Copyright © White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. This article cannot be duplicated or utilized in any way, whether digital or analog, such as photocopying, recording, or information storing and retrieval systems, without a written permission from the publisher. Requests for reprint permissions should be addressed to books@whha. org.
An intriguing White House custom that has recently piqued public interest is the official “pardoning” of White House turkeys. The pardoning ceremony is said to have originated from President Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey, as reported in an 1865 dispatch by White House reporter Noah Brooks. However, this is probably apocryphal.
American presidents have reportedly received turkeys as gifts since the 1870s, when Rhode Island poultry dealer Horace Vose started delivering well-fed birds to the White House. Though the First Families did not always eat Voses’ turkeys, his farm received a lot of attention for its annual gift, which turned the White House into a veritable institution. At Thanksgiving 1913, a turkey-come-lately from Kentucky shared a few minutes of fame with the fine-feathered Rhode Islander. Soon after, in December, Horace Vose died, thus ending an era.
By 1914, anyone could present a turkey to a sitting president, and poultry gifts were often tinged with partisanship, joy, and patriotism. A gobbler’s crate in 1921 was decorated with bunting by an American Legion post, and a turkey was dressed as a flying ace in 1921 by the Harding Girls Club in Chicago, complete with goggles. First Lady Grace Coolidge accepted a turkey from a Vermont Girl Scout in 1925. The turkey gifts had become established as a national symbol of good cheer.
Recently, White House mythmakers have claimed that President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey. However, the Truman Library & Museum disputes the notion that he was the first to do so. The reason for the attention on Truman is that he was the first president to receive a turkey from the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board. From September to November 1947, announcements of the government encouraging “poultryless Thursdays” grabbed national headlines. Outrage from homemakers, restaurant owners, and the poultry industry was palpable in Washington. The poultry industry brought this to a head by pointing out that the three major turkey holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day—all fell on Thursdays. Before the endeavor collapsed in time for Thanksgiving, chicken farmers had protested by sending crates of live chickens, dubbed “Hens for Harry,” to the White House. The turkey that they gave President Truman that December helped to advance the chicken business and created a yearly news niche that still exists today.
The turkey pardon continued to be a sporadic custom, even though the poultry industry started presenting turkeys officially in 1947. In December 1948, Truman accepted two turkeys and remarked that they would “come in handy” for Christmas dinner. There was clearly no plan for these birds to receive a presidential pardon. In a 1963 article published in The Washington Post, President Kennedy said of the turkey, “Let’s keep him going.” The words “pardon” and “reprieve” were used. Patricia Nixon received the turkeys during the last years of President Nixon’s administration and sent the bird to Oxon Hill Children’s Farm in 1973. Similar circumstances befell the 1978 turkey that was given to First Lady Rosalynn Carter and taken to Evans Farm Inn, where it was housed in a miniature zoo.
President Ronald Reagan instituted the custom of sending the presentation turkey to a farm after 1981. The turkey ceremony also became a source of satire and humor for reporters. The formalities of pardoning a turkey gelled by 1989, when President George H. W. “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 granted a Presidential pardon as of right now — and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here,” joked Bush, as animal rights activists picketed nearby. ”.
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family, feasting, and… presidential turkey pardons? Yes, you read that right! This peculiar tradition has become a beloved part of the holiday, but its origins are shrouded in mystery and historical debate. So, who exactly pardoned the first turkey? Let’s delve into the fascinating history of this unique Thanksgiving ritual.
A Tale of Two Turkeys: Fact vs. Fiction
Many believe President Lincoln pardoned a turkey way back in 1863 sparing the bird from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. This heartwarming story however, lacks concrete evidence. While an 1865 newspaper article mentions Lincoln’s son, Tad, pleading for the life of a turkey, there’s no official record of a pardon.
The Turkey Trot: From Gifts to Pardons
The real story starts in the 1870s with Rhode Island poultry dealer Horace Vose. He began sending plump turkeys to the White House as gifts, a tradition that continued for decades. These birds weren’t always spared, but they did garner publicity for Vose and became a Thanksgiving staple.
The Rise of the Pardoned Turkey: A Modern Tradition
While reports of turkey gifts date back to the 19th century, the official “pardoning” ceremony is a more recent phenomenon. President Harry S. Truman is often credited with starting the tradition, but the Truman Library & Museum disputes this claim.
The turning point came in 1947 when the Poultry and Egg National Board and the National Turkey Federation began presenting turkeys to the President. This marked the start of the official turkey presentation, but the pardon itself remained sporadic.
From Reprieve to Pardon: A Shift in Terminology
In 1963, President Kennedy used the term “reprieve” for the turkey, hinting at the evolving nature of the tradition. By 1973, First Lady Patricia Nixon sent the pardoned bird to a farm, solidifying the practice of sparing the turkey’s life.
The Formalization of the Pardon: A Presidential Gesture
The pardon ceremony truly took shape in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush. Facing animal rights activists, he quipped, “This fine tom turkey… is granted a Presidential pardon… and will live out his days on a children’s farm.” This marked the official start of the annual turkey pardon tradition we know and love today.
A Thanksgiving Tradition: More Than Just a Gobbler
The pardoned turkey has become a symbol of Thanksgiving cheer, reminding us of compassion and the spirit of the holiday. It’s a lighthearted tradition that brings a smile to our faces and reminds us of the importance of kindness, even towards our feathered friends.
So, Who Pardoned the First Turkey?
