According to news reports, the turkey squawked through the ceremony, prompting Bush … [1][11] 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. The official National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation started in 1947. The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. Monday morning, in a Rose Garden ceremony, Bush bestowed the presidential pardon on Stars. Managing and conducting an illegal gambling business. Broad Breasted White turkeys are bred for size at the expense of longer life, making them prone to health problems associated with obesity such as heart disease, respiratory failure and joint damage. Turkeys had been donated to the President as gifts from private citizens. Making false statements in a bank loan application. In pardoning May, and the alternate, Flower, the President said, "May they live the rest of their lives in blissful gobbling. The Strange Truth Behind the Odd Event, "At White House, President Obama's pardons prevent turkeys' 'shellacking, Pardoned turkey's death untimely? Making counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. 2009: Courage, a 45-pound turkey provided by the, 2011: A 45-pound turkey named Liberty and an alternate bird named Peace, both of which were raised in, 2012: Cobbler and Gobbler, both 40-pound (18 kg) turkeys from, 2013: Popcorn, a 38-pound (17 kg) turkey from, 2014: Cheese and alternate bird Mac, both of which were 48-pound (22 kg) turkeys from. Selling firearms to out-of-state residents and falsifying firearms records. bush turkey pardon. Poultry farmers continued to donate a Thanksgiving turkey to the White House every year, until, in 1989, President George H.W. Both were from, 2020: Corn, chosen over Cob, owned by Ron and Susie Kardel of, This page was last edited on 2 March 2021, at 19:40. [14] Virginia Tech has housed the turkeys from 2016 to 2019;[15] 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. To this day, the National Turkey Federation, the industry’s lobbying arm, spends millions of dollars to promote the consumption of turkeys. 2000: "Jerry the Turkey", a 45-pound (20 kg) bird from, 2001: Liberty and his back-up Freedom, so named in the wake of the, 2002: Katie, the first-ever female turkey pardoned. Each November, the sitting president bestows a pardon on a turkey to a crowd at the White House, sparing it from the dinner table and the fate that … The early years also included a joint presentation with the Poultry and Egg National Board. Bush, these birds have received a formal pardon every single year. MyC-SPAN users can download four Congressional hearings and proceedings under four hours for free each month. But it was the first time that the turkey and his backup would go to a Disney park. Theft from the mail by a postal employee, iou. A number of U.S. states have similar turkey-pardoning events, including Minnesota. Since it … [1][4], The Eisenhower Presidential Library says documents in their collection reveal that President Dwight Eisenhower ate the birds presented to him during his two terms. 2016: Tater and Tot, 40-pound and 39½-pound (18 kg respectively) turkeys from. Turkey hens are usually marketed at 14 weeks and weigh 15.5 pounds (7.0 kg) when processed. Aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner; Making a false statement to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to obtain a mortgage loan; Simple assault committed on an Indian reservation (misdemeanor); Unauthorized use of a registered pesticide. Pardon More Than the Turkey San Francisco Chronicle, (November 23, 2006) President … President Harry Truman receiving a turkey (this one a Bronze) from the turkey industry, 1949, President John F. Kennedy spares the turkey presented to him, 1963, only three days before his assassination, President Lyndon Johnson accepting a non-pardoned turkey, 1967, President Richard Nixon sparing the turkey presented to him, 1971, First Lady Pat Nixon accepting a turkey on behalf of her husband, 1973, President Gerald Ford accepting a non-pardoned turkey, 1975, President Ronald Reagan accepting a turkey, 1983, President George H.W. Presidents Kennedy and Nixon both chose to send their turkeys to farms, but the first official pardon didn’t come until 1989 from President George … Aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a credit institution, Kristan Diane Akins, fka Kristan Diane Bullock and Kristan D. Wheeler. Property damage by use of explosives and destruction of an energy facility. Unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm, Selling Quaalude tablets (one specification) and selling, using, and, Wendy Rose St. Charles, fka Wendy Rose St. Charles Holmes. The early years also included a joint presentation with the Poultry and Egg National Board. Borrowing money from enlisted men, accepting a non-interest-bearing loan from a government contractor, and swearing to a false affidavit, Articles 92, 107, 134, UCMJ. National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Turkey Pardons, The Stuffing of Historic Legend, The