President Barack Obama Remembers His Strongest Ally in Washington: His Dog, Bo
The Obama family's beloved Portugese water dog, Bo, passed away this weekend after battling cancer. The former president posted about Bo on Instagram, mourning his twelve year old pet.
"Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion," Barack Obama wrote in the caption. "For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives—happy to see us on our good days, our bad days, and everyday in between. He tolerated all the fuss that came with being in the White House, had a big bark but no bite, loved to jump in the pool in the summer, was unflappable with children, lived for scraps around the dinner table, and had great hair. He was exactly what we needed and more than we ever expected. We will miss him dearly."
President Obama had an extremely close relationship with Bo. The former president and his wife, Michelle Obama, promised their daughters, Malia and Sasha, a puppy once they got to the White House. After much speculation surrounding the dog breed and name, the first family settled on Bo, a Portuguese water dog and a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife, Vicki. As Obama states in his memoir, A Promised Land, Bo was part of a litter related to Kennedy's own pair of Portuguese water dogs.
In his memoir, Obama affectionately described his bond with Bo, who became his loyal friend and a link to normalcy throughout his presidency.
"With Bo, I got what someone once described as the only reliable friend a politician can have in Washington. He also gave me an added excuse to put off my evening paperwork and join my family on meandering after-dinner walks around the South Lawn," Obama noted. "It was during those moments—with the light fading into streaks of purple and gold, Michelle smiling and squeezing my hand as Bo bounded in and out of the bushes with the girls giving chase—that I felt normal and whole and as lucky as any man has a right to expect."
Even beyond Obama's love for Bo, he served as a reminder of both Ted Kennedy, who passed away from a brain tumor, and the president's commitment to affordable health care. Obama remembers calling to thank Kennedy for the dog, but he could only speak with his wife, as Kennedy's health rapidly declined. Throughout his life, and especially during Obama's first term, Kennedy became instrumental in the fight for universal health care. Obama recalled his advice on the subject, just before the Affordable Care Act passed.
"I would think of Teddy sometimes when Bo wandered into the Treaty Room and curled up at my feet," Obama writes. "And I’d recall what Teddy had told me that day, just before we walked into the East Room together. 'This is the time, Mr. President,' he had said. 'Don’t let it slip away.'"
Barack Obama was not the only member of the family to develop such a close bond with Bo. On Instagram, former First Lady Michelle Obama also shared her own memories of the cherished pet, in both a series of photos and a heartfelt note from the whole Obama family, including the Obama's other dog, Sunny. Read her full tribute below:
This afternoon was a difficult one for our family. We said goodbye to our best friend—our dog, Bo—after a battle with cancer. On the campaign trail in 2008, we promised our daughters that we would get a puppy after the election. At the time, Bo was supposed to be a companion for the girls. We had no idea how much he would mean to all of us.
For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, comforting presence in our lives. He was there when the girls came home from school, greeting them with a wag. He was there when Barack and I needed a break, sauntering into one of our offices like he owned the place, a ball clamped firmly in his teeth. He was there when we flew on Air Force One, when tens of thousands flocked to the South Lawn for the Easter Egg Roll, and when the Pope came to visit. And when our lives slowed down, he was there, too—helping us see the girls off to college and adjust to life as empty nesters.
This past year, with everyone back home during the pandemic, no one was happier than Bo. All his people were under one roof again—just like the day we got him. I will always be grateful that Bo and the girls got to spend so much time together at the end.
As a family, we will miss Bo dearly. But we are thankful that he lived such a joyful life full of snuggles, games of fetch, and evenings spent lying on the couch.
We also know we weren’t the only ones who cared for Bo, and are grateful for all the love you showed him over the years. Please hug the furry members of your family a little closer tonight—and give them a belly rub from us.
—Michelle, Barack, Malia, Sasha, and Sunny
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