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George Bush Sr. Once Wrote This Funny Memo To The White House Staff Regarding His Fat Dog Ranger
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George Bush Sr. Once Wrote This Funny Memo To The White House Staff Regarding His Fat Dog Ranger

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Presidential dogs are a tradition that goes back all the way to George Washington – 30 of the 44 presidents have had at least one dog in the West Wing.

Current President Donald Trump is the first since William McKinley over 100 years ago to not have a dog or pet of any kind in the White House, explaining that he “doesn’t have the time,” and that it “feels a little phony to me.” According to his first wife Ivana, Trump is simply “not a dog fan.”

Image credits: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Back in 1992, when George Bush Sr. was President, an English Springer Spaniel named Ranger found a happy home at the White House. Ranger was a friendly pup who was popular with the staff, so much so that many of them couldn’t resist giving him treats.

Ranger became so fat that Bush had to send out this hilarious memo, instructing staff to refrain from feeding Ranger “food of any kind.”

Image credits: LettersOfNote

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Ranger was one of six puppies from his mother Millie, who is often referred to as “the most famous dog in White House history.”

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    President George H.W. Bush and his first dog Millie taking a walk with her puppies. One of the puppies is Ranger

    Image credits: Library of Congress

    “My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos,” George Bush Sr. said during his reelection campaign, in reference to opposition candidates Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

    President George H.W. Bush plays with presidential dogs Ranger and Millie after an early afternoon jog at the U.S. Naval Observatory in 1991

    Image credits: Joe Marquette

    Millie is even credited as the author of Millie’s Book, which was released in August 1990 and reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller nonfiction list that same year.

    President George H.W. Bush enjoying a walk with presidential dogs Ranger and Millie

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    Image credits: Biddle, Susan

    Sadly, Ranger was euthanized in April 1993 due to cancer, with his obesity contributing to his overall poor health.

    Ranger’s brother Spot would later become another presidential pet after George W. Bush moved into the White House in 2001.

    Image credits: LettersOfNote

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    Here’s what people had to say about Ranger and the amusing memo

    Image credits: ChristophSouza

    Image credits: GibbsGirlAbby

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    Image credits: SandraTutton

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    Image credits: stanbrown32

    Image credits: CErikPeterson

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    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

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    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    James Caunt

    James Caunt

    Writer, Community member

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    James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

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    James Caunt

    James Caunt

    Writer, Community member

    James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

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    2WheelTravlr
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not going to comment on George Bush's chops as a US President, but as a dog owner, he was awesome. Nearly every photo showing him with his dogs shows a happy man and very happy pups.

    Herb Eaversmells
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Says the president who letterally banned brocolli from the white house...... Its all in good fun and kinda cute. He seemed really care for those,dogs

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    2WheelTravlr
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not going to comment on George Bush's chops as a US President, but as a dog owner, he was awesome. Nearly every photo showing him with his dogs shows a happy man and very happy pups.

    Herb Eaversmells
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Says the president who letterally banned brocolli from the white house...... Its all in good fun and kinda cute. He seemed really care for those,dogs

    Load More Comments
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