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 White House tradition that happens each year around Thanksgiving But why does the president pardon a turkey? When did this quirky custom start?
A Brief History of the Turkey Pardon
The tradition of sending turkeys to the White House dates back to the 1870s, when Rhode Island poultry dealer Horace Vose began gifting presidents with plump Thanksgiving birds. This annual offering brought publicity to Vose’s farm and became an enduring White House tradition.
After Vose’s death in 1913, the opportunity to provide the presidential turkey was opened to all. Turkey gifts often arrived adorned with patriotic flair, reflecting the giver’s support for the president. By the 1920s, the yearly turkey gift was an established national symbol of good cheer.
There are conflicting accounts of when the turkey pardon began. Some point to Abraham Lincoln informally pardoning a turkey in 1863. However there’s little evidence this sparked an ongoing tradition.
In 1947, the National Turkey Federation first presented a turkey to President Harry Truman. For decades after, presidents continued eating these gift birds at Thanksgiving. It wasn’t until 1989 that President George H.W. Bush formally pardoned a turkey, joking that it would “live out its days on a children’s farm.” Since then, sparing the turkey has become an annual ritual.
Why Pardon the Turkey?
The presidential turkey pardon offers a lighthearted pre-Thanksgiving tradition for Americans. For the White House, it’s an opportunity to celebrate generosity and express gratitude. For animal activists, it promotes compassion.
By pardoning the turkey, the president underscores American values of freedom and community. Extending mercy to the turkey reflects our country’s commitment to protecting the powerless. The president’s authority to pardon also represents the restraint of political power for good.
On a lighter note the turkey pardon allows presidents to show their humorous side. They often use the event to crack jokes and reconnect with the public before the formality of the holidays. Photos of the president with a confused turkey in the Rose Garden make for amusing memories.
The Ceremony and the Turkey’s Fate
The official turkey presentation takes place in the White House Rose Garden a few days before Thanksgiving. A chairman from the National Turkey Federation provides one or two dressed turkeys. In recent years, the birds have stayed alive for the ceremony.
After light remarks from the president, he “pardons” the turkey, announcing it will not be eaten. The freed bird usually retires to a farm or zoo exhibit to live out its short natural lifespan.
Though no longer on the menu, pardoned turkeys don’t have much time to celebrate. Commercially bred white turkeys, like those gifted to the White House, tend to die within a year or two due to health problems from their rapid growth.
An Enduring Tradition
While the presidential turkey pardon may seem an odd White House custom, it has become a beloved American tradition. This lighthearted event reminds us of our shared values of compassion and freedom. For a moment each year, Americans can smile together at the amusing sight of the president granting a turkey a new lease on life.
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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 pardoned by the president?
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 is the life expectancy of a pardoned turkey?
They have a life expectancy of between one and two years, according to the National Turkey Federation. The presidential connection to turkeys dates back to as early as 1873, when Ulysses S. Grant received a turkey from Rhode Island “Poultry King” Horace Vose.
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.
Who pardoned the turkey from being eaten?
Although Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, along with First Ladies Thelma “Pat” Nixon and Rosalynn Carter, pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys, the modern turkey pardon did not become an annual tradition until the George H.W. Bush administration.
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