23 Sep 1952: Nixon’s “Checkers speech”

On this day in 1952, Richard Nixon gave his “Checkers speech,” defending himself against accusations of financial impropriety. The negative press had cast doubts on his spot as Dwight D. Eisenhower‘s running mate on the Republican ticket.

It is so named after his dog, Checkers, a gift to Nixon’s children; it was the one thing he said he would keep, no matter what.

Checkers died in 1964, making him the most famous presidential pet never to live in the White House.

Here are some other famous presidential dogs:

• Teddy Roosevelt: Skip, Rat Terrier
• Warren G. Harding: Laddie Boy, Airedale
• Herbert Hoover: King Tut, Belgian Shepherd
• Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fala, Scottish Terrier
• Lyndon B. Johnson: Him & Her, Beagles
• Gerald Ford: Liberty, Golden Retriever
• Ronald Reagan: Rex, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• George H.W. Bush: Millie, English Springer Spaniel
• Bill Clinton: Buddy, Labrador Retriever
• Barack Obama: Bo & Sunny, Portuguese Water Dogs

Image: Nixon and Checkers. Bob Gomel/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images.