White House Pets

Mike
Irish Setter

Although President Truman and family preferred to be a pet-free family, in May 1945, Postmaster General Robert Hannegan gave Margaret Truman an Irish Setter puppy whom she named Mike. Mike spent the summer of 1945 in Independence, Missouri, and had a personalized, freshly painted doghouse in the backyard of the Truman home. Margaret gave him away after a short period of time, saying that Mike often became sick because of the scraps staff members threw out for him.