turkey pardoning tradition may have started with a raccoon, "The Way We Ate: The Year Harry Truman Passed on Pumpkin Pie", http://www.trumanlibrary.org/trivia/turkey.htm, "Thanksgiving: President Kennedy Pardons a Turkey", Presidential turkey pardons not as long a history as you might think, Thanksgiving traditions: Turkey pardoning explained, https://www.blackhillsfox.com/content/news/President-Trump-to-pardon-2-South-Dakota-turkeys-500854321.html, The actual, surprising origin of presidential turkey pardoning, "President 'Pardons' Thanksgiving Turkey", "Pardoned National Thanksgiving Turkey to Reside at Virginia Tech", Trump-pardoned turkeys to live out days at Virginia Tech, "National Thanksgiving Turkey Welcomed to the White House", "Donald Trump cracks turkey jokes during Thanksgiving pardon: 'Unlike impeachment witnesses, we've actually met, 10 things you didn't know about Presidential turkey pardons, 2010 Turkeys Pardoned By Obama Died This Year, "Woody the turkey gets pardoned by President Reagan", "Clinton spares 'Jerry' the turkey in annual Thanksgiving rite", "Where Do Turkeys Go After Being Pardoned by the President? False statement to a federally insured financial institution. This is a list of people pardoned by George W. Bush. 1999: "Harry the Turkey" is the first in the record of the formal pardon process to have been given an official name. 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 pumpkin pie, another Thanksgiving staple, was still on the forbidden foods list. President George W. Bush offers an official pardon to May, the 2007 Thanksgiving Turkey, during festivities Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, in the Rose Garden of the White House. Only to the naive, All of President Obama's pardoned turkeys are dead, "Obama pardons Thanksgiving turkey (and tells jokes)", Turkey Pardoned From Death By Obama Last Year Is Still Gobbling Up The Good Life, The Post-Pardon Life of the Presidential Turkey, Decision 2014 redux: Ohio turkey farmers narrow down choice birds for presidential pardon, No Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese: Obama pardons turkeys in annual ritual, https://web.archive.org/web/20171105073923/http://www.morvenpark.org/explore/turkey-hill-farm/, Meet the Modesto Turkey Chosen for Presidential Pardon, Turkey pardon saves Honest, Abe: Obama saves birds in time for Thanksgiving, https://www.facebook.com/morvenpk/photos/a.184664231572350.37611.180696458635794/1231294596909303/?type=3&theater, https://web.archive.org/web/20180825124528/http://www.morvenpark.org/explore/turkey-hill-farm/, https://web.archive.org/web/20190118051745/http://www.morvenpark.org:80/explore/turkey-hill-farm/, "Yes We Cran: Obama pardons turkeys for last time as POTUS", Presidential turkey pardon prep underway and last year’s survivors ‘doing well’, "Here's where turkeys pardoned by the President will find a permanent place to nest", "President Trump spares turkey in second pardon of administration", Minnesota-bred turkey heads to DC for a Thanksgiving pardon from President Trump, "Trump's pardoned turkeys lead lavish life", "Turkeys pin hopes on Trump pardon—just don't ask about last year's birds", "Trump will pardon his first turkey next week", "EDITORIAL: Cheaper turkeys this Thanksgiving, thanks to trade war", "Which turkey should President Trump pardon at this year's National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony—Bread or Butter? In The West Wing episode "Shibboleth," when C.J. Theft of government property and receiving stolen government property. Bush declared turkey pardoning an official White House tradition. Aiding and abetting the theft of government property; Making impressions of obligations of the United States; Aiding and abetting possession of stolen mail; Forging the endorsement on a U.S. Treasury check; Concealment of information affecting Social Security benefits; False statements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Bobby Mac Berry, May 20, 2004 (Conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to manufacture marijuana, money laundering), Geraldine Gordon, May 20, 2004 (Conspiracy to distribute phencyclidine, distribution of phencyclidine), Phillip Anthony Emmert, December 21, 2006 (Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine), Michael Dwayne Short, December 10, 2007 (Aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine base), Patricia Beckford, March 24, 2008 (Conspiracy and attempt to distribute in excess of 50 grams of crack cocaine), James Russell Harris, November 24, 2008 (convicted in 1993 of cocaine conspiracy, money laundering and bribery), Reed Raymond Prior of Des Moines, Iowa, December 23, 2008 (possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute), This page was last edited on 18 February 2021, at 11:25. Matthew Cavanaugh—Getty Images 10 of 12 2015: Abe, a 43 pounds (20 kg) turkey again presented by Foster Farms. Misdemeanor theft within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The 2005 ceremony with Marshmallow was President George