Tad Lincoln’s pet goat Nanny sometimes ate the White House furniture, but Tad loved Nanny so that the president allowed the goat to stay.

When Mary took Tad on vacation to Vermont in 1863, no one was keeping close tabs on Nanny and the goat went missing. He was last seen in the middle of Tad’s bed. President Lincoln had the unappealing task of writing to Mary to announce the sad news.