Lincoln's Sons

[LincolnToddFan]

(07-24-2014 05:58 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Toia, I have read that Lincoln sometimes allowed the goats to ride in the presidential carriage but don't recall ever reading the story you cited.

I am pretty sure that I originally read the story in "Dog Days at the White House" by Traphes Bryant in the 70's. I'll try to find it this weekend!

Eva, Traphes Bryant was a White House electrician and kennel keeper from the time of the Truman Administration to that of Gerald Ford in the mid 70's when he retired. He had some fascinating and hilarious stories to tell about the days when he took care of the pets of the First Families. The great majority(and funniest) stories concern the Kennedy-Johnson years. That's when the WH was virtually overrun with pets. LBJ was a dog lover, and Jackie Kennedy was too. At one time there were about 11 dogs in the Kennedy WH kennels. Anyway if I remember correctly, there were a couple of Lincoln animal stories that had been passed down from earlier Administrations.

The very idea of goats riding around in that elegant presidential carriage is hysterical...I assume they accompanied AL only when Mary was not around? There is no way she would have gone for that, I bet!