Bird-keeping boomed in the United States after World War 2 but keeping birds as pets has been around since the countries founding. Many presidents and their first ladies have had parrots and birds of different breeds as pets. This goes all the way back to George and Martha Washington.
The very First Lady Martha Washington and her Parrot.
Martha was said to have extremely fond of the parrot but her husband did not share the same opinion. George wrote to a friend once, “On the one side I am called upon to remember the parrot, and on the other to remember the dog. For my own part I should not pine much if both were forgot.”
First Lady Dolley Madison and her Green Parrot.
During the war of 1812, the first lady Dolley Madison took her green parrot along with her when the White House was evacuated. This parrot was given to a bird with instructions to bring it to the French ambassador’s residence. As the British had occupied and damaged the white house, this is where the Madison’s lived in for the remainder of the administrations term while the capital was being rebuilt.
President Andrew Jackson's actual funeral procession at the Hermitage on June 8th, 1845.
Andrew Jackson had particular fondness for his pet African Grey parrot Poll and often wrote asking about the birds health in letters. This parrot was found in a Nashville candy store and after spending much time with Jackson had evidently picked up on many of the Presidents phrases. During Jackson’s funeral procession the parrot began to screech cuss words with such emphasis and clarity that the bird had to be removed from the funeral entirely.
First Lady Frances Cleveland, dashing as ever, with her mockingbird and canary.
Frances Cleveland, the first lady to Grover Cleveland, had a pet canary and a pet mockingbird that was kept in the White House. The mockingbird enjoyed singing and one night sung so loudly that he disturbed President Cleveland while working. Cleveland ordered an aide to bring the bird to a different room to avoid disturbing him. This didn’t sit well with Cleveland though as he was worried the bird might catch cold and ordered the aide to many different rooms throughout the night.
A painting of President McKinley posing with his Double-Headed Amazon parrot.
William McKinley, known in history by his industrialist policies, had a talented Double-Headed Amazon parrot as a pet. This bird was heard to often comment “Look at all the pretty girls” at pretty women passing by his cage. Also a favorite of this parrot was to finish tunes President McKinley would whistle to him.
Would you myna if I went for a little ride?
The Coolidge administration took bird owning to another level in the White House. Grace Coolidge, the first lady, owned an assortment of birds. This included: Hartz Mountain canaries named Nip and Tuck, Old Bill the thrush, a mockingbird, Snowflake the white canary, a Mynah bird and a parrot. To make matters more complicated she also let the birds roam free in the house. Housekeeping understandable became much more difficult, especially with the fact that a Mynah bird took a habit of riding on one of the maids heads. This wonderful bird also helped to complete fundings to the National Zoo. After plenty of practice, during a meeting between President Coolidge and the zoo’s director, the Mynah bird said “What about the appropriation?” charming the director and leading to a successful negotiation.
As traditional and classic as any other timeless tradition in the United States, owning birds seems to be as American as Apple Pie and Baseball. For the entire duration of the United States birds of all kinds have lived in the capital and been kept by many elected officials. This list is not at all comprehensive and there are many other presidents and their first ladies who have owned birds as pets.
Works & Media Cited:
“Dolley Madison.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dolley-Madison.
“Funeral Customs at the Hermitage - Notes from the Curator.” The Hermitage, Andrew Jacksons Hermitage, 23 Oct. 2018, https://thehermitage.com/funeral-customs-at-the-hermitage/.
“Frances Cleveland.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 July 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland.
Pous, Terri. “Our Fair Ladies: The 14 Most Fashionable First Ladies.” Time, Time, 8 Nov. 2012, https://style.time.com/2013/02/18/our-fair-ladies-the-14-most-fashionable-first-ladies/slide/frances-cleveland/.