Pets and Family of President Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901), grandson of William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), served as U.S. President from 1889-1893. When he moved to Washington, D.C. most of Harrison’s grown family also moved in to the Executive Mansion with him. They also brought pets. Dash was the most-often mentioned dog who came in with the family, but there were other mixed breed dogs, and two opossums named Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection. There was also a good-sized goat called Old Whiskers.

Who was Benjamin Harrison?

If you draw a blank when you think of President Benjamin Harrison, you are not alone. Here is a bit of background:  Benjamin Harrison served as a Republican senator from Indiana from 1881-1887. He was then chosen to run against the incumbent president, Grover Cleveland. Cleveland took strong stands against the “spoils system” of governmental job distribution, and he felt the railroads needed to be regulated. Cleveland also believed tariffs needed to be lowered to get more U.S. money back into circulation. Cleveland’s initiatives angered men who benefitted from the spoils system as well as from fewer regulations.

Those men stepped forward to back Benjamin Harrison. Harrison intended to run an honest campaign but the powers behind him encouraged vote-buying and worker intimidation. Republican National Chairman Matthew Quay set aside party money to buy votes in two important states—Indiana and New York.

Harrison lost the popular vote by 100,000 votes, but he won the Electoral College by a huge margin. Harrison had 233 electoral votes to Cleveland’s 168.

Moving to the Executive Mansion

Today extended family members don’t usually live with the First Family. This was not the case with the Harrisons. Harrison moved in with his wife, Caroline, his father-in-law, John Scott, and his and Caroline’s two grown children. Both of them were married with children of their own.

Son Russell Benjamin Harrison (1854-1936), may have only lived there with his family for only the first year or so. In 1890, he bought the Helena Daily Journal and moved to Montana where they had lived previously. The goat, Old Whiskers, was said to belong to him. Perhaps he didn’t transport the goat when the rest of the family moved.

Harrison’s daughter, Mary “Mamie” Scott Harrison McKee (1858-1930) lived in the Executive Mansion with her family for the full four years her father was in office. Her children, particularly, Baby McKee, became very popular with the press.

Caroline, Harrison’s wife (1832-1892), was very committed to charity work while her husband was president. She also wanted to enlarge the home, perhaps because of the number of people they had living there. Caroline Harrison had applied to Congress for funds for expansion. Congress do was appropriate $35,000 for updating.  She installed new floors, added more bathrooms, and painted and papered. In 1891, she had electricity installed (the latest home convenience for the wealthy). But both she and the President feared being electrocuted. They left the lights each night until a building engineer arrived in the morning and could turn them off.

Toward the end of Harrison’s term, Caroline became ill and died unexpectedly. Daughter Mary filled in as First Lady during this time.

The Animals in the Executive Mansion

Of the dogs that lived with the family, Dash was the best known. He was a mixed-breed collie that may have actually belonged to Caroline. The president had a fancy doghouse built right next to the mansion.  Though Dash was definitely a family pet, writers note that Dash often wanted attention from the President. Harrison was reportedly uncomfortable playing with the dog.  He feared “his colleagues would think of him as less of a man.”

The Opossums

The opossums were said to be gifts for the grandchildren, but their names were clearly chosen by an adult: They were called Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection, clearly taken from the Republican platform. “Protection and reciprocity are twin measures of Republican policy and go hand-in-hand.”

According to the Library of Congress, many local newspapers carried a mention of the oposssums’ arrival at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. A newspaper in Clifton, South Dakota, (June 25 (page 2 column 1), 1892, carried a more detailed story: “Some time ago President Harrison expressed a wish to Uncle Jerry Rusk (secretary of agriculture) for two good ‘possums as soon as frost set in. The other morning two fine young ‘possums were received at the White House. These were delivered by Adams Express Company, and were in a box marked: ‘To the President: Two citizens of Maryland—Mr. Protection and Mr. Reciprocity—with the compliments of John R. Howlett, No. 1411 N street northwest.’ Each of the animals had a red, white, and blue ribbon round his neck, one marked “protection” and the other “reciprocity.”

Old Whiskers on the Run

One day while President Harrison was waiting at the North Portico to be picked up by his carriage and driver, Old Whiskers pulling a cart carrying the grandchildren, bolted through the White House gate. A newspaper reporter described Harrison holding on to his top hat and running down Pennsylvania Avenue in active pursuit of the goat and cart. Dash ran right along with him. 

The scene must have had a happy ending as there is no further newspaper story.

More of Family Life

An article in the February 15, 1891 issue of The New York Times wrote about life at1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with the Harrisons. The reporter clearly had a source on staff who must have complained about “Indianapolis simplicity.” The article described the family’s love for codfish balls and flapjacks, Indiana specialties. The woman brought in to cook for the Harrisons noted that her people “couldn’t abide by fancy cooking.” Tthe Times’ reporter writes that the breakfasts now being served (hot bread, strong coffee, and fried steak) would not meet with the approval of an “effete New York epicure.”

While I hoped I might find more information about the family pets, I am still laughing at the final paragraph of the story:

“[Harrison’s} devotion to his grandchildren has even allowed them to participate in the observance of state occasions.  He invited the Brazilian Admiral Silviera to luncheon one day. He attended. So also did the President’s young grandson.  The three were at table, the grandson in his high chair.

“During a conversation between the two gentlemen it occurred to the grandson that he might possibly add to the gayety [sic] of nations by thumping vigorously on the table. He made the dishes jump. Silviera frowned. The President didn’t mind it, but he directed the child to be quiet. Thereupon the grandson leaned back in the chair, raised his feet in the air, and brought them down repeatedly on the table.

“See,” cried the President in gleeful simplicity. “See how well he obeys me!”

Harrison One-Termer

Ultimately, Benjamin Harrison lost the next election. Grover Cleveland regained the presidency.  Harrison passed the McKinley Tariff, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and saw the admittance of six states to the union. He also advocated for protecting the voting rights of African Americans, though nothing happened at that time.

There was one amazing first during the Harrison era. He was the earliest president whose voice has been preserved for posterity. The recording was made on a wax phonograph cylinder in 1889 by Giuseppe Bettini.  Click here to listen to this 36-second recording.

One Final Family Note: William Henry Harrison

Benjamin Harrison was not the first family member to serve as President. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison (1889-1893) was elected to be the ninth president of the United States, taking office in March of 1841. Unfortunately, he caught a cold around the time he took office. He soon had pneumonia, and he died on his 32nd day of office.

Because the stories on my website try to note the animals that the presidents brought with them, I should mention that William Henry Harrison would have moved in with horses and also a goat and a Durham cow named Sukey.

Harrison’s vice president was John Tyler. Tyler served as president from 1841-1845.

Share with Others!