Statement: A Tribute to Buddy

We are deeply saddened by Buddy's death. He was a loyal companion and brought us much joy. He will truly be missed.

Buddy's Biography

President Bill Clinton's dog Buddy, a chocolate Labrador Retriever died January 3, 2002 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident outside the Clinton residence in Chappaqua, New York. He was four years old. Born August 7, 1997 at the Wild Goose Kennel in Federalsburg, Maryland, the third born in a litter of nine puppies, Buddy was donated to Bill Clinton by the kennel's owners, Linda and Richard Renfro.

Friends of the Clintons, expressing Hillary Clinton's wish to give her husband a dog before Chelsea left for college, contacted the Wild Goose Kennel. Linda Renfro picked out Buddy and a sister, “Boo” to receive several months of training. As the puppy had not yet received a name from the President, Renfro nicknamed him “Teddy” after President Theodore Roosevelt.

President Clinton received over 5,000 suggestions on what to name the new Presidential Pet. Clinton finally decided on the name Buddy, in honor of his great-uncle Henry Oren “Buddy” Grisham of Hope, Arkansas, who had died earlier that year. Grisham was a mentor to the President and a dog trainer for 50 years.

Buddy joined the First Family in December 1997. The following year, Hillary Clinton edited a book entitled Dear Socks, Dear Buddy. Published by Simon and Schuster, the book reprints amusing letters children sent to the two First Pets.

Buddy expressed an enthusiasm for life as well as strong feelings for fellow First Pet, Socks. At the end of the Clinton Administration, Socks went to live with Clinton's assistant, Betty Currie in Virginia. Buddy accompanied the Clintons on their farewell flight from Washington to New York and settled into his new life in Chappaqua.

Buddy is survived by his parents, Sadie's Rainbow Gold (a yellow Labrador) and Quantico's Stormy “Coco” Bear, (a chocolate Labrador) along with four brothers and four sisters.

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