“Sasha and Malia … you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House.” With those words — uttered during President-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech in 2008 — America began its love affair with the former first family’s new pet. “Bo Obama,” they’d call the Portuguese water dog, who would soon find himself chasing tennis balls and running on the lush White House lawn — often alongside one of the most powerful men in the world (and later with his sister, Sunny, whom the Obamas would adopt in 2013).
Sadly, the Obamas announced Bo's passing on Saturday. POLITICO takes a look at his fetching life.