See U.S. Presidents with the Turkeys They've 'Pardoned'

Mar. 15, 2025

President Joe Biden with chair of the National Turkey Federation John Zimmerman and his son Grant.Photo:Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty

Turkey pardoning is atradition that is as American as apple pie. While families across the nation prepare for heartyThanksgiving feasts, U.S. Presidents — dating back to Abraham Lincoln — have made an event of granting clemency to a selection of lucky birds.From Purdue Pete to Flyer to Peach and Blossom, see U.S. Presidents with the turkeys they’ve pardoned throughout the years.

Turkey pardoning is atradition that is as American as apple pie. While families across the nation prepare for heartyThanksgiving feasts, U.S. Presidents — dating back to Abraham Lincoln — have made an event of granting clemency to a selection of lucky birds.

From Purdue Pete to Flyer to Peach and Blossom, see U.S. Presidents with the turkeys they’ve pardoned throughout the years.

01of 17Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1960Dwight D. Eisenhower with a turkey.Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum/NARAAccording to the White House, the tradition of granting clemency to a turkey dates back to 1863, when Abraham Lincoln apparently pardoned one. Poultry dealers had been sending birds to the White House for years before that, however, no one had ever formerly excused one from their Thanksgiving table. Fast-forward several decades, when people claimed Harry S. Truman officially began the tradition — a fact his library and museum staff disputes.Though he was pictured with one at his time — and mentioned it’d come in handy at Christmas time — it was Eisenhower who posed for this photo op of himself feeding a turkey a cranberry during his term.

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Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1960

Dwight D. Eisenhower with a turkey.Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum/NARA

According to the White House, the tradition of granting clemency to a turkey dates back to 1863, when Abraham Lincoln apparently pardoned one. Poultry dealers had been sending birds to the White House for years before that, however, no one had ever formerly excused one from their Thanksgiving table. Fast-forward several decades, when people claimed Harry S. Truman officially began the tradition — a fact his library and museum staff disputes.

Though he was pictured with one at his time — and mentioned it’d come in handy at Christmas time — it was Eisenhower who posed for this photo op of himself feeding a turkey a cranberry during his term.

02of 17John F. Kennedy, 1963John F. Kennedy and a turkey.Keystone-FranceGamma-Rapho/GettyThe Washington Postfirst used both “pardon” and “reprieve” in a 1963 article in which President Kennedy said of his turkey, “Let’s keep him going,” the White House shared.

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John F. Kennedy, 1963

John F. Kennedy and a turkey.Keystone-FranceGamma-Rapho/Getty

The Washington Postfirst used both “pardon” and “reprieve” in a 1963 article in which President Kennedy said of his turkey, “Let’s keep him going,” the White House shared.

03of 17Lyndon B. Johnson, 1967Lyndon B. Johnson and a turkey.Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum/NARAAfter Kennedy’s assassination, Johnson took over the tradition. Here, Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois and representatives of the poultry industry and farm organizations presented the president with the year’s turkey.

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Lyndon B. Johnson, 1967

Lyndon B. Johnson and a turkey.Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum/NARA

After Kennedy’s assassination, Johnson took over the tradition. Here, Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois and representatives of the poultry industry and farm organizations presented the president with the year’s turkey.

04of 17Richard Nixon, 1970Richard Nixon and a turkey.Keystone-FranceGamma-Rapho/GettyA possibly apocryphal taleabout Nixon’s photo op with his turkey claims the bird was so rattled, its feet had to be nailed to the table. (Apparently turkeys don’t have nerve endings in their feet.)

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Richard Nixon, 1970

Richard Nixon and a turkey.Keystone-FranceGamma-Rapho/Getty

A possibly apocryphal taleabout Nixon’s photo op with his turkey claims the bird was so rattled, its feet had to be nailed to the table. (Apparently turkeys don’t have nerve endings in their feet.)

05of 17Gerald Ford, 1975Gerald Ford and a turkey.Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARAUnclear if the bird directly in front of the president was for eating or decoration. The live one traveled to D.C. with the National Turkey Federation.