W. Bush’s fourth turkey pardon. Possession of an unregistered distillery. Today, it is my honor to present to you this year's lucky bird, Corn, and just in case we needed him, Cob. From 2005 to 2009, the pardoned turkeys were sent to either the Disneyland Resort in California or the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where they served as the honorary grand marshals of Disney's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 2003. He points out that he cannot pardon a turkey, as it had committed no crime and he has no "judicial jurisdiction over birds". President George W. Bush pardoned Pumpkin, the National Thanksgiving turkey, at a Rose Garden ceremony Wednesday. The turkey pardon ceremony came just a few hours after President-elect Joe Biden announced his national security team and emphasized the … The turkey pardon isn't necessarily a longstanding American tradition. President George W. Bush holds his turkey, Biscuits, by the neck during the Pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey in a ceremony in the … The ceremony dates back to the 1940s; these turkeys were usually slaughtered and eaten (with some exceptions) prio… Bush was president from 1989 to 1993. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned for the first time. Possessing an unregistered still, carrying on the business of a distiller without giving the required bond, and manufacturing mash on other than lawfully qualified premises, 1. In 2010, 2011 and 2012,[13] the turkeys were sent to live at Mount Vernon, the estate and home of George Washington; Mount Vernon stopped displaying and accepting the turkeys due to the fact that they violated the estate's policy of maintaining its own historical accuracy (Washington never farmed turkeys). Failure to submit to induction into the Armed Forces of the United States; 50 App. [14] A flock of between 50 and 80 birds, typically from the farm of the current National Turkey Federation chairperson, are selected to be acclimated to handle loud noises, flash photography and large crowds; from the flock, the 10 to 20 best-preened and best-behaved 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. Both turkeys were allowed to live. The presentation was partially borne out of a lobbying 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. Aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of stolen goods. WASHINGTON — The two turkeys for the White House Turkey Pardon are officially in the District and are living it up at the ... President George H. W. Bush … So, he drafts the turkey into military service to spare its life. [9][10], The first President on record issuing a "pardon" to his turkey was Ronald Reagan. U.S.C. For the past 73 years, the National Turkey Federation has presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the president. Horace Vose, a Rhode Island turkey farmer, presented a turkey to the President each year from 1873 until his death in 1913. The practice of officially receiving a turkey at thanksgiving originated under President Harry Truman, though it wasn’t until George H.W. President George W. Bush pets Biscuits, the national Thanksgiving turkey "pardoned" during an annual ritual at the White House on Nov. 17, 2004. 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 (thus making the annual Thanksgiving turkey a taboo), but Christmas and New Year's Day also landed on a Thursday that year. The alternate was 42 pounds (19 kg) Honest. Bush, a Republican, served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. ", "In New Spin on Tradition, Turkey Pardon Goes to 'Katie, "Pardoned turkeys may not live happily ever after", "Bush sends pardoned turkeys to Disneyland", "Bush Pardons Turkeys, But PETA Wants Better After-Care", "Bush Gobbles Up Tradition In Turkey Pardon:Turkeys Head To Disney World", "Thankfully, Bush Never Had an Ax To Grind", "Obama pardons 'Courage,' the Thanksgiving turkey", Ahead of Thanksgiving, Obama to Pardon Another Turkey. President John F. Kennedy spontaneously spared a turkey on November 19, 1963,[5] just three days before his assassination. Illegal possession of an unregistered firearm. George W. Bush pardoned “Liberty” in 2001 with its name alluding to the 9/11 attack. This was not the first time presidents have held the turkey pardon in the midst of a crisis. "[6] Scattered reports in The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times referred to it as a pardon, but Kennedy did not refer to it as such. Bill Clinton pardoned “Harry the Turkey” in 1999. 