Socks has died at 18

Beloved Clinton White House pet, Socks the cat died today at the ripe old age of 18. The feline had been suffering from cancer since late last year. Former secretary to Mr.Clinton, Betty Currie reported the death this evening; Socks had resided with her since the Clintons departed the White House in 2001.

Chelsea Clinton's pet first appeared in the news in November 1992 after then-Gov. Bill Clinton won the presidency and the family was the still in the governor's mansion in Little Rock, Ark. Socks became an early symbol of privacy-vs.-media in the Clinton era when photographers got a little aggressive as he took a stroll outside. 

In her book,"Dear Socks, Dear Buddy", Hillary Clinton wrote that she had been taking Chelsea to a piano lesson in spring 1991 when they spotted two kittens in her music teacher's front yard. "The black one with white paws _ Socks _ jumped right into (Chelsea's) arms," she wrote. The Clinton Foundation release the following statement:

"Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere. We're grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years."