Fala: The Dog Who Went to War (and Into Politics) with Franklin D. Roosevelt

In August 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received an unexpected gift from his distant cousin, Margaret Lynch Suckley—a four-month-old Scottish Terrier puppy. Roosevelt briefly considered naming the pup after his opponent in the 1940 presidential election, Wendell Willkie, but ultimately chose “Fala,” in honor of a Scottish ancestor, John Murray of Falahill, known as “Murray the Outlaw.”

Daisy took charge of Fala’s early training. Once housebroken and able to sit, jump, and roll over on command, the little Scottie became a constant companion to the president. Fala traveled widely—riding aboard Roosevelt’s special train, visiting Hyde Park, New York, and accompanying him to the “Little White House” in Warm Springs.

In July 1944, Fala joined the president on a wartime journey aboard the USS Baltimore (CA-68) to Pearl Harbor, followed by travel to the Aleutian Islands. It was during this trip that Fala became, quite unexpectedly, part of a political storm.

Republicans in Congress circulated a story that Roosevelt had accidentally left his dog behind on an Aleutian island—and had dispatched a Navy destroyer to retrieve him at great taxpayer expense. The claim was false, but it gained traction during the heated 1944 election campaign.

On September 23, Roosevelt addressed the rumor directly in a speech that would become one of the most memorable moments of his presidency.

With perfect comedic timing, he declared:

“The Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or my sons. No, they now include my little dog, Fala.”

The crowd responded with laughter and applause. Roosevelt continued:

“Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks. But Fala does resent them.”

Leaning fully into the moment, he added:

“You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers…had concocted a story that I had left him behind on an Aleutian Island…his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since.”

The audience roared. Roosevelt closed the anecdote with a line that blended humor with political precision:

“I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself…but I think I have a right to resent, to object to libelous statements about my dog.”

Our Perspective

By the fall of 1944, Roosevelt’s health had become a growing concern. As he sought an unprecedented fourth term against Thomas E. Dewey, even some of his closest advisors quietly questioned whether he was physically capable of continuing in office.

The speech of September 23 helped dispel those doubts.

In that moment, Roosevelt demonstrated not only stamina, but mastery. His use of the Fala story revealed a political instinct sharpened by decades of public life—an ability to transform a trivial accusation into a powerful connection with voters.

Time Magazine praised the performance, describing Roosevelt as a “virtuoso” whose speech displayed a “perfection of timing and tone.”

Fala, small as he was, played a large role in that success.

Roosevelt had long understood the value of storytelling. Through Fala, he offered the American people something familiar, even comforting—a loyal companion caught up in the absurdities of politics. It humanized the presidency at a time of global war.

It is no surprise that Fala remains the most recognizable presidential pet in American history. Fala’s story reminds us that even in the midst of war and political tension, moments of humor and humanity can shape public perception in lasting ways. Roosevelt’s handling of the episode did more than silence critics—it reinforced his connection with the American people.

In an era defined by uncertainty, a small Scottish Terrier helped tell a much larger story about leadership, resilience, and the art of communication.

Check out our forthcoming biography, Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler (Univ Press of Kansas, Sept 8)

Sources

Ward, Geoffrey C. Closest Companion: The Unknown Story of the Intimate Friendship Between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret Suckley. Simon & Schuster, 1995.

Smith, Jean Edward. FDR. Random House, 2007.

Image Citations

1. FDR Receives Scottish Terrier Puppy (1940)

Leahy, Sharon. FDR receives Scottish Terrier puppy in 1940. Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026.
Source inspiration: Franklin D. Roosevelt with Fala, 1940. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

2. Fala as Constant Companion (Automobile Scene)

Leahy, Sharon. Fala is FDR’s constant companion. Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026.
Source inspiration: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Fala in automobile. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

3. Fala Speech Scene (“Scotch Soul Was Furious”)

Leahy, Sharon. “Fala’s Scotch soul was furious.” Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026.
Source inspiration: Franklin D. Roosevelt delivering radio address, 1941. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons.

4. Newspaper Rumor Illustration (Leahy Denies Fala Rode In Own Ship)

Leahy, Sharon. Rumors Fala caused ship delay are false. Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026.
Source inspiration: “Leahy Denies Fala Rode In Own Ship.” News & Record, Greensboro, NC, September 1944. Wikimedia Commons / United Press.