Clinton's Socks the Cat Near Death

[Faygo Kid]

Source: U.S. News & World Report

We have some bad news today on the presidential pet front. Socks the cat, probably the most photographed presidential kitty in history, has cancer and isn't expected to live. "His days are numbered," says Barry Landau, a friend of Socks' master, Betty Currie. Landau, a presidential historian and author of The President's Table, tells our Suzi Parker that the Currie family could have put Socks on feeding tubes, but decided against it. "They fear he is too old," adds Landau, who is writing a book on presidential inaugurations. And a second source told us that Socks is gravely ill.

Recall that Currie, who lives in Southern Maryland and was Bill Clinton's personal secretary, took Socks after the Democrats left office. At the time, Hillary Clinton had been elected to the Senate and Bubba was moving to New York to run his foundation.

In recent years, Socks has been hanging out at Currie's Hollywood, Md., home and sometimes making guest appearances. But since we last wrote about Socks, his conditions have worsened and included weight loss and kidney problems. Southern Maryland Newspapers Online did a wonderful story about this last year, quoting Currie's husband Bob saying what lots of us pet owners say: Socks "lives better than I do."

Linda Kulman, who ghost wrote Hillary Clinton's book, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids's Letters To First Pets, was saddened by the news, telling me, "He is the last of his kind." For the book, Kulman, says she "spent time" with Socks and Clinton's first pup Buddy. "He was nothing but a gentleman. He was elegant and a perfect resident of the White House." She adds, "he won't soon be replaced." . . .


Read more: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/12/12/clintons-socks-the-cat-near-death.html

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Thanks for the memories, and condolences to Betty.

[LisaM]

1. Socks is at least 18 years old

That's a good long life. I didn't realize he was still with us. Cute cat!

[glinda]

11. 18 is about average these days for an indoor cat.

Hope he passes painlessly. :cry:

[Oak2004]

34. I had an outdoor cat make it to 18

but then Abby was an exceptional cat. She was incredibly smart (even understood to look both ways before crossing the road -- impressive, for a country cat), and so big and muscular people were sure she was a tom.

Now, after Abby's passing, I've become a "bird person". And I don't think Eagle (a Quaker parrot -- named after his attitude, not his species ;) ) would approve of my bringing in any of those evil beasts.

[IndianaGreen]

18. That's about as old as a cat can get

Farewell, Socks! They are spiritual beings, cats and dogs.

[shrike]

22. We had a tom who lived into his 20s

But he was very unique; you're right, 18 is about it for a cat.

[IndianaGreen]

25. My house cats have all lived to a ripe old age

but an 18 year old cat is the human equivalent of a centenarian.

[xxqqqzme]

35. My daughter's Tuxedo died a year ago - he

was 19. Great cat

[Endangered Specie]

28. My cat is on its 23yrd year...

indoor, of course, had its fair share of illnesses and vet trips.

I call her the platinum cat since shes got about her weight in platinum in her from said vet trips :P

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Sweet little Tuxedo. I hope that his passing is gentle and peaceful.

[TomInTib]

4. I had a Tuxedo.

Zoe, a total psycho-killer.

When I gave my Golden Retriever (the one and only Seamus) to my crazy ex-girlfriend, it was on one condition.

She had to take care of Zoe, too.

[BrklynLiberal]

19. Such a nice name fo a psycho-killer.

[TomInTib]

3. C'mon Socks, you got eight more.

But if this is the Ninth, go with it.

[d_b]

5. :-(

[ZombieHorde]

6. Socks will soon join the ranks of the undead cat army.

[alphafemale]

37. !!

:rofl:

[Fire1]

7. Awww........what a pretty cat. I know he'll be missed.

[Olney Blue]

8. Socks, thank you for the happiness you brought to so many!

[October]

9. Aw, sweet, sweet cat

I love Socks.

My daughter (now 18) wrote to the Clintons back in the 1990s, and we received an official White House photo of Socks, which we still treasure.

Our 2 Tuxedo cats are still going strong.

Condolences to all who knew and loved that pretty kitty boy.

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. That's what the librul media wants you to believe. It ain't cancer

It's Hillary11 Just like how she murdered Vince Foster, ya know11 I series1111111

[AllentownJake]

12. NO IT'S AN OBAMITE TRAP 1111

[DS1]

13. They haven't denied it, and the investigation is still open

Damn those Clintons!

[LisaM]

14. Are you saying.....

Socks is PUMA?

[marshall]

31. Remember poor Buddy the white house dog?

Run over when he ran away from whomever he had been farmed out to. It would be nice if Socks could be buried beside Buddy (RIP).

[MillieJo]

32. Buddy moved in the Bill and Hillary in New York..

Socks moved in with Betty Currie because he was Chelsea's who had left home and hated Buddy.

[marshall]

33. Former first dog Buddy killed by car

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/01/03/buddy.killed/index.html

[bitchkitty]

15. Is Paul Bedard a Clinton-hater?

I ask because he refers to him as "Bubba" - as do many freepers.

[DemBones DemBones]

21. I thought that was very odd. There's nothing wrong with

being called Bubba if you like the name but Clinton, to my knowledge, was never called Bubba in his life, until the RW nuts decided to use the name as a slur.

[bitchkitty]

23. Yea, I know.

My family is from Georgia, and "Bubba" is more of an endearment than a slur there. But during the Clinton years, freepers continually used it as an uncomplimentary nickname.

I searched his columns, and he continually refers to Clinton as Bubba.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Apperently many DUers call him "Bubba" also:

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=bubba+hillary+site%3Ademocraticunderground.com&btnG=Search

[ellie]

16. Godspeed Socks!

[JaneQPublic]

17. Here's an article on Socks that ran last summer in S. Maryland newspapers:

http://www.somdnews.com/stories/06062008/entecov172737_32166.shtml

[IndianaGreen]

20. Nice article.

Thanks!

[ronnykmarshall]

24. So sad.

Socks had a great life. I hope he passes without pain.

:cry:

[marshall]

26. God bless Betty for taking in Socks

I'm sure she provided a very good home after his White House days were over.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LostinVA]

30. Why don't you keep your nasty comments to yourself?

[RFKHumphreyObama]

29. That's very sad

Such a cute and adorable class act of a cat

She's had a long and fulfilling life, cared for by people who genuinely loved her. May she have a safe and peaceful journey into the next world

[LeftishBrit]

36. Very sorry to hear this.

[47of74]

39. Sorry to hear that.

I'm sorry to hear that Socks isn't going to be with us much longer.