National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation
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National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year. The President of the United States is presented with a live turkey. Generally the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board are involved. For many years the president has granted the turkey a "presidential pardon". The turkey is then taken to a farm where it may live out the rest of its natural life. For many years the turkeys were sent to Frying Pan Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. Starting In 2005, the pardoned turkeys have been sent to live in Disneyland.
Since the ceremony is informal and lighthearted, coming only a few weeks after the intense election season most years, it is unknown how many turkeys have been pardoned by presidents. Many presidents, such as President Nixon, have managed to avoid the ceremony. It is widely held that the tradition began in 1947 with President Truman. Although President Truman was presented with numerous turkeys during the month of November during his two terms, no documents, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, or other contemporary records are known to exist that specify that he ever "pardoned" a turkey. Presidential turkey pardoning could in fact be a whole lot older. During the 2001 ceremony, President Bush related a story in which President Lincoln pardoned his son's turkey, claiming this was in fact the tradition's origin.
The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is depicted in the 30th episode of The West Wing, "Shibboleth".
[edit] Names
Names of presidentially pardoned turkeys:
- 2006 - Flyer & Fryer
- 2005 - Marshmallow & Yam
- 2004 - Biscuit & Gravy
- 2003 - Stars & Stripes
[edit] External links
- Official photo gallery of Presidents pardoning Turkeys
- President Abraham Lincoln Pardoned Jack, the White House Turkey
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