Rex (dog)
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Rex (December 16, 1984 – August 31, 1998) was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owned by Nancy and Ronald Reagan while the latter served as President of the United States.
Rex, along with brother Fred, had belonged as a puppy to conservative commentator William F. Buckley, Jr.. Though Fred remained with Buckley, Buckley's political ally Reagan would give Rex as a Christmas present to his wife Nancy on December 6, 1985. The White House's previous canine occupant, the Reagan's Bouvier des Flandres named Lucky, had proven to be too unruly and had been moved to Reagan's Rancho del Cielo estate in California the preceding Thanksgiving. One of Rex's first acts that week was helping to throw the switch that lit the National Christmas Tree.
Rex would live in the White House from that Christmas until Reagan left office in 1989, once gaining headlines when he underwent a tonsillectomy at an undisclosed veterinary hospital. He was apparently named for Rex Scouten, the White House chief usher who retired in 1985. Rex was treated to a lavishly decorated doghouse, which included framed portraits of Ronald and Nancy and red window draperies. It was designed by Theo Hayes, great-great grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and actress Zsa Zsa Gabor reportedly conducted a dedication ceremony for the new structure.
Rex's high profile led in part to the sudden popularization of the breed in America in the years following Reagan's presidency, which resulted in a substantial uptick of unsavory breeding practices, such as puppy mills.
After Reagan left office, Rex lived to the age of 13 (86 in dog years) with the Reagan family before being euthanized after developing an enlarged heart. He is interred at Rancho del Cielo.
