Rex (dog) facts for kids
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| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | December 16, 1984 Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Died | August 31, 1998 (aged 13) Santa Barbara, California |
| Resting place | Rancho del Cielo |
| Nation from | American |
| Known for | Pet of the First Family of the United States |
| Predecessor | Lucky |
| Successor | Millie |
| Owner | Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan |
| Appearance | Chestnut and white fur |
| Named after | Rex Scouten |
Rex (born December 16, 1984 – died August 31, 1998) was a special Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He was the pet of Ronald Reagan, who was the President of the United States, and his wife Nancy. Rex lived with them during President Reagan's second term in office.
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Rex's Early Life and How He Joined the Reagans
Rex was born in Greenwich, Connecticut. A dog breeder named Irene Murphy raised him. His official name was Martlet-Or Worcester.
A friend of the Reagans, William F. Buckley, Jr., helped the President get Rex. President Reagan bought Rex when the dog was one year old. He gave Rex as a Christmas gift to his wife, Nancy, on December 6, 1985.
Before Rex, the Reagans had another dog named Lucky. Lucky was a very big dog. He had moved to the Reagans' ranch in California before Rex arrived. Rex was named after Rex Scouten, who was an important person at the White House. One of Rex's first jobs was helping to turn on the lights of the National Christmas Tree that year!
Life in the White House: A Presidential Pet
Rex lived in the White House from Christmas 1985 until President Reagan left office in 1989. He even made headlines once when he had a small surgery to remove his tonsils.
Rex had a very fancy doghouse at the White House. The Washington Children's Museum built it for him. It had framed pictures of Ronald and Nancy Reagan inside. It even had red curtains on the windows! A designer named Theo Hayes, whose great-great-grandfather was President Rutherford B. Hayes, created it.
Some people thought Rex needed a dog trainer. They felt it would look better if he didn't pull Nancy Reagan around. President Reagan explained that Rex was young and got excited. Especially when helicopters like Marine One landed on the White House lawn. He joked that Rex thought the helicopter was his own personal dog bed!
Rex was generally seen as calmer than Lucky, the previous presidential dog. Lucky was known for sometimes pulling Nancy Reagan across the lawn. Rex, however, was usually very well-behaved.
Interestingly, Rex reportedly did not like the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House. Some people believe that room might be haunted by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Rex would refuse to go into the room. Sometimes, he would stand outside and bark at the doorway!
Because Rex was so famous, his breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, became much more popular in America after the Reagans left office.
Rex's Later Life and Legacy
When President Reagan left the White House, Rex received a special going-away gift. It was a dog house that looked just like the White House! It even had a piece of carpet from Camp David, which is a special retreat for presidents.
Rex lived with the Reagan family until he was 13 years old. Sadly, he developed a heart problem and was humanely put to sleep. He is buried at Rancho del Cielo, the Reagan family ranch.
In 2009, Rex was recognized as one of the top four presidential pets by Petside.com. He was a beloved and memorable part of the Reagan family and White House history.
See also
