The LEADER OPINION SUNDAY | FEBRUARY 19 | 2012 | PAGE 4A

OTHER VIEW | L.A. TIMES ARTIST’S VIEW COMMENTARY | GREG ALLEN Malachy and Great War Uggie: A tale heroes id you have a chance to watch D the Super Bowl of two dogs this year? That Super Bowl set a record for the most- watched television show in Pekingese with a pear-shaped body – American history. The apparently the sought-after Peke Nielsen Company said an A physique – and gray mane worthy of a estimated 111.3 million Shetland pony won the coveted Best in Show people watched the New title Tuesday at the Westminster Kennel Club York Giants beat the New Dog Show, the Oscars of the canine world. Just a England Patriots that day before, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier that Sunday night. It was a great was the breakout star of the movie “The Artist,” game, but I was struck by fetched the prize for best film dog at the Golden something other than the Collars Awards presentation and is rumored to game that night. Several be appearing at the Oscars show. He was the times the network switched toast of the Golden Globes stage last month. coverage to the troops watching the game at COMMENTARY | SEN. TOM O’MARA Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. Every time that happened the crowd would erupt in thunderous President’s Day and applause. Sadly enough, there are a miniscule few in Washing- ton and around the coun- New York history try who have a disdain for the American military. They don’t share my con- very now and assassination of William and prominent online victions though, nor do then I’ll receive a McKinley, then was re- additions is the new vir- they speak for me. They’re letter from a stu- elected in 1904. tual “Hall of Governors” E ■ like a mouse with a notion dent asking me to name Franklin Delano unveiled by the Cuomo of a lion’s roar. my favorite U.S. presi- Roosevelt (32nd) was administration earlier this A few weeks back I was at THE ASSOCIATED PRESS dent. What an assign- elected four times as year (http://hallofgover work and a trucker got out Malachy, a Pekingese, winner of the best in ment! Trust me, it’s no president beginning nors.ny.gov/). The site of his rig and walked up to show title at the 136th Annual Westminster easy task to choose just in 1932. opens with these words, me. I was a little standoff- Kennel Club dog show, is fed a chicken and one from the long and Of the above, Van “For more than 100 years, ish at first, but I soon rice meal at Sardi’s by restaurant owner Max distinguished (and, yes, Buren, Cleveland, and our state's history has learned a thing or two Klimavicius in New York. At rear right is sometimes not so distin- both Roosevelts served as been shaped in this build- about humanity’s apprecia- governor of New York owner/handler David Fitzpatrick of East guished) list of American ing, and many great lead- tive mood. state. In fact, across the Berlin, Pa. Presidents. ers have walked these The trucker said he But when a fifth-grader centuries as a state, we’ve hallways as they worked noticed I was wearing an reaches out for your help also had our share of vice for the people of New Air Force hat and he asked The award-winning Pekingese is a show dog on a Social Studies proj- presidents and we’ve with a storied pedigree and dozens of awards to York.” me if I was in the service. I ect and asks you to please taken equal pride in said, “Yes ... eight years.” his name, which is Malachy. Uggie, on the other single out one President Supreme Court Chief I started this President’s hand, was a wayward puppy who went through Day column with the He then stretched forth his who’s better than all the Justices (including John hand to shake mine, and as two different owners and was slated to go to a rest, well, you just do Jay, one of the nation’s question I sometimes get shelter before a film industry animal trainer asked from area students, he did he made the claim: your best to whittle the Founding Fathers and the “I was never in the service, adopted him, discovered his potential and “Who’s your favorite U.S. list down to one. very first Chief Justice) sir, but I wanna thank you launched him on a career in commercials and President?” So I guess it’s With that in mind, I’ll and Associate Justices, for keeping all of us free.” movies. take the opportunity on historically famous and only fair to close with an With that he walked off. Animal welfare advocates have often been crit- this President’s Day week- influential members of answer. Never before had anyone ics of dog breeders, particularly those who end to reflect on the Congress, prominent Hints? He’s one of the ever thanked me for my oppose mandatory spay/neuter ordinances. Why interesting and promi- Cabinet members, win- four Presidents represent- military service – the ges- breed more dogs, advocates ask, when so many nent place that New York ners of the Nobel Peace ed on the Mount ture broke me. end up in municipal shelters and hundreds of state holds in