Pet turkey bonds with adopted family
Meet Goose, an 8-month-old red bourbon turkey who was adopted as a family pet. He loves visiting fast food drive-thrus.
Thanksgiving is next Thursday, Nov. 27, but another tradition is typically celebrated at the White House a few days before the holiday. It’s a presidential turkey pardon.
There’s no word yet on when President Donald Trump will save the lives of the two ceremonial turkeys, but the first lady’s office released a poll on But which president first pardoned a turkey and how the ritual developed remains a combination of folklore and historical documents. Before you start planning your holiday dinner, let’s review this unusual annual event.
Turkish origins of national thanksgiving
The tradition of holding a White House ceremony prior to Thanksgiving began in 1947, when President Harry Truman received a live turkey from the National Turkey Federation, according to the National Archives. The Truman Library suggests that, contrary to reports that he pardoned the turkey, the bird was probably served as dinner.
In recent years, the White House has chosen which turkeys will be given as national Thanksgiving turkeys and which will be their replacements, the group said. The president announces the final selection at a ceremony, but both animals are saved and will be sent to a petting zoo or agricultural center for the rest of their lives.
Who was the first president to pardon a turkey? Well, it depends.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln is credited with saving a turkey for Christmas dinner, according to then-White House correspondent Noah Brooks and the White House Historical Society. A live turkey was brought home for Christmas dinner, but President Lincoln’s son Tad begged to save the bird’s life, and his father agreed, according to the news agency.
Officially, President John F. Kennedy is credited with being the first person to pardon a turkey. In 1963, a 55-pound bird was presented to the White House with a sign around its neck that read, “We’re eating well, Mr. President.” “Let’s let this animal grow,” the president said, calling for it to be returned to a farm in California.
Future turkeys received similar treatment from Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, but the word “pardon” was not officially designated for turkeys.
This tradition was established by President George H.W. Bush, who declared a formal pardon for the bird of the year at a 1989 presentation, sparking the annual presidential action we see today. At the unveiling, President Bush declared that the turkey “will not be on anyone’s table except this man — who is offering him a presidential pardon at this time — and will allow him to spend the rest of his life on a children’s farm not far from here.”
But it was in 2009 that President Barack Obama’s two daughters, Sasha and Malia, petitioned to grant clemency to the two birds. It’s a tradition that continues to this day.
Since 1989, 60 turkeys have been rescued by U.S. presidents, including:
- 2024 – Peaches and flowers
- 2023 – Liberty and the Bell
- 2022 – Chocolate and chips
- 2021 – Peanut Butter and Jelly
- 2020 – Corn and Cob
- 2019 – Butter and Bread
- 2018 – Peas and carrots
- 2017 – Drumsticks and Wishbones
- 2016 – Tot and Tater
- 2015 – Abe and Honest
- 2014 – Cheese and Mac
- 2013 – Popcorn and Caramel
- 2012 – Cobbler and Gobbler
- 2011 – Freedom and Peace
- 2010 – Apple and Cider
- 2009 – Courage and Carolina
- 2008 – Pecans and pumpkins
- 2007 – May and Flowers
- 2006 – Flyers and flyers
- 2005 – Marshmallow and Yam
- 2004 – Biscuits and Gravy
- 2003 – Star Spangled Banner
- 2002 – Katie and Zach
- 2001 – Freedom and freedom
- 2000 – Pee-wee and his backup
- 1999 – Ranger
- 1998 – Harry and his backup
- 1997 – Yosemite and its companions
- 1996 – Ziggy
- 1995 – Bucky and his understudy
- 1994 – Swan and his backup
- 1993 – Bartholomew
- 1992 – Yukon Territory and Gold
- 1991 – Honky and Tonky
- 1990 – Spike and Peanuts
- 1989 – Jerry
Contributor: Janet Loehrke for USA TODAY
