The ceremony dates back to the 1940s; these turkeys were usually slaughtered and eaten, with some exceptions, prior to the 1970s, when it became standard practice to spare the turkey. During the presidency ofGeorge H. W. Bush, it became a tradition. All presidents since Bush have issued a ceremonial "pardon" to the turkey.[1] It is a tradition that the turkeys be picked from the chairperson of the NTF's home state, occasionally from the chair's own farm.
The tale ofAbraham Lincoln pardoning his sonTad's Christmas turkey in 1863 appears to be apocryphal, as it only appeared in print after Lincoln wasassassinated in 1865.[2]
Turkeys had been donated to the president as gifts from private citizens since the 1870s. Horace Vose, aRhode Island turkey farmer, presented a dressed turkey to the president each year from 1873 until his death in 1913.[3] In 1913,South Trimble, a Kentucky farmer andClerk of the United States House of Representatives, presented a turkey to then-presidentWoodrow Wilson that year, convinced that his red pepper-fed but smaller turkey tasted better than Vose's; no record survives of which turkey Wilson chose. This, along with Vose's death that December, set off a free-for-all in which numerous farmers tried to be the one to supply the annual holiday turkeys to the president.[4] The rivalry escalated in theRoaring Twenties, with a group of womenWarren G. Harding supporters fromChicago sending Harding turkeys (including in 1920 when he was still president-elect and at thePanama Canal Zone; the turkey was delivered by train), whileCuero, Texas, also sent Wilson and Harding turkeys. The Cuero turkeys were notable for being the first to be sent while still alive; the Wilson administration slaughtered and ate the bird.Calvin Coolidge, alarmed at the number of turkeys being offered to the president at the time, briefly stopped the tradition upon assuming office in 1923 and chose to buy his own turkey; he relented in 1925 and was soon bombarded with an unusual array of animals to eat, includingRebecca, a live raccoon that Coolidge received in 1926 and, unwilling to eat it, designated as aWhite House pet.[5]
The official presentation of a turkey to the president each year began in 1947 under PresidentHarry S. Truman. The presentation was partially born out of alobbying campaign: the Truman administration, in an effort to conserve grain for foreign aid campaigns, began promoting "Meatless Tuesdays" and "Poultryless Thursdays" in the autumn of 1947. Not only did American citizens quickly grow frustrated with the (voluntary, but strongly encouraged) restrictions and begin disregarding them in short order, the National Poultry and Egg Board, incensed at the attack on their industry, noted that not only was Thanksgiving on a Thursday, butChristmas andNew Year's Day also landed on a Thursday that year. A truce was called in the dispute in early November, before the Thanksgiving holiday, but "Eggless Thursdays" continued to be promoted for the rest of the year, meaning that dishes such aspumpkin pie, another Thanksgiving staple, were still on the forbidden foods list.[6] Records on file at theTruman Library show that Truman admitted eating at least some of the turkeys.[1][7]
TheEisenhower Presidential Library says documents in their collection reveal that PresidentDwight Eisenhower ate the birds presented to him during his two terms. PresidentJohn F. Kennedy spontaneously spared a turkey on November 19, 1963,[8] just three days before hisassassination. The bird was wearing a sign reading, "Good Eating Mr. President". Kennedy returned the massive 55-pound (25 kg) turkey to the farm, saying "we'll let this one grow."[9] Scattered reports inThe Washington Post andLos Angeles Times referred to it as a pardon, but Kennedy did not refer to it as such.[10] Likewise,Richard Nixon also spared some of the turkeys given to him during his time as president.[11][12] During theCarter administration, First LadyRosalynn Carter arranged to have the turkeys sent to petting zoos, and no public ceremonies were held.[12][13]
"If they'd given me a different answer on Charlie and his future, I would have pardoned him." ―Ronald Reagan, 1987.
