Socks, the Clintons' cat, is dead

BALTIMORE, Md. - Socks, the White House cat during Bill Clinton's administration who waged war on Buddy the pup, has died. He was about 18.

Socks had lived with the former president's secretary, Betty Currie, in Hollywood, Md., since the Clintons left the White House in early 2001. Currie yesterday evening said she was heartbroken by Socks' death but gave no details.

The Clintons, in a statement, thanked Currie for taking "such loving care" of Socks, who "brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere."

Reports surfaced in late 2008 that Socks had cancer and that Currie had ruled out invasive efforts to prolong his life.

Socks first appeared in the news in November 1992 after the then-Arkansas governor won the presidency. He became an early symbol of privacy-vs.-media in the Clinton era.