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. Harry was the first officially named and formally pardoned turkey. learns the alternate turkey is to be slaughtered, she appeals to President Bartlet to save it. It wasn't until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. False entry in bank books and aiding and abetting. George W. Bush held the event just two months after the … But the tradition of the formal turkey pardoning, as we know it today, didn't start in earnest until President George H.W. In David Mamet's play November, an incumbent president losing his bid for reelection uses the yearly tradition to extort the turkey farmers to add to his lacking campaign fund. [8][9] During the Carter administration, First Lady Rosalynn Carter arranged to have the turkeys sent to petting zoos, and no public ceremonies were held. Starting under President George H.W. [65] The pardoning ceremonies have also been extended to other holidays; for instance, Erie County, New York's county executive facetiously pardons a butter lamb during Holy Week.[66]. [16] The 2020 turkeys were sent to be housed at Iowa State University. Bush at the 3rd annual pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey, 1991, President Bill Clinton at the 11th annual pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey, 1999, President George W. Bush at the 20th annual pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey, 2008, President Barack Obama pardoning a turkey called "Courage" on November 25, 2009, President Donald Trump pardoning a turkey called "Butter" on November 26, 2019. It began when George H.W. Theft of a motor vehicle from a U.S. Air Force base. The President of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey by the National Turkey Federation (NTF), usually males of the Broad Breasted Whitevariety. Bush and Shannon Duffy, then 8, of Fairfax, Va., look over a Thanksgiving turkey in 1989. President George H.W. A notable exception occurred in 1963, when President Kennedy, referring to the turkey given to him, said, "Let's just keep him." [17], Traditionally, the speech accompanying the pardon includes substantial political satire as the President pokes fun at scandals of the day.[18]. The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. This compares to the tom, which takes 18 weeks to reach a market weight of 38 pounds (17 kg). [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. Making false entries, books, reports or statements of bank; Misapplication of bank funds by a bank officer; Unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of a narcotics felony, Illegal treatment, storage, and disposal of a. Receiving kickbacks in defense procurement contracts. Possession and transfer of an illegal weapon. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 turkeys were sent to Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, the estate of former Virginia governor (and prolific turkey farmer) Westmoreland Davis. Category: Recipients of American presidential pardons, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Thanksgiving_Turkey_Presentation&oldid=1009883929, Recipients of American presidential pardons, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1987: "Charlie", the pardoned turkey, was sent to a. [20] The turkeys for the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation are usually 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. The President of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey by the National Turkey Federation (NTF), usually males of the Broad Breasted White variety. 2017: Drumstick, a 36-pound (16 kg) turkey, 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 from, 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". "[9], For many years the turkeys were sent to Frying Pan Farm Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. Did Truman pardon a Turkey? Kennedy returned the massive 55-pound (25 kg) turkey to the farm, saying "we'll let this one grow. Receipt of a stolen motor vehicle transported in interstate commerce. The 50-pound bird is the first to be officially pardoned by a president. A Brief History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon - HISTORY During the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, it became a tradition (since carried on by all of Bush's successors) for the president to issue a ceremonial "pardon" to the turkey. Truman Trivia: Did Truman pardon a Turkey? [12][2] 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. Making a materially false statement in a loan application to a federally insured bank. [22] 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. The 30-pound (14 kg) bird bred by Ron Prestage, chairman of the, 2005: Marshmallow and alternate bird Yam, raised in, 2006: Flyer and alternate bird Fryer, raised in, 2007: 45-pound (20 kg) May and backup Flower, raised in. The turkey "pardoning" tradition seen today formally began in 1989, under … [3] Many sources erroneously attributed the origin of the turkey pardon to Truman; however, the Truman Library says that no documents, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs or other contemporary records are known to exist that specify that he ever "pardoned" a turkey; there are records that Truman publicly admitted to eating at least some of them. 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. At the time, Reagan was facing questions over the Iran-Contra affair, on whether or not he would consider pardoning Oliver 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.