Jennifer Finley Boylan’s forthcoming memoir, “Good Boy” is about the seven dogs she has had through the years. In today’s New York Times, she writes about how dogs in the White House have helped our Presidents to become better human beings. She concludes her op ed by writing, “Mr. President, I want to believe that somewhere deep inside you, there is a good boy, still waiting to be born.”
www.nytimes.com/…
It’s an op ed that does not allow for comments from readers, so I emailed the author because more than 3 years ago, after Trump’s inauguration, I wrote Senator Schumer’s office — and Republican Senators and my Congresswoman — asking them to gift Trump a pair of White and Black Yorkshire Terriers — like on the liquor bottle. Nothing came of that. The Senator’s aides all thought Trump would reject the gift.
Here’s what I emailed Ms. Boylan:
I applaud your consideration of Trump and your belief about him that "somewhere deep inside (you), there is a good boy, still waiting to be born".
None of Trump's behavior since 2000, notably none of his behavior as President, supports your belief. For decades, Trump has allowed NOTHING living or dead to be in his presence that can draw attention away from Trump.
He was not involved in raising his kids when they were little because infants and toddlers demand attention that he would not give them. Where he lived and worked in Trump Tower, there are NO plants and NO pictures -- except for pictures of Trump nearby. In the White House, it is the same. There are no large plants or paintings or photos near where he lives or works. He's okay with mirrors. You can see this for yourself on youtube.
If a man feels threatened by attention given to a ficus plant, how much more threatened would he feel by a Goldendoodle?
What would happen if Trump had a dog in the White House? He would kick the dog sooner or later. Most all secret service agents would NOT tolerate that. Sooner or later a photo of Trump kicking the dog in private would become public. That photo would be sufficient to lose him 2 to 5% of his political supporters. That'd be enough to keep him from being re elected.
That's why after Trump’s inauguration, I wrote prominent Democrats urging them to donate a pair of White and Black Yorkshire Terriers to the Trump White House. I followed up with telephone calls to their offices. They all thought Trump would refuse a gift of pet dogs so nothing happened.
I dearly wish you to be right about Trump's capacity for love and emotional growth. Nothing I have seen or heard indicates he has that capacity.