NAMES IN THE NEWS : First Lady Explains Puppy Punting

A grinning Barbara Bush said today she was “just trying to get Millie to clean up her act” when she kicked her white and brown English springer spaniel on a nationally televised program.

Millie, who has the run of the White House, had a prominent role to play on ABC’s “Primetime Live” program Thursday night when the President and his wife, Barbara, gave viewers a personal tour of the family quarters. Mrs. Bush was escorting ABC correspondent Sam Donaldson through the Queen’s Room when Millie sat down on the floor and proceeded to lick herself, as dogs do in the way of hygiene. However, this move obviously startled the First Lady, who gave her beloved pup a swift kick before glancing up at the television cameras. Her horror was echoed by Donaldson, who chastised Millie for such behavior on national television.

Teased by reporters that she had upset the dog lovers of the world as she headed for a helicopter for a weekend trip to Maine with the President, the First Lady, in mock horror, protested: “I was just trying to get Millie to clean up her act.”