05
Dec
2012
(Politico) - Bo, come out, come out wherever you are! America needs to see more of you.
That's the opinion of Kathleen Kinsolving, the author of the new book, "Dogs of War," which looks at the pooches of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gen. George Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
"I don't think he gets as much attention as Barney and Miss Beazley," said Kinsolving, referring to the previous administration's dogs. "I think they need to think of something for Bo to do, like the way the Bushes had the 'Barney Cam.' Barney was featured on magazine covers with Laura Bush. I think the Obamas could include Bo more."
Besides providing first families with magazine covers and cute photo-ops, dogs can also serve presidents within the walls of the White House.
Discussing the dogs of Roosevelt, Patton and Eisenhower, Kinsolving said, "I really think that these three dogs played an instrumental role in helping defeat Hitler."
Huh?
"These animals are incredibly beneficial to humans as a stress reliever," said Kinsolving. "Can you imagine the stress and pressure those leaders were under? It's great to read about powerful leaders having a soft place in their hearts for their dogs and how that helped them run the country even better."
Problem is, presidential dogs today just ain't what they used to be.
"We're living in a very divisive time in our country, politically, and I just thought that, with World War II, the country was more unified," she said. "It was the greatest generation, and i just thought this would be a nice respite for people, that they could go back and enjoy some nostalgia."
Even though the selection of presidential animals, nowadays, seems to be preceded by their own political focus groups, Kinsolving says that modern pets just can't hold a candle to Roosevelt's.
"Fala is considered the most famous of all the presidential pets," said Kinsolving. "He has a statue erected at the FDR Memorial!"
That's the opinion of Kathleen Kinsolving, the author of the new book, "Dogs of War," which looks at the pooches of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gen. George Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
"I don't think he gets as much attention as Barney and Miss Beazley," said Kinsolving, referring to the previous administration's dogs. "I think they need to think of something for Bo to do, like the way the Bushes had the 'Barney Cam.' Barney was featured on magazine covers with Laura Bush. I think the Obamas could include Bo more."
Besides providing first families with magazine covers and cute photo-ops, dogs can also serve presidents within the walls of the White House.
Discussing the dogs of Roosevelt, Patton and Eisenhower, Kinsolving said, "I really think that these three dogs played an instrumental role in helping defeat Hitler."
Huh?
"These animals are incredibly beneficial to humans as a stress reliever," said Kinsolving. "Can you imagine the stress and pressure those leaders were under? It's great to read about powerful leaders having a soft place in their hearts for their dogs and how that helped them run the country even better."
Problem is, presidential dogs today just ain't what they used to be.
"We're living in a very divisive time in our country, politically, and I just thought that, with World War II, the country was more unified," she said. "It was the greatest generation, and i just thought this would be a nice respite for people, that they could go back and enjoy some nostalgia."
Even though the selection of presidential animals, nowadays, seems to be preceded by their own political focus groups, Kinsolving says that modern pets just can't hold a candle to Roosevelt's.
"Fala is considered the most famous of all the presidential pets," said Kinsolving. "He has a statue erected at the FDR Memorial!"
