“Coolidge Has Raccoon; Probably Won’t Eat It,” one contemporary Boston Herald headline blared. The post Why did Calvin Coolidge pardon a raccoon for Thanksgiving — and keep it as a pet ...

Pet raccoons aren’t common, but some people have kept domesticated raccoons as pets over the years. President Calvin Coolidge had two pet raccoons while he was in the White House.

If Americans know anything at all about Calvin Coolidge, U.S. president No. 30, they know he had a pet raccoon. The Coolidge White House (1923-1929) has not been enshrined in high school curricula.

President Calvin Coolidge and his wife had a pet raccoon. It had been sent to the White House to be served as their 1926 Thanksgiving Dinner. Instead, they kept her as a pet and named her Rebecca.

In 1926, a citizen of Mississippi sent the raccoon to the First Family in time to be cooked for Thanksgiving. Calvin Coolidge instead kept her as a pet. Later, the First Lady, Grace Coolidge, wrote of ...

Wickedpedia Why did Calvin Coolidge pardon a raccoon for Thanksgiving — and keep it as a pet? “Coolidge Has Raccoon; Probably Won’t Eat It,” one contemporary Boston Herald headline blared.