For Southern politicians, in particular, canine companions have served as more than family pets – they have been political assets, living metaphors, and even sources of controversy. 

From Lyndon B. Johnson’s rambunctious beagles to Jimmy Carter’s Southern-bred Grits, these dogs showed voters another side of their owners: warmth, relatability, and at times, a touch of unruly authenticity.

President Lyndon B Johnson with Him and Her – Photo Credit Ghosts of DC

LBJ’s Beagles: Him, Her, and the Power of a Paw

President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Texas titan whose legislative achievements transformed the social landscape of America, was never without his pack of beagles; most famously, Him and Her. 

These dogs were far more than background at the White House – they were regular fixtures at press conferences, Cabinet meetings, and even the signing of historic civil rights bills.

Johnson’s fondness for his beagles exploded into controversy in April 1964, when photos emerged of the president lifting one of his dogs by the ears on the South Lawn, reportedly to get it to bark for onlookers. 

The public response was swift and polarized: animal rights activists condemned the act, while some Southerners and hunting enthusiasts argued it was a harmless, regional quirk.

Columnist Arthur Krock captured the fallout: “When the other day he lifted his pet beagle by the ears to please the news photographers, he forgot the fundamental political fact that for everyone who might possibly love a news photographer, there are perhaps millions who unquestionably love a dog.” (Salon, 2023). 

Johnson, for his part, insisted he meant no harm and continued to showcase his beagles at official functions – even as the incident spurred heated debate and, in part, fueled the emerging animal rights movement.

Despite – or perhaps because of – the furor, Johnson’s dogs remained emblematic of a homespun Southern persona, blending legislative grit and plainspoken affection. 

Even the beagles’ misadventures (puddles on the president’s chair, pocketed treats at press briefings) made Johnson seem more approachable and genuine.

President Jimmy Carter and Grits at the White House – Photo Credit the White House Historical Association

Jimmy Carter and Grits: Soft Power in a Southern Package

If LBJ’s beagles represented a raw, Texan bravado, President Jimmy Carter’s dog Grits was a gentler nod to Southern identity. 

Gifted to Carter’s daughter Amy in June 1977, Grits was a border collie mix born the same day Carter won the presidency – his name a direct reference to the Carters’ Georgia roots and the campaign slogan “Grits and Fritz.”

Grits often appeared alongside Amy on the White House steps and in press photos; he embodied the image of a loving Southern family at the nation’s helm. 

Carter, notorious for his modesty, rarely used Grits as a campaign prop. 

However, the media and Amy’s visible affection for the dog still helped the president project warmth amid anxiety over the economy and world affairs.

Grits’s legacy is bittersweet. The dog reportedly struggled with behavior, clashing with the Carter family’s resident cat, and eventually returned to Amy’s teacher. 

Yet for many, Grits became a symbol of Carter’s gentle leadership and unpretentious authenticity – traits Southern voters recognized and admired.

Dogs as Political Metaphor: Image, Crisis, and Connection

These Southern canine tales are part of a larger American tradition. 

Presidents have long showcased pets – especially dogs – during campaign seasons and times of political upheaval. 

Franklin Roosevelt famously invoked his dog Fala in the 1944 re-election campaign, while Nixon’s cocker spaniel, Checkers, arguably saved his vice presidency.

Political scientists have noted that the “diversionary dog” often appears during crises or scandals, helping humanize leaders and distract the public. 

With every romp on the lawn or wag in a press photo, presidential pets offer the public a lens into family life, humor, and sometimes vulnerability.

For Southern political figures, in particular, dogs are deeply woven into the region’s mythology – a blend of kinship, hunting lore, and country wisdom. 

Top photo President Franklin Roosevelt – Photo Credit AP

References

America Comes Alive. (n.d.). The Carter family and Amy’s dog, Grits. Retrieved from https://americacomesalive.com/carter-family-dog-grits/

Blex. (2014, May 11). The infamous incident of Lyndon Johnson picking up his beagles by the ears. Retrieved from http://www.blex.org/research/lbj-beagleearlift.html

LBJ Library. (n.d.). LBJ’s dogs. Retrieved from https://www.lbjlibrary.org/life-and-legacy/the-man-himself/lbjs-dogs

Presidential Pet Museum. (2016, January 22). Jimmy Carter’s dog, Grits. Retrieved from https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/pets/grits/