Politics

A Presidents Pet Raccoon Was Supposed to Be Thanksgiving Dinner

Calvin Coolidge received a raccoon as a gift intended for the holiday meal, but he pardoned it and kept it as a White House pet instead.

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In 1926, a Mississippi supporter sent President Calvin Coolidge a raccoon for his Thanksgiving dinner. But when Coolidge met the creature, he took a liking to it and decided to spare its life. He named her Rebecca and kept her as a White House pet. Rebecca roamed the halls freely, wore a collar with her name, and even participated in the annual Easter Egg Roll. She outlasted Coolidges presidency and lived out her days at the family home.