India (cat)
Encyclopedia
India "Willie" Bush was a black cat
owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush
and First Lady
Laura Bush
. She lived with the Bush family
for almost two decades.
The Bushes acquired India, an all-black, female American Shorthair
, as a kitten in late 1991 or 1992 when twin daughters Barbara
and Jenna Bush
were nine years old. India remained with George and Laura Bush once their daughters left for college. The cat moved with the Bushes to the White House
from the Texas Governor's Mansion
in Austin
in early 2001 following Bush's inauguration as President.
There was some controversy reported in India
as several people were upset with the cat's name. In the Indian state of Kerala
, for example, 101 dogs were reportedly renamed 'Bush' in protest to Bush's cat being called India. In July 2004, demonstrators in the southern Keralian city of Thiruvananthapuram
denounced the cat's name as an insult to the nation of India
and even burned an effigy
of President Bush in protest. The Bushes did not change the cat's name in response to the demonstrations.
In actuality, the cat is not named for the country of India
, yet rather for baseball
player Rubén Sierra
who was nicknamed "El Indio
", during his time with the Texas Rangers
when Bush owned the team. The name had reportedly been given to the family cat by daughter, Barbara Bush.
Despite living at the White House with the First Family, India had been largely overshadowed in the media by two of the Bushes' more famous Scottish terrier
s, Barney
and Miss Beazley. However, she's seen in the "Barneycam" videos produced by the White House staff around Christmas time, her first being Where in the White House is Miss Beazley?, where she was referred to as "Willie". The dogs received significantly more media attention from the White House press corps
during the Bush presidency.
India died at the White House on January 4, 2009, at the age of 18. In a statement to the press regarding India's death, Sally McDonough
, a spokesperson for First Lady Laura Bush, noted that the family was "deeply saddened" by their cat's death. An excerpt of the statement released to the press stated, "India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed."
, as "Willie", in the East Sitting Hall
of the White House
.
Black cat
A black cat is a feline with black fur. It is not a particular breed of cat and may be mixed or of a specific breed. The Bombay, known for its sleek black fur, is an example of a black cat. The all-black pigmentation is equally prevalent in both male and female cats...
owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
. She lived with the Bush family
Bush family
The Bush family is a prominent American family. Along with many members who have been successful bankers and businessmen, across three generations the family includes two U.S. Senators, one Supreme Court Justice, two Governors, one Vice President and two Presidents...
for almost two decades.
The Bushes acquired India, an all-black, female American Shorthair
American Shorthair
The American Shorthair is a breed of cat believed to be descended from European domestic cats brought to North America by early settlers to protect valuable cargo from mice and rats...
, as a kitten in late 1991 or 1992 when twin daughters Barbara
Barbara Pierce Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the elder of the sororal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and the granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and his wife Barbara Bush, after whom she was named...
and Jenna Bush
Jenna Bush
Jenna Welch Bush Hager , is the younger of the sororal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush. She and her sister, Barbara, were the first twin children of a U.S. President...
were nine years old. India remained with George and Laura Bush once their daughters left for college. The cat moved with the Bushes to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
from the Texas Governor's Mansion
Texas Governor's Mansion
The Texas Governor's Mansion, also known simply as Governor's Mansion is a historic home for the Governor of Texas in downtown Austin, Texas...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in early 2001 following Bush's inauguration as President.
There was some controversy reported in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as several people were upset with the cat's name. In the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, for example, 101 dogs were reportedly renamed 'Bush' in protest to Bush's cat being called India. In July 2004, demonstrators in the southern Keralian city of Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
denounced the cat's name as an insult to the nation of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and even burned an effigy
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
of President Bush in protest. The Bushes did not change the cat's name in response to the demonstrations.
In actuality, the cat is not named for the country of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, yet rather for baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player Rubén Sierra
Rubén Sierra
Rubén Angel Sierra García is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Sierra also goes by the nicknames El Caballo and El Indio....
who was nicknamed "El Indio
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
", during his time with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
when Bush owned the team. The name had reportedly been given to the family cat by daughter, Barbara Bush.
Despite living at the White House with the First Family, India had been largely overshadowed in the media by two of the Bushes' more famous Scottish terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
s, Barney
Barney (dog)
Barney , born September 30, 2000, in New Jersey, United States, who was often referred to as the "First Dog", is a Scottish Terrier owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush...
and Miss Beazley. However, she's seen in the "Barneycam" videos produced by the White House staff around Christmas time, her first being Where in the White House is Miss Beazley?, where she was referred to as "Willie". The dogs received significantly more media attention from the White House press corps
White House Press Corps
The White House Press Corps is the group of journalists or correspondents usually stationed at the White House in Washington, D.C. to cover the president of the United States, White House events and news briefings. Their offices are located in the West Wing....
during the Bush presidency.
India died at the White House on January 4, 2009, at the age of 18. In a statement to the press regarding India's death, Sally McDonough
Sally McDonough
Sally McDonough is a Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications and Press Secretary to the First Lady during the Bush administration....
, a spokesperson for First Lady Laura Bush, noted that the family was "deeply saddened" by their cat's death. An excerpt of the statement released to the press stated, "India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed."
Further reading
The Bush family cat makes an appearance on p. 153 of the March 2008 Architectural DigestArchitectural Digest
Architectural Digest is an American monthly magazine. Its principal subject is interior design, not — as the name of the magazine might suggest — architecture more generally. The magazine is published by Condé Nast Publications and was founded in 1920, by the Knapp family, who sold it in 1993...
, as "Willie", in the East Sitting Hall
East Sitting Hall
The East Sitting Hall is located on the second floor of the White House, home of the President of the United States. First used as a reception room for guests of the president , it is now a family parlor with access to the east rooms on the second floor.The room is entered from the second floor...
of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
.