President Johnson's Dogs
Compiled by LBJ Library Staff

President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks with the press President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks with the press
credit: Cecil Stoughton

President Johnson would take his beagles on his walks with the press on the White House lawn.

Him and Her:

Him and Her, the most well known of the President Johnson's dogs, were registered beagles born on June 27, 1963. The President frequently played with the dogs and was often photographed with them. In 1964, President Johnson raised the ire of many when he lifted Him by his ears while greeting a group on the White House lawn.

Him sired a litter of puppies born in October 1965. President Johnson's daughter, Luci, kept two of the puppies, Kim and Freckles. Luci first named Freckles, "Pecosa," Spanish for a single freckle, but the puppy eventually became known as Freckles. Kim and Freckles were Luci's dogs. Kim moved to Texas with Luci after her marriage to Pat Nugent, but Freckles remained at the White House with the President.

Her died at the White House in November 1964, after she swallowed a stone. Him died in June 1966, when he was hit by a car while chasing a squirrel on the White House lawn. When the Johnson's left the White House, Freckles was adopted by a White House staff member.

President Lyndon B. Johnson with members of the press President Lyndon B. Johnson with members of the press
credit: Cecil Stoughton

President Johnson caused a storm of protest when he lifted "Him" by his ears.

On December 7, 1963, the Johnson's began moving into the White House. Mrs. Johnson recorded in her diary, "...the call came today to move, and Luci took the two beagles, 'Him' and 'Her,' in her birthday convertible, and I got in another car,.... I had our favorite picture of the Speaker, Mr. Sam Rayburn, in my hand.... When we arrived, Mr. West [Chief White House Usher] was waiting at the door for us and greeted Luci and me and took us to the second floor."

The Johnson Family moves into the White House The Johnson Family moves into the White House
credit: Yoichi Okamoto

J. Edgar:
 After Him died in 1966, J. Edgar Hoover, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a former neighbor of, President Johnson's, gave the President another beagle. The President named the dog J. Edgar, but later dropped the "J." and called the dog Edgar. When Johnson left the White House, Edgar moved to the LBJ Ranch.

Blanco:
Blanco was a white collie born on July 19, 1963, and registered as Leader Blair Jamie of Edlen. He was given to President and Mrs. Johnson in December 1963, a gift from a little girl in Illinois. Before leaving the White House, President and Mrs. Johnson gave Blanco to a doctor and his wife in Kentucky. Blanco died in September 1974 of a heart attack.

President Lyndon B. Johnson with one of his dogs President Lyndon B. Johnson with one of his dogs
credit: Yoichi Okamoto



Yuki:
 Yuki was a mixed breed dog found by President Johnson's daughter, Luci Nugent, at a gas station in Texas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966, while on her way to the LBJ Ranch. Luci named the dog "Yuki", which means "snow" in Japanese. At first, Yuki lived with Luci, but while visiting the White House, Yuki won the President's heart and became his faithful companion.

On the President's birthday, August 27, 1967, Luci told her father that he could keep Yuki. When President Johnson left office on January 20, 1969, Yuki returned to LBJ Ranch with the President on Air Force One. After Johnson's death in January 1973, Yuki went to live with Luci Johnson Nugent and her family. Yuki died in 1979.


President Johnson "singing" with Yuki as the as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britian, David K. E. Bruce, watches

President Lyndon B. Johnson sings with Yuki President Lyndon B. Johnson sings with Yuki
credit: Yoichi Okamoto