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

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[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

[Shermy]

Year 2014, as the Buddygate scandal develops...

I tell the American people that I did not have any relationship with the Buddy events.

[barker]

... busy two-lane road at the bottom of the Clintons' cul-de-sac...

Ok, there's a freeper that lives close to the Clinton's NY house but I can't recall his name. We need to know if there is really a busy road nearby and how far the house is from it. Poor Buddy was probably just looking for attention.

Of course the Clintons weren't home. They're hardly ever there. It's just a handy mail drop and a place for Clinton to entertain "friends" when he can't mooch a place anywhere else.

And why am I even posting on a thread about a dead dog? I really, really need help.

[VRWC For Truth]

"playfully chasing a contractor who had just left the residence"

Hmmm, contractor??? Is that what they are calling rent-a-bimbos these days?

[Howlin]

So, whose body is this?????? Inquiring minds need to know!

[Shenandoah]

Let me guess. The Clintons are deeply saddened.

[ambrose]

This was a revenge "hit" by Kathleen Wiley's cats home boys.

Hmmm... I never thought of that possibility.

[headsonpikes]

Buddy knew too much.

Hey, YOU'RE the 'barker'. Tell us what Buddy said!

[chainsaw]

One more Arkancide for the record books. Poor Buddy...say hi to Ron Brown for us Buddy.

[Leto]

Let's face it Buddy was a dead dog walking from the moment he made the fat bastard look like a buffoon when he tripped him up on the ice last winter. The rapist couldn't have him offed right away, buy Buddy was dog food from that moment on.

We will have to keep the little critter in our thoughts however. The rapist tipping Buddy engaged in was clearly a precursor of the rapist fall from grace and stumbling we have all witnessed this year (espically since 9-11) culminating in the humiliating fiasco of the meeting about the campaign for the 'legacy'. Buddy tipped us off, by tipping his master, to Clinton's looming irrelavancy and bumbling.

Thanks Buddy we hardly knew ya! Hope you had the chance to lift your leg on Hillary, during your breif tottured life with the sociopaths.

Accident? I DON"T THINK SO!!!! ;-)

[Shenandoah]

I live near Chappaqua and once drove by the Clinton's street just to see what it looks like. Very exclusive! And, yes, the road passing in front of the cul-de-sac is a main thoroughfare. Lots of heavy traffic.

[Poohbah]

And I'll bet you'll find Socks involved up to his whiskers.

Cats stick together and practice omerta like nobody else, I'm tellin' ya...

[rwfromkansas]

who could blame the dog for commiting suicide?

[singletrack]

No one called the cops when the dog was running loose because with Chelsea and Hill in the area its hard to tell who needs the leash and who needs the muzzle.

[VRWC_minion]

Who benefits ? Where was the cat at this time ?

[A Citizen Reporter]

Yes which is exactly why I AP had to re-write this little bit of history.....

"The Clintons were given Buddy as a puppy in 1997, just weeks before the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke."

That is not my recollection at all. My recollection is that they got Buddy after Clinton was already in trouble with the Lewinsky mess.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

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

At first I thought maybe the National Park Police were called in on this one too.

[DoughtyOne]

This just in, the otopsy x-rays are missing. Repeat, the x-rays are missing. Only seven of the original 16 polaroids are locatable. All 35mm photos have disappeared. Although the car was reported to have been crossing the highway from west to east, Buddy's body was dragged 63 feet from south to north. The coroner states that only 250cc of Buddy's blood remained in his body, but there was no blood at the seen of the accident. Seven witnesses state that here weren't any cars at all, at the scene of the accident.

Still other reports state that Bill and Hillary Clinton's staff have already entered Buddy's doghouse and removed the curtains, carpet, water bowl, food dish and an old blanket. Others state that the blanket disappeared just hours before Buddy's body was found on the roadway.

Buddy was known to have a safe house and several bitches on the side. Hillary Clinton may have been one of them.

[freekitty]

These people should have never owned a cat or dog. Poor Buddy never had a chance. We all know Socks got the boot. Now Buddy is gone because his family hasn't got the sense to put him up. They probably never saw him after they left the White House either. I just can't stand them. They don't have feelings for anything except their own selfish selves. I hope they are never allowed to own another animal. I know Hillary will be relieved. She is one cold fish who seems to be the kind of person who really doesn't care for animals.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

I am surprised we have not read somewhere that the reason they got a male dog was that there was room for only one B***h in the White House.Well bless buddy's soul, and gosh if he could have talked we would have found out a great deal more than we did.

[Ditto]

So does that make this an 'Arcaninecide'?