It was Harry Truman who famously advised would-be presidents: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." President Donald Trump did not heed that advice, becoming the first US president in well over a century not to have a pet of some sort in the White House.
With America being a nation of dog lovers, the absence of a furry thing with a wet nose running around the White House may have been a key factor in the final vote. Former presidents were well aware a playful tickle of their dog's ears on the lawn during a photo-op was worth far more votes than any campaign speech.
Admittedly Mr Trump doesn't look like someone who would be comfortable cuddling a dog. In her memoir Raising Trump, ex-wife Ivana wrote: "Donald was not a dog fan" and had quite a hostile relationship with their poodle, Chappy.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Mr Trump's ruff election experience comes down to underestimating the "Bark For Biden" campaign which won considerable support, with the help of a few dog biscuits.
Over the years the "First Dog" has become the friend and confidant of many presidents when no one else will listen. One wonders how many crucial decisions have been made at the White House after a presidential dog gave a friendly lick or wagged its tail at an appropriate time.
There should be plenty of tail-wagging at the White House when the Bidens move in with their two German shepherds, Champ and Major, the latter being a shelter pet, coming from animal rescue. It means "Major" Biden has come from the doghouse to the White House. Not a bad move.
Pet sounds
The White House pet doesn't have to be a dog. Calvin Coolidge had a pygmy hippopotamus while both Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams preferred alligators. President William Taft had a pet cow called Pauline, believed to be the last cow resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Pauline served a practical purpose, giving the first family a regular supply of fresh milk which was scarce in those times. She was also known for her plaintive, but melodic, mooing.
But dogs are by far the most practical pet. President Gerald Ford made good use of his golden retriever Liberty, which would sit in a corner during meetings. If the president wanted to end a discussion that was going on too long he gave a discreet sign to the dog which would enthusiastically leap all over the guests, bringing an abrupt end to the conservation.
My dog also does that to visitors without anyone giving a signal.
Pitbull Pete
Some dogs have enjoyed considerable status at the White House. Warren G Harding was so attached to his Airedale called Laddie Boy that the hound even had its own cabinet chair. To the dog's credit, it slept through most of the proceedings.
Franklin D Roosevelt loved his Scottish terrier so much they even shared the same bed. Every morning on FDR's breakfast tray along with the coffee and poached eggs there was a large juicy bone -- a nice touch by the butler.
One breed of dog not recommended for White House duties is the pitbull terrier. The last such dog resident at the presidential mansion was in Theodore Roosevelt's time. The hound, called Pete, ended up in disgrace after causing a diplomatic incident when he chased the French Ambassador down a White House corridor, biting the envoy's backside and ripping his trousers to shreds, prompting much mirth among guests. For his indiscretions poor old Pete was the sent into exile on Long Island.
The Magic Wall
Election results are not everybody's cup of tea but I found myself watching the CNN coverage, taking in the BBC and Al Jazeera every now and again for a different perspective. It is hardly a secret that CNN anchors are not exactly enamoured with Mr Trump, and the feeling is mutual. The coverage was very thorough with an exciting "Magic Wall" and assorted other finger-touch technology. It was a far cry from the ancient "Swingometer" Robert McKenzie used to display on the BBC in the 1960s.
CNN's John King deserves an award for stamina as he couldn't have had any sleep for days on end. Whatever the time, he was there with his Magic Wall giving us the very latest news on the Reds and the Blues. I could also empathise with the BBC's Katty Kay who, after a very long night of listening to claims, counterclaims and statistics admitted: "My head is spinning."
Green fingers
The most entertaining tale from the post-election days featured a press conference hosted by Rudy Giuliani at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. However, it was not the plush downtown hotel of that name that most people expected, but the Four Seasons Total Landscaping gardening establishment next to an "adult entertainment" shop and opposite a crematorium on an industrial estate. There had clearly been a monumental screw-up but the show went on in the parking lot, although it all seemed a little absurd.
The owners of Total Landscaping have been making the most of this unexpected windfall of fame. They are now advertising T-shirts, hoodies and stickers with slogans "Make America Rake Again" and "Lawn And Order!" That's democracy in action.
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