The first president on record issuing a "pardon" to his turkey wasRonald Reagan. Reagan had been sending the turkeys presented to him to farms and zoos since at least 1982,[12] and it was also under Reagan when those turkeys began receiving names, including 1984's "R. J." (for "Robust and Juicy").[14] 1987's turkey, Charlie, was likewise headed to apetting zoo. At the time, Reagan was facing questions over theIran-Contra affair, on whether or not he would consider pardoningOliver North (who had yet to be tried for his involvement in the affair); Reagan conjured the notion of the turkey pardon as a joke to deflect those questions.[1][15] Reagan did not make any pardon references in the 1988 presentation, but his successor,George H. W. Bush, instituted the turkey pardon as a permanent part of the presentation beginning his first year in office, 1989.[16][3] The phrase "presidential pardon" in that ceremony was apparently inserted by a speechwriter; Bush initially was indifferent to the terminology, saying"'Reprieve', 'keep him going', or 'pardon': it's all the same for the turkey, as long as he doesn't end up on the president's holiday table."[12]
For many years the turkeys were sent toFrying Pan Farm Park inFairfax County, Virginia. From 2005 to 2009, the pardoned turkeys were sent to either theDisneyland Resort inCalifornia or theWalt Disney World Resort inFlorida, where they served as the honorary grand marshals of Disney'sThanksgiving Day Parade. In 2010, 2011 and 2012,[17] the turkeys were sent to live atMount Vernon, the estate and home ofGeorge Washington. However, as Washington never farmed turkeys, Mount Vernon stopped displaying and accepting the turkeys due to the fact that they violated the estate's policy of maintaining its ownhistorical accuracy. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 turkeys were sent toMorven Park inLeesburg, Virginia, the estate of formerVirginia governor (and prolific turkey farmer)Westmoreland Davis.[18]Virginia Tech has housed the turkeys from 2016 to 2019;[19] Virginia Tech was chosen because of the college's poultry science program, and the National Turkey Federation wanted to begin a tradition of cooperation between the turkey industry and universities.[20] After four successful years at Virginia Tech, thealma mater of the chairman of the NTF at the time, the federation chose to begin housing the turkeys at universities closer to the turkeys' home towns.[21] The 2020 turkeys were sent to be housed atIowa State University,[22] the 2021 turkeys reside atPurdue University,[23] the 2022 and 2025 turkeys live atNorth Carolina State University.[24][25] and the 2023 turkeys are housed at theUniversity of Minnesota.[26][27] Turkeys pardoned in 2024 were sent to the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center inWaseca, Minnesota.[28]
The turkeys are raised in the same fashion as turkeys designated for slaughter and are fed a grain-heavy diet of fortified corn and soybeans to increase the birds' size.[18] A flock of between 50 and 80 birds, typically from the farm of the current National Turkey Federation chairperson and hatched in early summer, are selected to be acclimated to handle loud noises, flash photography and large crowds; in late October or early November,[29] the 10 to 20 best-preened and best-behaved of that flock are chosen and eventually narrowed down to two finalists, whose names are chosen by the White House staff from suggestions by school children from the state where they were raised.[30] The two finalists are then transported to Washington, where they stay at theWillard InterContinental Washington Hotel at National Turkey Federation expense before being pardoned in a ceremony at the White House. Turkey hens are usually marketed at 14 weeks and weigh 15.5 pounds (7.0 kg) when processed. This compares to the tom, which takes 18 weeks to reach a market weight of 38 pounds (17 kg).[31] The turkeys for the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation are usually between 17 and 21 week-old toms (males) weighing 45 pounds (20 kg) by the time of their White House visit, compared to the shorter growing period for turkeys destined for market.
Broad Breasted White turkeys are bred for large size, are sedentary animals and have a predilection for overeating,[32] making them prone tohealth problems associated with obesity such as heart disease, respiratory failure, joint damage and reduced life spans compared towild orheritage turkeys. For many years, the pardoned turkeys were documented to have very short lives after their pardoning, frequently dying within a year of being pardoned;[18][33] for comparison, heritage turkey breeds have lifespans on par with those of wild turkeys, at least five years.[34] The lifespans of the pardoned turkeys have steadily improved in recent years, frequently having lifespans of over two years and occasionally reaching three years of age, an improvement attributed to better choices of homes after the pardons; rather than serving solely as tourist attractions, the turkeys are now placed in the care of experts who make conscious efforts to maintain the turkeys' health for as long as possible.
PresidentBarack Obama grants the traditional turkey pardon to Liberty during the ceremony at the North Portico of the White House on November 23, 2011. Liberty was one of the few to survive more than a year after being pardoned.
2000: "Jerry the Turkey", a 45-pound (20 kg) bird fromBarron, Wisconsin. The pardoned turkey (the eighth in Clinton's presidency) and its unnamed alternate were both sent to Kidwell Farm's petting zoo in Herndon, Virginia.[38]
2001: Liberty and his back-up Freedom, so named in the wake of the9/11 attacks. They weighed 48 and 52 pounds (22 and 24 kg), respectively.[39]
2002: Katie, the first-ever female turkey pardoned. The 30-pound (14 kg) bird was bred by Ron Prestage, chairman of theNational Turkey Federation, as well as alternate bird Zack. The turkeys were named after Prestage's children.[40]
2005: Marshmallow and alternate bird Yam, raised inHenning, Minnesota. Beginning in 2005 pardoned birds were sent to Disneyland to live, and serve as the "honorary grand marshal" of that year's Thanksgiving's Day parade, following concerns raised by animal rights groups that the birds had not survived for long. For the previous 15 years they had been sent toFrying Pan Farm Park nearHerndon, Virginia.[42] Names were generally chosen in online votes taken at the White House website.
