It’s a cherished Thanksgiving tradition: the President pardons a turkey. Actually, the President pardons two turkeys – the primary turkey and a “backup.” Along with the Easter Egg Roll, the pardoning of a turkey is one of the most well-loved (and media-friendly) White House traditions.
Unclear Beginnings of Turkey Tradition
Popular history says that President Truman first pardoned a turkey, but no evidence supports that story. A photo supposedly showing him pardoning a turkey might instead be the first instance of a president receiving a turkey from the National Turkey Federation – and it’s presumed that the turkey was eaten. Stories persist of Presidents Lincoln, Kennedy, and Reagan sparing turkeys before it solidified into tradition. In reality, the tradition is quite young, only officially starting during the tenure of President George H. W. Bush. In 1989, President Bush didn’t just decide to free the bird presented to him, but to grant it a presidential pardon.
Turkeys Selected At Birth For Presidential Pardon
It’s now a tradition that takes place each year shortly before Thanksgiving. At the White House ceremony, officially called the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, the National Turkey Federation presents the President with two turkeys. Turkeys presented for pardon are selected at birth and trained to handle life in the limelight, becoming accustomed to large crowds and flash photography.
After the official pardoning, the turkeys are shipped off to live a life of leisure. For a brief time between 2005 and 2009, they went to Disneyland or Disney World where they led the Thanksgiving Day Parade as honorary grand marshals. These days, turkeys stop at Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of first president George Washington, for a brief stay. After the holidays they move to Morven Park’s Turkey Hill Farm at the home of former Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis to live out their days.
Turkey’s Life After the Pardon Brief
Unfortunately, those days are not long. Pardoned turkeys are expected to live a year after the pardon, or two at the most, due to their large size and accompanying health problems. Turkeys selected for pardon are raised as if they will be eaten, meaning they can reach over 40 pounds – more than twice what typical turkeys in the wild weigh, about 18 pounds. Wild turkeys typically live two to three years.
The turkeys that President Obama has pardoned, including 2011’s Liberty and Peace, and 2012’s Cobbler and Gobbler, have all died. Let’s hope that the two turkeys expecting a pardon this November 27th get to enjoy their retirement a little longer.
