Bo, a six-month-old tuxedoed Portuguese water dog, will soon be joining the First Family. He was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy.
According to the Washington Post, which has the story up on its website:
Bo's a handsome little guy. Well suited for formal occasions at the White House, he's got tuxedo-black fur, with a white chest, white paws and a rakish white goatee.
Washington Post.
Determined sleuthing landed the Post the exclusive:
Bo's story starts sometime around the Ides of March. Word on the street was that the White House was going to plant a vegetable garden. Health gurus had been pushing the Obamas to plant seedlings for months, hoping it would set a good example for children everywhere.
A Washington Post food reporter was making calls, probing, pushing. But the White House was mum. Word filtered out that the exclusive had been promised to the New York Times. But the White House offered The Post, the newspaper that cracked Watergate, a mollifier: A puppy exclusive.
Washington Post.
There were leaks! There was drama! But . . .
(there was) lots of stuff that didn't leak out, including a secret get-acquainted session with the family at the White House a few weeks ago. The visit, known around the White House as "The Meeting," was a surprise for the girls. Bo wore a lei. . .
Washington Post.
But the clandestine meetings apparently went very well:
Bo, though he was raised elsewhere, already has a keen sense of who's in charge inside the Beltway. When the president walked across the room during the visit, Bo followed obediently.
"He's sooooo cute," the source said, referring, let us be clear, to the puppy. "It's very exciting. They had a great meeting."
Sasha was excited; Malia focused on all the "responsibility issues"--how will Bo be trained, cared for, etc.
"Malia has done extensive research," the source said.
Washington Post.
Thank goodness! Here's to Bo!
And cheers to Champ:
And how lovely, during the same week that Caitlin Racenet got her dog, that Malia and Sasha will finally get theirs.
Blessings to Bo, and to all dogs lucky enough to get new homes this week.
Update (and apology): This was NOT the first diary on this topic. As Rita in DC pointed out in the comments, there was an earlier diary by diarist fsk50a, which is here. I apologize.