the history of Prize and on and on Rushmore National With that I had flash- thousands are euthanized each year in this the American presidency. throughout the worlds of Memorial in South backs of those I’d spoken to country? But some dog lovers say they are reluc- New York state can lay government and politics, Dakota. He was the first before, ones far braver tant to adopt a dog of unknown history from a claim in some way to at the arts and entertain- American to win the than me. shelter. least seven former ment, sports, medicine Nobel Peace Prize. He As I was writing my sec- Officials of the American Humane Association, presidents: and so much more. once said, “Let the watch- ond novel I had the privi- ■ which has a film and TV unit that certifies Martin Van Buren You name it and it’s words of all our people be lege to interview several likely that a New Yorker whether animals on sets are being treated (the 8th U.S. president) the old familiar watch- World War II veterans, and was elected in 1836 after has played a part in it decently, estimate that 80 percent of the cats words of honesty, decen- among them was a black and dogs that appear in movies and television having served as Andrew somewhere along the way. cy, fair-dealing, and com- man I befriended. Henry shows are rescued or adopted from shelters. The Jackson’s vice president. So it’s a proud past and monsense…” was from Mississippi and legendary Rin Tin Tin – the subject of a new ■ Millard Fillmore for those of us fortunate Still not sure? If I’m he always called me “Mr. biography by Susan Orlean – was rescued as a (13th) was also a vice enough to serve at the forced to settle on just Craig.” I liked the sound of puppy during World War I. He went on to president who became Capitol – or even if one, it’s Theodore it so much I never correct- become so hugely famous as an acting dog that, president in 1850 upon you’ve just had the “Teddy” Roosevelt, a ed him. Henry was in the according to Orlean, he received the most votes the death of Zachary opportunity to visit infantry during the war and native New Yorker and for best actor in 1929 (although Academy offi- Taylor. Albany – you can’t help won two purple hearts, the ■ former New York State cials deny the story, saying nothing in their Ulysses S. Grant but be struck by the aura first for shrapnel in his legs records supports it). (18th), a West Point grad- of this history when you Assemblyman and and the second for the loss All this fanfare should remind us that canines uate who died at Mt. walk the halls, sit in a Governor who served as of his thumb in a firefight. across the spectrum – including those languish- McGregor, north of historic meeting room, or America’s 26th President Cancer took Henry’s life a ing in shelters – are capable of becoming Albany (where the Grant just pass by one of the from 1901 to 1909. couple years ago. remarkable dogs, whether that means walking a Cottage is now a State many monuments and For breadth of experi- My wife and I met John, red carpet in front of photographers or curling Historic Site), was mourn- memorials dotting the ence, devotion to lifelong a WW II war correspondent up on the rug at our feet. Although their back- ed at the Capitol and expanse of the Empire learning, and love of and graphic artist, last sum- buried in New York City. State Plaza – like the country, TR, as he was so mer. We had occasion to grounds could not have been more different, ■ both Uggie and Malachy intend to retire after Chester Alan Arthur bronze cast of George commonly known, is see some of his paintings this awards season. (21st) was a third vice Washington in the West more than noteworthy and were captivated by his president who rose to the Capitol Park, which was among America’s 44 pres- talent. We were sad to learn highest office following unveiled on Armistice idencies. that only a few weeks ago James Garfield’s assassina- Day, Nov. 11, 1932 (read Visit the Sagamore Hill cancer took his life, too. For more about the Empire Read The Insider, tion in 1881. National Historic Site, many years John had a ■ Grover Cleveland State Plaza’s memorials at Theodore Roosevelt’s place in his heart for the Leader (22nd and 24th) was the state Office of Monday’s home on Long Island, survivors of the USS elected president for the General Services website: and learn a little more Indianapolis. He dedicated Bob Rolfe first time in 1884 and http://www.ogs.ny.gov/ES about his legacy through countless hours of his own then elected again in P/CT/Memorials/Default time and money to helping 1892, becoming the only .asp). the following National Park Service (NPS) web- those men. President to serve two And even if you’ve But time is swiftly thin- site: http://www.nps non-consecutive terms. never had the occasion or ning the ranks of those The LEADER ■ Theodore Roosevelt the opportunity to set .gov/sahi/index.htm The Leader (ISSN #10501983) World War II veterans. 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