Another presidential pardon : NPR

He paid his dues on time. He served his sentence, but did not commit any crime.

One President, not one QueenIn one of the strangest and most misunderstood traditions of American history, two turkeys with no criminal records will again be inexplicably “pardoned.”

Let’s clarify some of this:

This year’s turkeys are gobble and waddle

After the ceremony at the White House, the birds are Headed back to the Tar Heel State, Where they will spend their remaining days at North Carolina State University, a location that has been used before – for “Chocolate” and “Chip” in 2022.

A long history of sending presidents to Turkey

People have been sending turkeys to presidents since the late 19th century, but over the decades, they’ve always been meant to be eaten.

lots of moves Like the Texas A&M college student in 1940 who traveled 2,000 miles from Cuero, Texas, to Washington, D.C., with a turkey to deliver to the President. He stayed at a hotel where the bird was allowed in the bathroom – until a maid threw it out.

He found the turkey, gave it to the President and it became such a thing that members of Congress plucked feathers for souvenirs.

It sounds like there was a hoot…or someone swallowed.

Turkish lobby took over in 1947

The reason the turkeys sit at a table in front of the camera and the President interacts with them is because of the National Turkey Federation, aka, Big Turkey.

Harry S. Truman was the first person to be presented with an award from the Federation – and it sparked protests. To save grain in the postwar conservation effort, Truman instituted “Poultryless Thursdays.”

In protest, the poultry industry and others sent boxes of chickens to the White House, in an effort called “Hens for Harry”. It ended with the Turkey Federation repairing the fence and giving Truman a 47-pound turkey.

Now, paid for by the Turkey Federation, the birds get to stay and mess around in an otherwise beautiful hotel room for what has become a day of photo ops, before being subjected to sometimes painful presidential jokes and looking as if they belong anywhere but not there.

President Kennedy first pardoned Turkey on a technicality in 1963

But that was not the intention and the President did not use the word.

“We’ll let it grow,” President John F. Kennedy said, looking at the bird, which had a sign around its neck that read, “Good Food, Mr. President.”

The LA Times headlined the incident “presidential pardon,

President Reagan was the first to use the word pardon in relation to Turkey

But this was not a formal pardon ceremony and was a distraction from the Iran-Contra scandal.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan was presented with a turkey, Charlie, but famed ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson took the opportunity to shout a question. He asked whether Reagan would pardon Oliver North and John Poindexter, involved in the arms deal.

“If they had given me a different answer on Charlie and his future,” Reagan said jokingly Regarding the bird that was about to be forgiven, “I would have forgiven him.”

President George H.W. Bush formalized the modern event in 1989.

Ultimately, the tradition was formalized with these words from the country’s 41st President:

George H.W. Bush said, “I assure you and this wonderful Tom Turkey that it will not go on anyone’s dinner table.”

At least for one more day, the Turkeys can feel like they are champions.