’s Weekly, where it was on the bestseller list for 23 weeks. Sales of the book raised $900,000 for literacy programs.

As if being born to a famous mother were not enough, Spot also lost the presidential limelight to Barney, the Scottish terrier that President Bush gave to his wife, Laura, three years ago. Adored by both Bushes -- the president has described Barney as “the son I never had” -- the little black dog is featured on the White House website in an annual Christmas video showing his view of things.

Spot made a cameo appearance in the first year’s Barney Cam effort. Barney Reloaded, released in December, was a one-dog show.

There is a long history of presidential pets making news.

Lyndon B. Johnson once angered dog lovers throughout the country by hoisting one of his two beagles -- which were named Him and Her -- up by the ears.

Franklin D. Roosevelt used his Scottish terrier Fala as a political weapon in a 1944 campaign speech against Republicans, who had accused him of sending a Navy destroyer -- at taxpayers’ expense -- to the Aleutian Islands to pick up the dog, which had been left behind there.

“These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks -- on me, or my wife, or on my sons,” Roosevelt said. “They now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent them.”

Harry S. Truman once remarked that in Washington, “if you want a friend, get a dog.” The comment was revived in 1998, when President Clinton’s chocolate Labrador, Buddy, stood loyally by him through the impeachment showdown.

Perhaps most famously of all, Richard Nixon used a cocker spaniel named Checkers to rescue his political career. Accused of making personal use of an $18,000 fund created for campaign expenses, Nixon was on the verge of being dropped by Dwight D. Eisenhower as a vice presidential candidate in the 1952 election. He went on television and defended his spending, vowing “regardless of what they say about it” to keep the dog.

A flood of pro-Nixon telegrams descended on Eisenhower, who ended up keeping Nixon on the ticket. Nixon said later that he had been influenced by Roosevelt’s use of Fala to allay criticism.

Spot was one of six puppies born on St. Patrick’s Day 1989 in a room that once served as former First Lady Nancy Reagan’s beauty salon.

A White House spokesman said Saturday that Spot had suffered its most recent stroke last week. “The vet recommended that the Bushes put her to sleep,” Allen Abney said. He said it died Saturday and that its remains would be taken to the Bushes’ ranch near Crawford, Texas.