Buddy

Buddy was Bill Clinton's beloved Labrador retriever — a goofy golden dog famous for his epic, headline-making rivalry with Socks the cat.

Buddy joined the Clinton family in December 1997, moving into the White House right around the holidays. He was a gift from family friends, and he became President Clinton's constant companion on his morning jogs and walks around the White House grounds.

But Buddy had a problem: Socks the cat. The two White House pets did not get along at all. Socks, who had been the top pet for years, was not happy about the new dog moving in. The rivalry became a running joke in Washington — the White House even had to keep them in separate parts of the building.

Buddy was a loyal and affectionate dog. After the Clinton presidency ended in 2001, he moved with the family to their home in New York. He lived a happy life there, a favorite of the president and the whole family.

Sadly, Buddy died in January 2002, just a year after leaving the White House, when he was struck by a car. President Clinton was heartbroken. He later wrote about how much Buddy meant to him — a reminder that presidential pets are loved just as much as any family dog.