In 1989, President Bush quipped: “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy—he’s presented a Presidential pardon as of right now—and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.” It has been an annual tradition ever since.
The presidential turkey pardon is a fun Thanksgiving tradition, but you may wonder how it started and why the president pardons a turkey each year As it turns out, the turkey pardon has an interesting history behind it
A Brief History of the Turkey Pardon
There is some debate over when the first turkey pardon happened. Some accounts say President Abraham Lincoln informally pardoned a turkey in 1863 after his son took a liking to it. However, the first documented turkey pardon was given by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, just days before his assassination.
While various presidents received gift turkeys sporadically over the years it didn’t become an annual tradition until 1987 under President Ronald Reagan. However, President George H.W. Bush was the first to formally grant a “presidential pardon” to a turkey in 1989. Since then every sitting president has pardoned at least one turkey each Thanksgiving.
Why Presidents Pardon Turkeys
There are a few reasons why presidents pardon Thanksgiving turkeys each year:
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Tradition – It started as a sporadic tradition under earlier presidents but became more formalized in 1989 under George H.W. Bush. Since then, it has become a beloved annual tradition that White House administrations continue.
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Humor – The lighthearted ceremony gives presidents a chance to show their jovial sides with some gentle turkey-related humor. It provides a fun, feel-good story amid the usual serious news around the holidays.
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Public Relations – The ceremony provides positive media coverage for the White House and reminds Americans of presidential duties. Images of the president with the turkey make for good PR.
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Animal Welfare – By “pardoning” turkeys, presidents promote concern for animal well-being, rather than slaughtering them for food. This appeals to supporters of animal rights.
The Annual Turkey Pardon Ceremony
The annual turkey pardon ceremony often includes some recurring traditions:
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The National Turkey Federation presents the president with a specially raised turkey around Thanksgiving. Usually, there is an alternate “backup turkey” just in case.
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The turkeys get fun, punny names related to the Thanksgiving theme, such as Corn and Cob or Bread and Butter.
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The ceremony takes place in the White House Rose Garden, where the president “pardons” the turkey and sends it to live out its days on a farm.
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The president makes remarks on the turkey pardon, which often include lighthearted turkey puns and jokes for the media.
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After the pardon, the turkeys go to their permanent home, often a farm or zoo exhibit. Despite the pardon, most only live an additional 1-2 years due to their short life expectancies.
Notable Turkey Pardons
There have been many memorable presidential turkey pardons over the years:
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1987: President Reagan was the first to send a pardoned turkey to a petting farm after the ceremony.
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1989: President George H.W. Bush formally announced the turkey was “pardoned” and wouldn’t be eaten.
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2003: President George W. Bush’s turkey was the first sent to Disneyland to live after the pardon.
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2009: President Obama pardoned Courage, a turkey whose name was chosen by online vote.
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2012: Two turkeys (Cobbler and Gobbler) were pardoned by Barack Obama – the first time ever.
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2016: Presidents Obama and Jokowi of Indonesia pardoned turkeys simultaneously via video conference.
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2022: President Biden pardoned Chocolate and Chip, two turkey siblings from North Carolina.
Why You Should Care
While it may seem like a silly tradition, there are good reasons the presidential turkey pardon has become so beloved:
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It provides a unifying, feel-good story at Thanksgiving time each year.
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It reminds us of presidential duties and the goodwill associated with the office.
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It signals the White House’s symbolic concern for animal welfare.
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It allows presidents to exercise their authority to “pardon” in a lighthearted way.
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It illustrates the human side of the presidency with their turkey-centric jokes.
So the next time you see the president pardoning a turkey, appreciate how this unique tradition brings some fun and happiness to Thanksgiving time. The presidential turkey pardon has become a unifying part of American culture worth celebrating!
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Have you ever wondered…
In 1989, President Bush quipped: “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy—he’s presented a Presidential pardon as of right now—and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.” It has been an annual tradition ever since.
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The history of the presidential turkey pardon
FAQ
Why do turkeys get a presidential pardon?
It’s seriously just a stupid tradition. There’s literally no other reason behind it, and it has no political or legal effects at all. It’s not even a binding pardon, as the turkey is an animal.
What happens after a turkey is pardoned?
Historically, this has not been the case. Most of the presidentially pardoned turkeys have been sent to farms and petting zoos where their care may be neglected or to universities where they are subjected to research—places where they often suffer unseen by the public.
What president ate the national turkey instead of pardoning it?
Records on file at the Truman Library show that Truman publicly admitted eating at least some of the turkeys. The Eisenhower Presidential Library says documents in their collection reveal that President Dwight Eisenhower ate the birds presented to him during his two terms.
What do presidents do to a turkey?
We all know where most turkeys end up on Thanksgiving. But for a lucky pair, a presidential pardon will save them from the table. The presidential turkey pardon is a wacky American tradition that some historians date back to President Harry Truman.
What is a presidential turkey pardon?
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, the White House is marking one of its quirkiest holiday traditions: the presidential turkey pardon. Each year, the president pardons one or two lucky gobblers for unspecified offenses, sparing them from the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Did president Lincoln pardon a Turkey?
Since then, the turkey pardon became a regular White House tradition. The WHHA also notes that while a tale has circulated about President Lincoln sparing the first Thanksgiving turkey back in 1863, this is likely a myth. What happens to the pardoned turkeys?
Was Bush the first president to pardon a Turkey?
Decades later, the presidential turkey pardon remains an annual Thanksgiving ritual. However, while Bush formalized the fowl tradition, he may not have been the first president to issue a stay of execution to a turkey. WATCH VIDEO: How the Thanksgiving Turkey Ends Up at Your Table