5. Liberty (Gerald Ford)
Liberty, a golden retriever, was a cherished companion to President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. Born on February 8, 1974, Liberty was a gift from the Fords’ daughter, Susan, and White House photographer David Hume Kennerly. She quickly became a beloved figure, often photographed with President Ford in the Oval Office, at Camp David, and on the South Lawn. In 1975, Liberty gave birth to nine puppies in the White House, one of which, Misty, was kept by the Fords. Liberty’s playful spirit and photogenic nature endeared her to the American public, and she remains a symbol of the Ford family’s time in the White House (whitehousehistory.org).
