AP: Police rule Buddy's death an "accident"

AP ^ | Today | AP

[ambrose]

Buddy,' the Clintons' Dog, Dies

By JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press Writer

January 3, 2002, 3:37 AM EST

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. -- Former President Clinton's dog Buddy, the frisky retriever who unhappily shared the White House with Socks the cat, was killed by a car outside the Clinton home.

The 4-year-old chocolate Labrador ran from the home in Chappaqua on Wednesday afternoon, "playfully chasing a contractor who had just left the residence," said Lt. Charles Ferry of the New Castle police.

Buddy was hit by a car on a busy two-lane road at the bottom of the Clintons' cul-de-sac and was pronounced dead at an animal hospital.

Ferry said the death was "strictly an accident."

Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, were not home at the time, said spokeswoman Julia Payne. They issued a statement saying Buddy "was a loyal companion and brought us much joy. He will truly be missed."

The Clintons were given Buddy as a puppy in 1997, just weeks before the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. The dog was named after the president's great-uncle, who had died earlier that year.

"If you want a friend in Washington, you need to get a dog," Clinton said, quoting President Truman.

Buddy became one of the most photographed pets in the nation, often seen playing on the White House lawn or bounding into a helicopter headed for Camp David.

He had a famously uneasy relationship with Socks, who was already ensconced in the White House when Buddy arrived. Although Mrs. Clinton expressed confidence for "a peaceful reconciliation during the holiday season" in 1997, their dislike was apparent.

Buddy, on a leash, once approached Socks on the White House lawn and began barking; Socks bristled and stood his ground. The president called it "making progress."

Buddy was neutered in 1998 in an operation that was comic fodder on late-night television. David Letterman wisecracked: "President Clinton's pretty busy. He had Buddy the White House dog neutered. ... So, Socks is neutered, Buddy is neutered, and so I'm thinking, two down, one to go."

The first lady put together a book called "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy" by gathering letters from children to the two pets. ("Did you ever get petted by the Spice Girls?" was one question.)

In the end, Buddy was the apparent victor in the rivalry for the Clintons' affections. When they decided they could take only one pet with them when they left the White House, Socks went to live with Clinton's secretary, Betty Currie, in suburban Virginia. Buddy accompanied the president on the farewell flight from Washington to New York, roaming the aisles of the jetliner.

In his first days in Chappaqua, Buddy served as an early-warning system to reporters that Clinton was coming out for a walk. Buddy would emerge from the home unaccompanied, a rubber ball in his mouth, which often meant the former president was behind him.

Once, when playing fetch with Clinton and a rubber ball, Buddy became entangled in the ex-president's legs and knocked him down in full view of the cameras.

"You guys got a good shot," Clinton said. "That's the first time he's knocked me down in all the time we've been together."

Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

[ambrose]

Bump!

[dirtboy]

yet another post about Buddy.

[Billthedrill]

I'm sure it's been said elsewhere, but...Buddy knew too much.

[ambrose]

Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, were not home at the time

Very suspicious.

[oldvike]

Somebody better check the Clinton's trash for any shredded pedigree documents.

[TheExploited]

Another funeral for Hillary to miss....

[ambrose]

yet another post about Buddy.

Beats the umpteenth Lord of the Rings post. And unlike that spam, this is news.

[dirtboy]

Beats the umpteenth Lord of the Rings post. And unlike that spam, this is news.

It was news about twelve posts ago. The moderator's fingers are bleeding from deleting so many of these today...

[Diddle E. Squat]

Actually I think 'ol Buddy boy just couldn't take it anymore. In an extremely ironic reversal, we have a Clinton-related suicide ruled as a death!

[doosee]

"If you want a friend in Washington, you need to get a dog," Clinton said, quoting President Truman.

I finally understand how he "got" Monica. But I do feel sorry for the doggie.

[SolitaryMan]

So why did the chicken dog cross the road?

[boomop1]

A positive note this will probably save the tax payers mega ss abuse bucks.

[xm177e2]

This is the worst case of canine suicide I ever saw...

The cover-up has already begun.

But seriously, can't Clinton be charged with negligence for allowing his dog to get hit by a vehicle? It's dangerous to vehicles to have dogs running around, I almost hit one once at night, the bitch ran right in front of my vehicle.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Buddy knew too much, and just had to go.

[ambrose]

This article contains new facts not previously posted, i.e., the police ruling that the death was an "accident"

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Another Clinton pawn dies after outliving his usefulness. Big surprise.

[dirtboy]

This article contains new facts not previously posted, i.e., the police ruling that the death was an "accident"

That's as lame as it gets.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The first lady put together a book called "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy" by gathering letters from children to the two pets. ("Did you ever get petted by the Spice Girls?" was one question.)

Methinks that letter was not originally address to Buddy!

[stlrocket]

We understand that Bill has already taken care of the body!

NEW ENTREE - ROAD KILL GRILL