2006: Flyer and alternate bird Fryer, raised inMissouri.[43]
2007: 45-pound (20 kg) May and backup Flower, raised inIndiana.[44]
2008: 45-pound (20 kg) backup "vice" turkey named Pumpkin, after the number one turkey Pecan fell ill the night before the ceremony. Both turkeys were allowed to live.[45][46]
2009: Courage, a 45-pound turkey provided by theNational Turkey Federation, and alternate bird Carolina, raised inNorth Carolina.[47] Passing away in 2016, Courage lived to be over 6 years of age, an unusual feat for any turkey but especially commercial breeds. A spokesperson for Disneyland, where Courage was sent to spend his remaining years, credits his long life to changing the bird's diet from the typical soy- and corn-heavy feed of commercial farms to a more balanced natural diet, allowing him to lose much of the excess weight that causes strain to both the limbs and organs of these birds.[4]
2010: Apple, a 45-pound turkey fromFoster Farms inModesto, California; and alternate bird Cider.[48] Both had died of natural causes by Thanksgiving 2011.[33]
2011: A 45-pound turkey named Liberty and an alternate bird named Peace, both of which were raised inWillmar, Minnesota.[49] Peace survived until shortly before Thanksgiving 2012, when he was euthanized.[50] Liberty survived until being euthanized April 26, 2013 at the age of 2.[51]
2012: Cobbler and Gobbler, both 40-pound (18 kg) turkeys fromRockingham County, Virginia.[52][53] Gobbler died suddenly in February 2013; Cobbler was euthanized on August 22 of that year.[9][51]
2013: Popcorn, a 38-pound (17 kg) turkey fromBadger, Minnesota. Popcorn won an online contest over its identically sized stablemate Caramel, which was also spared.[54] Popcorn died ofheatstroke in summer 2014. Caramel survived much longer; it outlived one of the next year's turkeys and did not die until October 2015, spending most of its two years of life at Morven Park as the companion of a brownheritage turkey named Franklin.[55][56]
2014: Cheese and alternate bird Mac, both of which were 48-pound (22 kg) turkeys fromFort Recovery, Ohio.[57][58] Mac died of suspected heatstroke in July 2015; Cheese remained alive as of November 2015, with the surviving Franklin as its companion.[56] Cheese was implied dead some time before November 2017, as the Morven Park website mentioned only housing the 2015 turkeys by that time.[59]
2015: Abe, a 43 pounds (20 kg) turkey again presented by Foster Farms. The alternate was 42 pounds (19 kg) Honest.[60][61] Morven Park reported that both were still alive as of November 2016[62] and were still listed as alive on Morven Park's Web site in November 2017.[59] In 2018, Morven Park's website mentioned the final departure of the 2015 pardoned turkeys happening in December 2017; by January 2019, they had removed all mention of them on their Turkey Hill Farm page.[63][64]
2016: Tater and Tot, 40-pound and 39½-pound (18 kg respectively) turkeys fromStorm Lake, Iowa.[65][66] Both were reported as still alive and healthy but showing signs of old age as of November 2017.[67] The birds died some time before November 2018;[68] Tater was later revealed to have been euthanized for a leg problem at age2+1⁄2.[32]
2017: Drumstick, a 36-pound (16 kg) turkey,[69] who was chosen over alternate Wishbone, a 47-pound (21 kg) turkey;[70] both were fromAlexandria, Minnesota.[67] There are conflicting reports regarding the fate of the turkeys:Fox News claimed both turkeys were still alive and living a "lavish life" as of November 2018,[71] whileThe Guardian claimed that both were dead.[72]CNN confirmed that both had died by November 2019.[68] Two pre-slaughtered turkeys fromOrefield, Pennsylvania, were also presented, with those turkeys being donated to the non-profitMartha's Table.[73]
2018: Peas, a 39-pound (18 kg) turkey with a height of 30", chosen over Carrots, a 41-pound (19 kg) turkey with a height of 32", both fromHuron, South Dakota, were pardoned in 2018. Both were hatched on June 28, 2018.[71][74] Both Peas and Carrots were still alive as late as 2021.[75]
2019: Butter, a 47-pound (21 kg) turkey with a height of 31", chosen over Bread, a 45-pound (20 kg) turkey with a height of 32". Both were fromButterball contract farmer Wellie Jackson ofClinton, North Carolina.[76] The pre-slaughtered turkeys again came from Orefield, Pennsylvania.[77] Both Bread and Butter were still alive in 2021.[75]
2021: Peanut Butter and Jelly, both 40-pound (18 kg) turkeys raised by Andrea Welp ofJasper, Indiana.[79] As of November 2022, both were still alive, with Purdue stating that the birds had made a "smooth adjustment" to retirement.[80][81]
