Where Buddy Once Roamed

By Hugh Sidey

President Clinton's dog Buddy, struck and killed by a car last week, was immortalized by artist Jamie Wyeth in a 200th birthday portrait of the White House, which he painted last year. Wyeth asked to sketch sunrise on the White House from the South Lawn. After a tense encounter with security personnel, who weren't prepared for his 5 a.m. visit, Wyeth was given a secure area under a tree from which to sketch what turned out to be a glorious sunrise that cast a golden glow over the mansion. As he feverishly sketched, the back door of the White House opened, and Buddy emerged in high spirits. He streaked across the lawn, spotted the friendly artist and gave Wyeth a full dog greeting, sending sketch pencils flying. Wyeth then painted Buddy into his picture, Dawn, The White House, enabling future generations to see Buddy loping through the dewy grass well into the third century of White House history.

--By Hugh Sidey