The Dogs of Camelot

April 9, 2018
Animal trainer Reed and coauthor Lownds (Man Overboard) explore a lighter side of Camelot in this charming, photo-filled account of the pets that occupied the Kennedy White House. During that brief time, the first family hosted an assortment of pets that included “nine dogs at one time, a cat, parakeets, hamsters, rabbits, deer, and seven horses.” The family’s fondness for dogs even played a role in foreign diplomacy: in 1961, the Kennedys received a puppy named Pushinka (which in Russian means “little bit of fluff”) as a gift from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka, whose mother was one of the dogs sent into space as part of the Russian space program, proved wildly popular in the United States, and her celebrity provided a brief respite from Cold War tensions in the months leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, Pushinka had a litter sired by Charlie, the Kennedys’ Welsh terrier. The book offers a glimpse into the family’s quieter moments with snapshots of a young Caroline playing with Pushinka’s offspring; Jackie Kennedy running with Clipper, the German Shepherd, on the White House lawn; and John Jr. with Shannon, the cocker spaniel, in the Oval Office. This lighthearted book finds an irresistible mix of two popular subjects—the Kennedys and dogs. Photos.

May 1, 2018

One of the most delightful domestic aspects of John F. Kennedy's presidency was the first family's love of dogs. Reed, a Kennedy family friend, and journalist Lownds follow the family's White House arrival in 1961 with one dog to the president's untimely death in 1963, when they had acquired a pack of nine. Charlie, a Welsh terrier, was a gift to daughter Caroline and considered the favorite, providing a calming effect during the Cuban Missile crisis. Clipper, a German shepherd, was beloved by Jackie Kennedy and traveled to Hyannis Port on family vacations. A gift from Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, Pushinka, was an offspring of Strelka, a dog sent into space in a Soviet rocket. Eventually, a romance between Charlie and Pushinka resulted in four "pupniks." After an enthusiastic welcome to Ireland, Kennedy was given Shannon, an English cocker spaniel, and several months later, Wolf, an Irish wolfhound. VERDICT Along with charming previously unpublished photos of the first family relaxing with their canines, these stories offer a snapshot of happy family life in Camelot.--Eva Lautemann, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., GA

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