George Washington's Basset's- The First Presidential Dog?

Aren't these faces irresistable?
Legend has it that George Washington was given a pair of these wonderful dogs- the following was taken from an article on The American Kennel Club website:
A Look Back
The Basset Hound was originally developed in France as a trailer of small game that hunters could follow on foot. Bassets continued to achieve very notable popularity during the reign of Emperor Napoleon, and in 1880 Queen Alexandra kept Basset Hounds in the royal kennels. Marquis de Lafayette brought Basset Hounds, known for their impeccable sense of smell, to the United States as a gift to President George Washington to use in his hunting expeditions.