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The political power of America’s First Dogs

Born in the White House: Spot. Credit: Getty Images. 
issue 16 January 2021

From the moment Donald Trump’s presidency began, he was lacking something. But Joe Biden is about to make up for it — twice over.

Trump was the first president in more than a century not to have a dog in the White House. Biden’s German shepherds Champ, 12, and two-year-old Major will be filling the vacancy left by Barack Obama’s Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny, and continuing a tradition of First Dogs that can trace its pedigree back to George Washington.

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