While the exact origin of the pardon remains unclear, one thing is certain: the tradition has evolved over time, becoming a beloved Thanksgiving ritual. Whether it was Lincoln’s unofficial act of mercy or Truman’s more formal gesture, the pardoned turkey has become an integral part of our Thanksgiving celebrations.
Beyond the Pardon: A Look at the History of Thanksgiving Turkeys
The story of the pardoned turkey is just one chapter in the long and fascinating history of Thanksgiving turkeys. From their humble beginnings as wild birds to their modern-day status as holiday icons, turkeys have played a significant role in shaping our Thanksgiving traditions.
A Brief History of Thanksgiving Turkeys
Turkeys have been a part of Thanksgiving celebrations since the very first feast in 1621. The Pilgrims, who brought the tradition of Thanksgiving with them from England, hunted wild turkeys for their holiday meal. These birds were plentiful in the New World, providing a readily available source of protein for the colonists.
The Domestication of Turkeys
As the European settlers expanded westward, they began to domesticate turkeys. This led to the development of different breeds of turkeys, each with its own unique characteristics. By the 19th century, turkey farming had become a major industry in the United States.
The Rise of the Thanksgiving Turkey
With the growth of the turkey industry, turkeys became increasingly popular as a Thanksgiving dish. By the early 20th century, the turkey had become the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal in most American homes.
The Pardoned Turkey: A Symbol of Thanksgiving
The tradition of pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey began in the mid-20th century and has since become a beloved part of the holiday. The pardoned turkey is a symbol of compassion and the spirit of Thanksgiving.
The Thanksgiving turkey has a rich and fascinating history, from its origins as a wild bird to its modern-day status as a holiday icon. The tradition of pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey is a reminder of the importance of compassion and the spirit of Thanksgiving.
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Copyright © White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. This article cannot be duplicated or utilized in any way, whether digital or analog, such as photocopying, recording, or information storing and retrieval systems, without a written permission from the publisher. Requests for reprint permissions should be addressed to books@whha. org.
An intriguing White House custom that has recently piqued public interest is the official “pardoning” of White House turkeys. The pardoning ceremony is said to have originated from President Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey, as reported in an 1865 dispatch by White House reporter Noah Brooks. However, this is probably apocryphal.
American presidents have reportedly received turkeys as gifts since the 1870s, when Rhode Island poultry dealer Horace Vose started delivering well-fed birds to the White House. Though the First Families did not always eat Voses’ turkeys, his farm received a lot of attention for its annual gift, which turned the White House into a veritable institution. At Thanksgiving 1913, a turkey-come-lately from Kentucky shared a few minutes of fame with the fine-feathered Rhode Islander. Soon after, in December, Horace Vose died, thus ending an era.
By 1914, anyone could present a turkey to a sitting president, and poultry gifts were often tinged with partisanship, joy, and patriotism. A gobbler’s crate in 1921 was decorated with bunting by an American Legion post, and a turkey was dressed as a flying ace in 1921 by the Harding Girls Club in Chicago, complete with goggles. First Lady Grace Coolidge accepted a turkey from a Vermont Girl Scout in 1925. The turkey gifts had become established as a national symbol of good cheer.
Recently, White House mythmakers have claimed that President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey. However, the Truman Library & Museum disputes the notion that he was the first to do so. The reason for the attention on Truman is that he was the first president to receive a turkey from the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board. From September to November 1947, announcements of the government encouraging “poultryless Thursdays” grabbed national headlines. Outrage from homemakers, restaurant owners, and the poultry industry was palpable in Washington. The poultry industry brought this to a head by pointing out that the three major turkey holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day—all fell on Thursdays. Before the endeavor collapsed in time for Thanksgiving, chicken farmers had protested by sending crates of live chickens, dubbed “Hens for Harry,” to the White House. The turkey that they gave President Truman that December helped to advance the chicken business and created a yearly news niche that still exists today.
The turkey pardon continued to be a sporadic custom, even though the poultry industry started presenting turkeys officially in 1947. In December 1948, Truman accepted two turkeys and remarked that they would “come in handy” for Christmas dinner. There was clearly no plan for these birds to receive a presidential pardon. In a 1963 article published in The Washington Post, President Kennedy said of the turkey, “Let’s keep him going.” The words “pardon” and “reprieve” were used. Patricia Nixon received the turkeys during the last years of President Nixon’s administration and sent the bird to Oxon Hill Children’s Farm in 1973. Similar circumstances befell the 1978 turkey that was given to First Lady Rosalynn Carter and taken to Evans Farm Inn, where it was housed in a miniature zoo.
President Ronald Reagan instituted the custom of sending the presentation turkey to a farm after 1981. The turkey ceremony also became a source of satire and humor for reporters. The formalities of pardoning a turkey gelled by 1989, when President George H. W. “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 granted a Presidential pardon as of right now — and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here,” joked Bush, as animal rights activists picketed nearby. ”.
The history of the presidential turkey pardon
Who was the first president to pardon a Turkey?
Actually, Truman was the first president to receive a turkey from the National Turkey Federation, but there’s no record of a pardon. According to the White House Historical Association, Truman said that the birds would, come in handy for Christmas dinner. So,
Who started the tradition of pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey?
Which president started the tradition of pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey? 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.
Who pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys?
Although Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, along with First Ladies Thelma “Pat” Nixon and Rosalynn Carter, pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys, the modern
Why did President Kennedy pardon a Turkey?
In 1963, despite a sign hanging around the turkey’s neck that read, “Good eating, Mr. President,” Kennedy sent the bird back to the farm. But it might not have been altruism that led him to his pardon. Taking a look at the bird, Kennedy said, “We’ll just let this one grow.”