Barbara Bush most easygoing of the First Ladies with whom they had dealt. Barbara Bush became the first U.S. First Lady to become a recipient of the Henry G. Freeman Jr. Pin Money Fund, receiving $36,000, most of which she gave to favorite charities. Bush was known for her affection for her pet English Springer Spaniel Millie and wrote a children's book about Millie's new litter of puppies. She even included Millie in her official White House portrait, painted by Candace Whittemore Lovely. She was struck every day by "how much things had changed" for her and her husband since they became
English Water Spaniel is believed to have genetically influenced several modern breeds of dog, including the American Water Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever and the modern variety of Field Spaniel. It is unknown if the breed was involved in the creation of the Irish Water Spaniel. In 1570, Dr John Caius described the Water Spaniel. It has been suggested that Shakespeare also knew the breed "for he mentions the `water rug' in "Macbeth". " Furthermore, Shakespeare specifically mentions the breed in Act III Scene 1 of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" when Launce says of his love, "She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel."