A President and His Dog, a Pooch Named Buddy

There were questions about war and peace, concerns about biological weapons and terrorism, queries about weighty matters like taxes, affirmative action and campaign finance. But during President Clinton’s year-end press conference with the White House press corps Tuesday, the real poop--er, scoop--was about Buddy.

In case you’re not following the Important National News these days, Buddy’s the chocolate Labrador puppy that didn’t have a name--until Clinton invited the whole country to join in a grand effort.

On Tuesday, Clinton thanked “all the children” and even reporters (a separate group) for the multitude of suggestions that poured into the White House for naming the First Pooch. So just how did the public approach this challenge? Sources of inspiration included Socks the cat (“Boots” and “Shoes” were examples), the puppy’s brown color and Clinton’s fondness for music.

One kid suggested that “I should name the dog ‘Top Secret’ so I could run around the White House saying, ‘Top Secret! Top Secret!’

“Then there was a whole set of Arkansas-related suggestions--Barkansas, Arkanpaws,” Clinton said, sparking laughter. Others, familiar with the insider language of the White House suggested DOTUS (in the Secret Service code language, Clinton is POTUS--president of the United States--and his wife goes by FLOTUS--first lady of the United States).

But in the end, after a family conference, Clinton selected “Buddy,” after a “beloved uncle who died earlier this year.”

“I’m going to call the dog ‘Buddy’ because--because of the importance of my uncle to my life, but also because my uncle raised and trained dogs for over 50 years,” Clinton explained. “And when I was a child growing up, we talked about it a lot.”

He also made clear another attraction to a canine on Pennsylvania Avenue. Quoting President Truman, Clinton said, “If you want a friend in Washington, you need to get a dog.”

It was in late June that Clinton returned to Hope, Ark., to bury Henry Oren “‘Buddy” Grisham, who died at 92, one of the cherished father figures in his life.