Early in his first term as president, Lyndon B. Johnson found himself caught up in a scandal involving his family’s beagles, named Her and Him. The trouble started when the President was welcoming a group of business leaders at the Rose Garden, and he lifted one of the family pets by its ears, causing the dog to cry out. Johnson then commented, “It does them good to let them yelp.”
The ear-pulling was captured by an Associated Press photographer, and plenty of dog lovers became upset at the President. At this link you can see the photo, as well as audio of Johnson talking about how a senator brought up the ear-pulling during negotiations with Congress over the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
After that incident Johnson’s beagles soon appeared on the cover of LIFE’s June 19, 1964 issue. The story aimed to show that, despite the ear-pulling incident, Her and Him were enjoying life under the Johnson Administration. “Not many dogs have been privileged to shoo birds off the White House lawn, get underfoot at a cabinet meeting or mingle with dignitaries at a State Ball,” LIFE wrote. “Certainly no dogs in all the world have the Bouquet Room as their private boudoir.”
LIFE staff photographer Francis Miller was given great access to Him and Her, and he came to the White House prepared to make the most of it. An animal lover himself, Miller brought a full assortment of treats and amusements to get the beagles on his side. Here’s how LIFE described the shoot:
Too wise in the ways of puppies to believe that affection alone would produce good photographs, Miller stretched himself out on the White House lawn, alternately barked like a dog, tossed a bone in the air, plied the beagles with his Yummies, huffed into the harmonica and joggled the toy bird in his left hand. This left him free to shoot the cover with his right hand and his right eye.
The story stated that Him and Her were primarily the pets of LBJ’s daughter Luci, who was 16 years old at the time. And she was not the beagles’ only caretaker. Miller took several photos of the dogs in the company of Thraphes Bryant, who in addition to being the White House electrician helped look after the dogs.
The affection between Bryant and the beagles was clear in Miller’s photos. And Bryant tended to many First Dogs during his career. He would write a memoir about it, titled “Dog Days at the White House: The Outrageous Memoirs of the Presidential Kennel Keeper.”
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s pet beagles, Him and Her, on the White House lawn, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Him and Her, pet Beagles of President Lyndon B. Johnson, sitting together on lawn of White House, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Him and Her, pet Beagles of President Lyndon B. Johnson, in a White House sitting room, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
President Lyndon B. Johnson, along with his daughter Luci Baines Johnson (left) and her friend Warri Lynn Smith (center), played with the family beagles, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
President Lyndon B Johnson’s beagles at the White House, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, Him and Her, at the White House, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Him and Her, the beagles belonging to the Lyndon B. Johnson family, made sport of an old overshoe in the White House living quarters, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, Him and Her, at the White House, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Thraphes Bryant, in addition to being White House electrician, helped care for the beagles of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
White House electrician Thraphes Bryant helped care for LBJ’s beagles, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Thraphes Bryant, in addition to being White House electrician, helped care for the beagles of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
LIFE photographer Francis Miller took photos of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagles, Him and Her, on the White House lawn, 1964.
Francis Miller/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
