A History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon
The history of the presidential turkey pardon is slightly complicated, and has much older roots than often expected. The first official turkey pardon took place in 1989, as performed by President George H. W. Bush, creating the practice for future presidents. Bush’s team were inspired to use the terminology due to the fact that two years prior, in order to deflect questions regarding pardons for the Iran-Contra affair, President Reagan made a joke about pardoning the turkey that was given to him, as was custom.
“So many birds were delivered to the White House that an overwhelmed Calvin Coolidge stopped the practice for two years.”
Unofficially, turkeys had been gifted to presidents for quite some time. A late 19th and early 20th century Rhode Island farmer named Horace Vose gave dressed turkeys to presidents for forty years. After his death, many other farmers competed to be the new presidential turkey supplier. So many birds were delivered to the White House that an overwhelmed Calvin Coolidge stopped the practice for two years. As a result, all sorts of animals were delivered to him, including a raccoon Coolidge’s wife adopted as a pet.
President John F. Kennedy pardoned a turkey on November 19, 1963, stating "Let's Keep him going." Courtesy JFK Presidential Library
Harry Truman was the first president officially presented with a turkey. He decided to temporarily suspend his focus on ‘Poultry-less Thursdays’ – a move that was supposed to benefit foreign aid campaigns – in order to celebrate Thanksgiving properly. The National Turkey Federation gave him a turkey in thanks, and continued to do so for future presidents; including Dwight Eisenhower, who ate every single turkey given to him, and John Kennedy, who randomly decided not to eat the 1963 Thanksgiving turkey. He was assassinated shortly thereafter. Coincidence?
Once pardoned, the National Turkey Federation finds homes for lucky birds. Their ultimate destination has changed over the years. For some time, the turkeys went to Disneyland or Disney World. In the early 2010s, the fortunate fowl were sent to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, but due to the fact that the actual George Washington never kept turkeys on his property, the historically inaccurate practice ended. Later homes for the pardoned turkeys include a variety of US universities, including Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Purdue, North Carolina State, and the University of Minnesota.
The first turkey to ever be spared was saved from the axe way back in 1863. The Lincoln family was given a turkey for Christmas, and young Tad, often known as the ‘tyrant’ of the White House, befriended the gobbler. He named the turkey Jack and treated it as a pet, teaching it to follow him around the White House. Tad successfully convinced the president to spare the bird, setting the stage for many other turkeys to be saved.