Lincoln's Dog Fido

[Donna McCreary]

Donna, have you ever seen the following quote attributed to Mary?

"The public will not tolerate a dog, even the president's dog, if that animal soils the White House carpets, or damages the heritage furniture in that mansion. Those items are public property and are held in trust by the president and should not be despoiled by any animal."

Linda found an article that uses this quote as Mary's reason for not bringing Fido to Washington. I have tried to research the quote but have drawn a blank. I also wrote the author asking his source but have received no reply.

I have not seen this quote, and it reads like pure fiction. If Mary thought one word of this to be true, she would never have allowed goats in the bedrooms of the White House. I have every reason to believe that Mary was at home shedding tears while Lincoln and the boys took Fido to his new home.