#pawtograph

Downton White House: our continuing series looking at the Ford administration through materials related to Dorothy Downton, President Ford’s personal secretary.

Soon after golden retriever Liberty joined the Ford family in October 1974 the White House staff began receiving letters addressed to her or asking questions about her. Susan Ford agreed to respond to letters about the family’s pet. Dorothy Downton would help produce a special response for some correspondents: photographs “autographed” by Liberty.

Mrs. Downton later explained the process:

This photograph was used for special friends of the Ford family who requested an autographed photograph of Liberty. Every so often I would have about ten to twelve photographs sent to my office where I would then arrange for Liberty to be brought to my office and we would do her autograph. The photographs would be attached to a hard cardboard backing and sometimes would be addressed using calligraphy to the individual or individuals requesting the photograph.

When Liberty arrived in my office, I would clean her paw very carefully and then press her clean paw on an inked stamp pad and then press the inked paw on the cardboard backing. I would then proceed with the rest of the photographs I had received... When we had autographed all the photographs for that period, I would then again clean Liberty's paw quite thoroughly so she would not leave a trail of ink on the carpets. Liberty, who was a most gorgeous golden retriever, was always very gentle and patient while I did her autographs. She was a delight to work with and a pleasure to have around.

As news reports of these "paw-tographs" surfaced, many individuals wrote to the White House asking for them. Eventually the White House staff made a copy of Liberty's pawprint, turned it into a rubber stamp, and began stamping her "autograph" onto photographs.