2022: Chocolate, a 46-pound (21 kg) turkey,[82] chosen along with Chip, a 47-pound (21 kg) turkey,[83] both raised by NTF chairman Ronnie Parker at Circle S Ranch inMonroe, North Carolina.[84] Both are still alive as of August 2024.[85][86]
2023: Liberty, a 42.5-pound (19.3 kg) turkey, along with Bell, a 42.1 pounds (19.1 kg) turkey, both from aJennie-O owned-and-operated farm inWillmar, Minnesota.[36][26]
2024: Peach and Blossom,[87] 41-pound (19 kg) and 40-pound (18 kg) turkeys from the independent farm of NTF chairman John Zimmerman ofNorthfield, Minnesota.[28] Both were reported as alive and well, though gaining substantial weight (50 and 60 pounds), in November 2025.[88]
A turkey is presented toTim Walz from Paisley VonBerge, the 2025–26 Minnesota FFA State Vice President, at Minnesota's 2024 turkey presentation. Minnesota turkeys are traditionally not pardoned.[89]
A number ofU.S. states have similar turkey presentation events.Minnesota holds a Thanksgiving turkey ceremony;[90] that state usually does not issue a pardon.[89][91] The pardoning ceremonies have also been extended to other holidays; for instance,Erie County, New York's county executive once facetiously pardoned abutter lamb duringHoly Week.[92]
The "pardoning" of turkey during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation has been cited as an illustration ofcarnism.[93]Animal rights scholars cite this as an illustration ofdissonance reduction, which is the prominence given to all similar "saved from slaughter" stories, in which the media focus on one animal that evaded slaughter, while ignoring the millions that did not.[94] According toMelanie Joy, this dichotomy is characteristic of carnism.[95] Animals at the center of such narratives include Wilbur inCharlotte's Web (1952); the eponymous and fictional star ofBabe (1995); Christopher Hogwood inSy Montgomery'sThe Good, Good Pig (2006);[94] theTamworth Two;Emily the Cow; andCincinnati Freedom. A 2012 study found that most media reporting on the turkey-pardoning ceremony celebrated thepoultry industry while marginalizing the link between living animals and meat.[93]
Lobbyists in Minnesota have forbidden the governor of that state from pardoning the turkeys presented to the governor since the early 2000s, instead processing those turkeys as usual and sending them to a needy family, under the premise that the creatures are raised specifically as livestock for their meat and are not meant to live beyond that. In a 2019 statement, the Minnesota Poultry Growers Association stated "In order to not have a cross message that we're pardoning them and they're pets (...) we don't raise the turkeys to be pardoned."[91] Former Minnesota GovernorMark Dayton implied that he had been threatened by industry attorneys: "Every time I exceed my executive authority, somebody files a lawsuit."[91]
InThe West Wing episode "Shibboleth," whenC.J. Cregg learns the alternate turkey is to be slaughtered, she appeals to PresidentJed Bartlet to save it. He points out that he cannot pardon a turkey, as it had committed no crime and he has no "judicial jurisdiction over birds". So, he drafts the turkey into military service to spare its life. In real life, both the turkey and the alternate are spared.
The animated filmFree Birds centers around a turkey who was pardoned, then is recruited to go back in time to the first Thanksgiving to prevent turkeys from being associated with the holiday.
In David Mamet's playNovember, an incumbent president losing his bid for reelection uses the yearly tradition to extort the turkey farmers to add to his lacking campaign fund.
InRed, White & Royal Blue Chapter 4, Alex Claremont-Diaz, a fictional First Son of the United States, offers to let the two turkeys being brought for the pardon stay in his room at theWhite House overnight. He then proceeds to call Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, a fictional British Prince and the main love interest of the book, to discuss the turkeys.
^abPackwood-Freeman, Carrie; Perez, Oana Leventi (2012). "Pardon Your Turkey and Eat Him Too", in Joshua Frye, Michael S. Bruner (eds.),The Rhetoric of Food: Discourse, Materiality, and Power, Routledge, pp. 103ff.
^abMizelle, Brett (2015). "Unthinkable Visibility: Pigs, Pork and the Spectacle of Killing and Meat", in Marguerite S. Shaffer, Phoebe S. K. Young (eds.),Rendering Nature: Animals, Bodies, Places, Politics, University of Pennsylvania Press, p. 264; Mizelle, Brett (2012).Pig, Reaktion Books, pp. 105–106.
^Joy, Melanie (2011) [2009].Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism. Conari Press, pp. 135, 150.ISBN1573245054.
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