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The Turkey that Lives to See Another Day Thanksgiving is not just for eating turkey, but it’s also a time to pardon some of these large birds according to tradition that started with Presidents in the 1900s. Related Links Slideshow: Thankgiving Turkey at the White House Quiz: Turkey Day Thanksgiving History Turkey Facts A Not-So-Traditional Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Quotes from Movies (& TV Shows!)
Presidential Turkey Pardon Origins Each year since 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board have given a turkey to the President of the United States at a White House ceremony. Since then, presidents have been more likely to eat the turkey rather than give it a reprieve. A notable exception occurred in 1963, when President Kennedy, referring to the turkey given to him, said, “Let’s just keep him.” It wasn’t until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned for the first time. Confusing the Practice Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald continued the pardons begun under the first Bush. Some confusion about the true origin of this practice has crept into recent presidential speeches though. One story claims that Harry Truman pardoned the turkey given to him in 1947, but the Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence of this. Another story claims the tradition dates back to Abraham Lincoln pardoning his son Tad’s pet turkey. From Frying Pan Park to Disneyland What’s certain is that since 1989 a turkey—and its alternate—have been pardoned each year. An alternate is chosen just in case the first bird is unable to perform its duties. For fifteen years through 2004, the turkeys were given to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia. The turkeys would receive a last minute pardon before arriving, and were then led to their new home at the Turkey Barn after enduring a turkey “roast” full of poultry humor and history. In 2005 and 2006, however, the turkeys were flown to Disneyland in California where they served as honorary grand marshals for Disneyland’s Thanksgiving Day parade. After that, they spent the rest of their lives at a Disneyland ranch. A spot in sunny Disneyland seems immensely preferable to a place called Frying Pan Park if you happen to be a turkey who has just escaped from becoming the main course of someone’s Thanksgiving feast. On Wednesday, November 27, 2013, President Obama gave two turkeys named Popcorn and Caramel a last-minute reprieve. Obama made light of the event. “The office of the presidency - the most powerful position in the world - brings with it many awesome and solemn responsibilities,” he said. “This is not one of them.” Recent Recipients of the Presidential Pardon 2007: May and Flower 2008: Pumpkin and Pecan 2009: Courage and Carolina 2010: Apple and Cider 2011: Liberty and Peace 2012: Cobbler and Gobbler 2013: Popcorn and Caramel 2014: Mac and Cheese 2015: Abe and Honest 2016: Tater and Tot 2017: Drumstick and Wishbone 2018 Peas and Carrots 2019: Butter and Bread 2020: Corn and Cob 2021: Peanut Butter and Jelly
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The Turkey that Lives to See Another Day
Thanksgiving is not just for eating turkey, but it’s also a time to pardon some of these large birds according to tradition that started with Presidents in the 1900s.
Presidential Turkey Pardon Origins
Each year since 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board have given a turkey to the President of the United States at a White House ceremony. Since then, presidents have been more likely to eat the turkey rather than give it a reprieve. A notable exception occurred in 1963, when President Kennedy, referring to the turkey given to him, said, “Let’s just keep him.” It wasn’t until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned for the first time.
- Slideshow: Thankgiving Turkey at the White House
- Quiz: Turkey Day
- Thanksgiving History
- Turkey Facts
- A Not-So-Traditional Thanksgiving
- Thanksgiving Quotes from Movies (& TV Shows!)
Confusing the Practice
Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald continued the pardons begun under the first Bush. Some confusion about the true origin of this practice has crept into recent presidential speeches though. One story claims that Harry Truman pardoned the turkey given to him in 1947, but the Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence of this. Another story claims the tradition dates back to Abraham Lincoln pardoning his son Tad’s pet turkey.
From Frying Pan Park to Disneyland
What’s certain is that since 1989 a turkey—and its alternate—have been pardoned each year. An alternate is chosen just in case the first bird is unable to perform its duties. For fifteen years through 2004, the turkeys were given to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia. The turkeys would receive a last minute pardon before arriving, and were then led to their new home at the Turkey Barn after enduring a turkey “roast” full of poultry humor and history.
In 2005 and 2006, however, the turkeys were flown to Disneyland in California where they served as honorary grand marshals for Disneyland’s Thanksgiving Day parade. After that, they spent the rest of their lives at a Disneyland ranch. A spot in sunny Disneyland seems immensely preferable to a place called Frying Pan Park if you happen to be a turkey who has just escaped from becoming the main course of someone’s Thanksgiving feast.
On Wednesday, November 27, 2013, President Obama gave two turkeys named Popcorn and Caramel a last-minute reprieve. Obama made light of the event. “The office of the presidency - the most powerful position in the world - brings with it many awesome and solemn responsibilities,” he said. “This is not one of them.”
Recent Recipients of the Presidential Pardon
- 2007: May and Flower
- 2008: Pumpkin and Pecan
- 2009: Courage and Carolina
- 2010: Apple and Cider
- 2011: Liberty and Peace
- 2012: Cobbler and Gobbler
- 2013: Popcorn and Caramel
- 2014: Mac and Cheese
- 2015: Abe and Honest
- 2016: Tater and Tot
- 2017: Drumstick and Wishbone
- 2018 Peas and Carrots
- 2019: Butter and Bread
- 2020: Corn and Cob
- 2021: Peanut Butter and Jelly
More Thanksgiving Features
.com/spot/tgturkey2.html
Sources +
Our Common Sources
Our Common Sources
Turkey Facts
- Turkey Facts
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
