Lou Carrol
Encyclopedia
Louis Leon Carrol was an American businessman who is best known for giving then-U.S. Senator Richard Nixon
a puppy in 1952 that was used as the subject of the Checkers speech
, which kept Nixon on the Republican ticket as the vice presidential candidate in that year's presidential election.
Carrol was born in Lynn, Massachusetts
. He served in the European Theater of Operations
during World War II
and received the Bronze Star
for valor and Purple Heart
for injuries during the Battle of the Bulge
. After the war he attended Indiana University
, receiving a B.S.
degree in Business.
Carrol was senior executive vice president of sales at Lawson Products Inc. in Des Plaines, Illinois
at his retirement in 1996. His death was attributed to natural causes.
expressing a desire to have a puppy for the Nixons' two daughters. Carrol's cocker spaniel, Boots, had just given birth to a large litter.
After reading the article, Carrol went to a nearby Western Union
office and sent a telegram to Nixon's office in Washington, D.C.
. Carrol, who was working as a traveling salesman in rural Texas
, began the telegram: "On behalf of the great state of Texas, I wish to offer the Nixons a cocker spaniel puppy, purebred and registered."
About a week later, Carrol received a letter from Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods
. The letter, which Carrol kept framed in his den, read in part: "The senator had been planning to buy a puppy for the little girls and they were particularly fond of cocker spaniels. I know therefore they will be delighted to receive this puppy."
Carrol later was a guest on the quiz shows What's My Line and I've Got A Secret
, but otherwise never received much publicity -- "nor was I seeking it," he told the Baltimore Sun in 2002, the 50th anniversary of the speech.
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
a puppy in 1952 that was used as the subject of the Checkers speech
Checkers speech
The Checkers speech or Fund speech was an address made by Richard Nixon, the Republican vice presidential candidate and junior United States Senator from California, on television and radio on September 23, 1952. Senator Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his...
, which kept Nixon on the Republican ticket as the vice presidential candidate in that year's presidential election.
Carrol was born in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
. He served in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and received the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for valor and Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for injuries during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. After the war he attended Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, receiving a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Business.
Carrol was senior executive vice president of sales at Lawson Products Inc. in Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It has adopted the official nickname of "City of Destiny." As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 58,720. It is a suburb of Chicago, and is next to O'Hare International Airport...
at his retirement in 1996. His death was attributed to natural causes.
Contact with Nixon
In 1952, Carrol read a newspaper article that quoted Pat NixonPat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
expressing a desire to have a puppy for the Nixons' two daughters. Carrol's cocker spaniel, Boots, had just given birth to a large litter.
After reading the article, Carrol went to a nearby Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
office and sent a telegram to Nixon's office in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Carrol, who was working as a traveling salesman in rural Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, began the telegram: "On behalf of the great state of Texas, I wish to offer the Nixons a cocker spaniel puppy, purebred and registered."
About a week later, Carrol received a letter from Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods
Rose Mary Woods
Rose Mary Woods was Richard Nixon's secretary from his days in the Congress in 1951, through his Vice Presidency, Presidency, and until the end of his political career. Before H.R...
. The letter, which Carrol kept framed in his den, read in part: "The senator had been planning to buy a puppy for the little girls and they were particularly fond of cocker spaniels. I know therefore they will be delighted to receive this puppy."
Carrol later was a guest on the quiz shows What's My Line and I've Got A Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
, but otherwise never received much publicity -- "nor was I seeking it," he told the Baltimore Sun in 2002, the 50th anniversary of the speech.