Sporty First Dogs
Most U.S. Presidents stay active while in office: the golfing, the basketball games, the White House bowling alley. Their dogs, though—they take their sports even more seriously. There are the tennis balls, sure, and also swimming, hiking, and being exhaustingly adorable.
You can learn about the impact of humans playing sports in the exhibit All American: The Power of Sports, which ran in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery in Washington, DC, from September 16, 2022, through January 7, 2024. But for a few moments, chase a few balls on the White House lawn with us and the First Dogs who loved to play sports.
Susan Ford playing with the Fords' dog, Liberty, on the South Lawn of the White House on October 5, 1974. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President Gerald R. Ford swimming with his dog, Liberty, in the Camp David pool on February 8, 1975. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President George H.W. Bush walks with his dogs, Millie and Ranger, at Camp David on November 15, 1991. Photo by Susan Biddle. View in the National Archives Catalog.
Buddy returns a thrown tennis ball to President William J. Clinton during the president's putting practice on the White House putting green on February 10, 1998. Photo by Barbara Kinney. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President's William J. Clinton's dog, Buddy, retrieves a tennis ball from the South Lawn fountain. Photo by Barbara Kinney. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President George W. Bush's dog, Spot, swimming on April 15, 2001. Photo by Eric Draper. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President George W. Bush's English Springer Spaniel, Spot, runs with a tennis ball in her mouth on January 23, 2001. Photo by Paul Morse. View in the National Archive Catalog.
President George W. Bush lies on the track with Barney on his chest on April 10, 2001. View in the National Archives Catalog.
President Barack Obama Plays with Bo on the South Lawn of the White House on May 12, 2009. Part of the Presidential Photographs, between January 20, 2009–January 20, 2017. View in the National Archives Catalog.
Honorable Mentions
We'd like to give honorable mentions to two dogs that, while perhaps not playing a sport, definitely gave their famous dog-parent a workout.
Lucky making President Ronald Reagan run (with Margaret Thatcher in tow)
President Ronald Reagan walking his dog Lucky in the Rose Garden during a state visit of United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. February 20, 1985. Part of the Reagan White House Photographs series. View in the National Archives Catalog
And, with absolutely zero qualms, Tip making Franklin D. Roosevelt pull him on a sled in Hyde Park, New York.
Franklin D. Roosevelt pulling his dog Tip on a bobsled through the snow in Hyde Park, NY, in January 1904. Part of the series Photographs of Franklin D. Roosevelt. View in the National Archives Catalog.