Presidential Pets: Rebecca the Raccoon (Presidential Inauguration Series)

Mississippi supporters of Calvin Coolidge sent him a live raccoon for Thanksgiving dinner in 1926. Instead, first lady Grace Coolidge named it Rebecca and made it a family pet. Rebecca ran loose in the White House and escaped several times. She was a hit with the press and young children. Library historian Margaret McAleer tells the story. For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-9650