What Is the History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon?

 

Every year, at a ceremony at the White House, the American president "pardons" a turkey.

Instead of becoming part of a Thanksgiving dinner in the United States, the bird's life is saved.

Stories on the origins of the presidential turkey "pardon" are numerous. Some of these stories date back to the presidency² of Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War.

Edward Lengel is the chief historian of the White House Historical Association.

"He (the president) had a son named Ted¹, who joked with Abraham Lincoln about his pet turkey that he had, who was strolling around the voting booths in 1864. And Abraham Lincoln asked why he was strolling around. Is he (the turkey) here to vote?”

The boy answered that his turkey could not vote because he was too young.

"Therefore," Lengel said, "Abraham Lincoln pardoned his turkey and forgave him the possibility of being killed for the Thanksgiving table."

Some people say a later president, Harry³ Truman, was the originator of the modern-day turkey pardon. But the Truman Library and Museum disputes this claim.

According to the library's website, workers have found no evidence of "Truman pardoning a turkey that he received as a gift in 1947, or at any other time during his Presidency. "

Almost 20 years after Truman's presidency, President John F. Kennedy decided⁴ to spare a turkey brought to the White House for the Thanksgiving meal. He reportedly said: ‘No, I think I’ll pardon this turkey and let it grow.’

Edward Lengel notes that Kennedy was the first president to give an official pardon.

“We know that John F Kennedy definitely began this tradition and it has continued on and off ever since.”

After 1981, the custom of sending the pardoned turkey to a farm became accepted practice during the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Even if the presidents pardon turkeys before Thanksgiving, they generally still eat a different turkey on the holiday.

The bird cooked for the president’s meal is bought with his own money and prepared according to his taste and that of his family.

I'm John Russell.

Words in the Story

turkey – n. a large American bird that is related to the chicken and that is hunted or raised by people for its meat

stroll – v. to walk slowly in usually a pleasant and relaxed way. The verb can be followed by along, down, across, or around.

origin – n. beginnings or roots

booth – n. a temporary structure for shelter or some other purpose

originator – n. the person who began something; the person who created something

spare – v. to choose not to punish or harm (someone)

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。