Tag Archives: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Doggy quote of the month for April

“These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala.

Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family don’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent them.

You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I’d left him behind on an Aleutian island and had sent a destroyer back to find him—at a cost to the taxpayers of two or three, or eight or twenty million dollars—his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since.

I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself … But I think I have a right to resent, to object, to libelous statements about my dog.”

– Franklin Delano Roosevelt, US President

FDR and Fala

Background:  During the 1944 presidential campaign, Republicans alleged that Mr Roosevelt had left his Scottie dog, Fala, behind in the Aleutian Islands and sent a U.S. destroyer to collect him (at taxpayers’ cost).  President Roosevelt chose to respond during a speech to the International Teamsters Union.

Fala – a presidential dog

If you are visiting Washington, DC, one of the best memorials on the Mall is to commemorate the life and achievements of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR).

Fala and FDR

And one reason I liked this monument is that FDR’s dog, Fala, is also featured and this makes him unique – the only presidential dog that has been honoured in this way.

Fala, a Scottish Terrier, lived from 7th April 1940 to 5th April 1952.  FDR renamed the dog referring to the name of his 15th century Scottish ancestor (John Murray), “Murray the Outlaw of Falahill, ”  The name was then shortened to “Fala.”

Fala close up

Fala accompanied FDR everywhere; it was said that FDR fed Fala personally.  Fala’s leather collar had a silver plate on it which read, “Fala, the White House.”

Fala was often present during FDR’s fireside chats (via radio) to the US public.  So, it makes sense that Fala is seen at the FDR memorial sitting at his master’s side.

The Fala statue is quite large; this is me sitting next to it (for scale).

The Fala statue is quite large; this is me sitting next to it (for scale).