Buy used: $8.05

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Friday, July 15 if you spend $25 on items shipped by Amazon

Or fastest delivery Tuesday, July 12. Order within 4 hrs 19 mins

Select delivery location

Used: Like New | Details

Sold by LWHRA

Fulfilled by Amazon

Add to List

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Share <Embed>

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Roy Rowan

First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Best Friends Hardcover – January 8, 1997

by Roy Rowan (Author), Brooke Janis (Author)

72 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$7.99

—

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$8.05

$6.47

$1.29

Paperback, Illustrated

"Please retry"

$9.94

$5.00

$1.40

"If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog," Harry Truman once said. Perhaps that's why, for much of our Republic's history, there have been two top dogs at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—one with two legs, one with four. First Dogs, by distinguished journalist Roy Rowan and researcher Brooke Janis, tells the whole doggone story, from the days before there was a White House to Barack Obama’s newly adopted presidential pup, Bo.

Here's a lighthearted romp through American history, packed with drawings and paintings from early America, plus photographs, starting with Abraham Lincoln's Fido. Not only did these four-footed goodwill ambassadors humanize their distinguished masters, they offered them a little unconditional love in a loveless town.

First Dogs gives dog lovers and history lovers a new angle on presidential history and is more fun than you can shake a stick (or rubber bone) at.

Print length

176 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Algonquin Books
Publication date

January 8, 1997
Dimensions

5.8 x 0.74 x 7.28 inches
ISBN-10

1565121430
ISBN-13

978-1565121430
See all details

Julia Moberg
148
Paperback
$9.95
Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 15
FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon
Jennifer B. Pickens
44
Hardcover
30 offers from $3.92
Nikki August
31
Paperback
$8.99
Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 15
FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon

Julia Moberg
148
Paperback
$9.95
Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 15
FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon
Jennifer B. Pickens
44
Hardcover
30 offers from $3.92
Gary Ginsberg
1,029
Paperback
$17.99
Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 15
FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From Washington's foxhound to Clinton's Labrador--and every imaginable breed in between--the presidential pooches have faithfully stood by their masters through good times and bad, successfully endearing themselves to millions of people along the way. In First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Best Friends, Roy Rowan (correspondent for Life, Time, and Fortune) and photojournalist Brooke Janis take an entertaining look at presidential history from a dog's point of view. Highlighting the "four-footed goodwill ambassadors" who have, over the years, not only humanized their distinguished masters, but also played political roles--both in gaining votes and boosting their bosses' popularity--this "lighthearted romp through American history" introduces such memorable characters as FDR's Scottie, Fala, who attended the signing of the Atlantic Charter aboard the cruiser Augusta; Millie, Bush's springer spaniel, who dictated her own bestselling memoir; and Lincoln's mongrel, Fido, who sadly suffered the same fate as his master.

Charming historic and contemporary photographs as well as numerous line drawings accompany the engaging anecdotes, making this a perfect choice for both dog and history lovers alike. Guaranteed to be more fun than you can shake a stick at! --Stefanie Hargreaves

From Booklist

The Clintons don't have one, which makes them one of the few presidential families not to have canine companions in the White House. Readers will be amazed at how dog crazy most of our chief executives have been. "Since the first days of the Union, our presidents have been measured in part by the canine company they keep," insist the authors of this string of heartwarming anecdotes about first dogs. Of all the engaging stories told here, perhaps the most poignant is the one about the time FDR's Scottie, named Fala, attempted to accompany his master to the third inaugural ceremonies; banished by the Secret Service, Fala sulked for a few days and then ran away (but he was found and brought back). Some White House dogs could never fit into the manners of official life, but others, such as Harding's Airedale, Laddie Boy, became out-and-out White House celebrities. Not an essential library purchase, but an enjoyable one for dog lovers. Smithsonian will run an excerpt in its June issue. Brad Hooper

Start reading First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Best Friends on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books; 1st edition (January 8, 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1565121430
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1565121430
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.8 x 0.74 x 7.28 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #540,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,627 in Dog Care
- #25,003 in United States History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
72 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Roy Rowan

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

5 star		58%
4 star		15%
3 star		18%
2 star		3%
1 star		6%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

SJ

Interesting tidbits

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

A fun read for presidential history buffs and dog enthusiasts. The book is made up of interesting factoids about different presidents and how their dogs fit in to the White House lifestyle and landscape. There are also some pictures included, which make the book even better.

Helpful

Brenda

Loved how k-9’s played a big role in most all ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

Loved how k-9’s played a big role in most all the Presidents lives. Wished there was a bit more elaboration on the history of dogs, animals and each President.

Helpful

Laura Auerbach

Love! I give this as a gift.

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

I know the rekniwned journalist who wrote this book. He's a wonderful and dedicated writer. It's a bit dated now but still a really fun read. I got it as a gift to dog lovers.

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2008

Verified Purchase

My whole family has enjoyed this book. My grandchildren pick it up every time they're here. I leave it on the coffee table so that friends who stop by can see it. It makes a hit with everyone. It's even more fun right now while our new president and his little girls are (as this is written)trying to decide on a dog to move into the White House ....

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Katherine Turcotte

First Canines of the United States.....Bow Wow!

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Ha! Richard Nixon and I had three of the same dogs! A poodle, an Irish Setter and a Cocker! I love seeing their animal companions.

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016

Verified Purchase

Interesting & fast read. What secrets they could tell! Wonder what Congressional members participate in bring your dog to work day.

Helpful

Willy

Very interesting book full of fun facts

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

A view of the first family and their pets was an interesting fact finding book. I was surprised by some of their choices in family pets. It was an interesting way to learn more about our presidents.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

VALERIE TOWNSEND

LOVED IT.

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

I LOVED IT.ALOT OF FUN TO READ ABOUT ALL THE FIRST DOGGIES. I LOVE DOGS .

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

gsinschn89

Politik mal anders!

Reviewed in Germany on June 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

Ich habe über die Hunde der Präsidenten eine Arbeit für mein Studium verfasst und mir dazu dieses Buch gekauft. Noch nie hatte ich bei der Vorbereitung auf eine Seminararbeit so viel Spaß! Das Buch ist mal eine Abwechslung zu trockenen Politikthemen. Die Präsidenten der USA stehen gleich in einem ganz anderen Licht, wenn man ihre oft innigen Beziehungen zu ihren Hunden betrachtet. Es scheint, als sei ein Leben im Weißen Haus ohne Hund unvorstellbar.
Die Bilder der präsidialen Begleiter auf vier Pfoten lassen das Herz jeden Hundeliebhabers höher schlagen. Lustige Anekdoten zu den "First Dogs" machen dieses Buch wirklich sehr lesenswert.

Translate review to English

See all reviews

Follow the Author

First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Best Friends Hardcover – January 8, 1997

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?