May 4, 1964 - President Johnson held his beagle pups erect by their ears today to have their pictures taken — and, incidentally, to show any doubters that the beagles do not object.
“Now, don’t yelp,” Mr. Johnson said to one of the dogs, Him and Her, as he gently lifted it by the shoulders to a sitting-up position.
Once the pup was sitting up straight enough to suit him, the President put his hands to the ears and held the dog erect on its hind legs while photographs were taken. The dog seemed to enjoy the whole procedure.
Somebody noted that the dog had not yelped. The President replied with a grin: “He doesn’t yelp unless an A.P. photographer gets too close to him.”
Mr. Johnson told reporters again — as he had on Saturday — that handling them by the ears was not painful and that any resultant yelps were yelps of joy.
The pair of hounds got Mr. Johnson into hot water with animal lovers last week after he had pulled them up by the ears and they had emitted some yelps.
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