“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.”
These are the words that officially saved two turkeys in 1989 when President George H.W. Bush began the “presidential turkey pardon” tradition. Although turkeys have been presented to presidents in front cameras since the 1940s, it wasn’t until Bush’s presidential pardon that the tradition stuck.
Here’s a peek into those treasured turkey photo-ops and pardons.
President George H.W. Bush formally pardons the turkey for the first time in 1989. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
Presentation of a Thanksgiving turkey to President John F. Kennedy in 1963. (Photo: Archives/Kennedy Presidential Library)
President Bill Clinton eyes the 1998 National Thanksgiving Day Turkey. (Photo: Pete Souza/Newscom)
President Ronald Reagan receives the Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey Federation in 1981. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
President Gerald R. Ford is presented with a Thanksgiving turkey by the National Turkey Federation in 1975. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
President Richard Nixon receives a Thanksgiving turkey, a ritual started by Harry Truman in the 1940s. (Photo: Newscom)
President George W. Bush pets “Flyer” the turkey in 2006. (Photo: Chuck Kennedy/Newscom)
President Obama pardons a turkey named “Courage” as daughter Sasha looks on. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Jimmy Carter’s wife and daughter, Rosalynn Carter and Amy Carter, pardon the turkey in 1978. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
President Dwight D. Eisenhower receives a 43-pound turkey from Perry Browning of Winchester, Ky., president of the National Turkey Federation. Eisenhower holds the book, “Turkey Management,” which was also presented. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
Photograph of President Franklin D. Roosevelt carving the Thanksgiving turkey. Nov. 20, 1933. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)
President Harry Truman in 1949. Truman sometimes indicated to reporters that the turkeys he received were destined for the family dinner table. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Presidential Libraries)