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Gerald Ford, 1975

Gerald Ford and a turkey.Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA

Unclear if the bird directly in front of the president was for eating or decoration. The live one traveled to D.C. with the National Turkey Federation.

06of 17Jimmy Carter, 1978Rosalynn Carter with a turkey.Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARAThe president’s wife, Rosalynn, and daughter, Amy, took over the honors in this year, meeting with “Purdue Pete” on the North Portico of the White House.

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Jimmy Carter, 1978

Rosalynn Carter with a turkey.Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARA

The president’s wife, Rosalynn, and daughter, Amy, took over the honors in this year, meeting with “Purdue Pete” on the North Portico of the White House.

07of 17Ronald Reagan, 1985Ronald Reagan with a turkey.Dirck Halstead/The LIFE Images Collection/GettyReagan’s expression of glee was no doubt due to the fact that this encounter went markedly better than his first with a turkey, when thebird went wild on him, fluttering around madly until handlers could placate it. Reagan is credited with making the turkey pardoning an official act, formalizing the annual process.

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Ronald Reagan, 1985

Ronald Reagan with a turkey.Dirck Halstead/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty

Reagan’s expression of glee was no doubt due to the fact that this encounter went markedly better than his first with a turkey, when thebird went wild on him, fluttering around madly until handlers could placate it. Reagan is credited with making the turkey pardoning an official act, formalizing the annual process.

08of 17George H.W. Bush, 1989George H.W. Bush with a turkey.Diana Walker/Time Life Pictures/GettyBush reportedly quipped"reprieve," within earshot of animal rights activists picketing the ceremony.

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George H.W. Bush, 1989

George H.W. Bush with a turkey.Diana Walker/Time Life Pictures/Getty

Bush reportedly quipped"reprieve," within earshot of animal rights activists picketing the ceremony.

09of 17Bill Clinton, 2000Bill Clinton and a turkey.Mario Tama/AFP/GettyClinton’s turkey’s name was “Jerry,” which we have to assume was aSeinfeldreference, given the show’s dominance throughout the ’90s.

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Bill Clinton, 2000

Bill Clinton and a turkey.Mario Tama/AFP/Getty

Clinton’s turkey’s name was “Jerry,” which we have to assume was aSeinfeldreference, given the show’s dominance throughout the ’90s.

10of 17George W. Bush, 2006George W. Bush and a turkey.Tim Sloan/AFP/GettyBush II’s bird’s name was “Flyer,” though he looks like more of a “Grumpy,” right?

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George W. Bush, 2006

George W. Bush and a turkey.Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty

Bush II’s bird’s name was “Flyer,” though he looks like more of a “Grumpy,” right?

11of 17Barack Obama, 2012Barack Obama and a turkey.Jim Watson/AFP/GettyFor his official duties in 2012, Obama brought along daughters Sasha and Malia, a job they helped with pretty much every year their dad was in office.

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Barack Obama, 2012

Barack Obama and a turkey.Jim Watson/AFP/Getty

For his official duties in 2012, Obama brought along daughters Sasha and Malia, a job they helped with pretty much every year their dad was in office.

12of 17Barack Obama, 2015Barack Obama and a turkey.Chip Somodevilla/GettyPresident Obama is seen here with Abe, the 42-lb. turkey he pardoned on Nov. 25, 2015. Careful readers will note that some believe the practice of pardoning a turkey started with Abraham Lincoln, which brings this whole event full circle.

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Barack Obama, 2015

Barack Obama and a turkey.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

President Obama is seen here with Abe, the 42-lb. turkey he pardoned on Nov. 25, 2015. Careful readers will note that some believe the practice of pardoning a turkey started with Abraham Lincoln, which brings this whole event full circle.

13of 17Donald Trump, 2020Donald Trump and a turkey.Chip Somodevilla/GettyDespite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump was able to keep up with the tradition in 2020, granting a pardon to Corn, wholost a Twitter pollfor the privilege to his pal, Cob.

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Donald Trump, 2020

Donald Trump and a turkey.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump was able to keep up with the tradition in 2020, granting a pardon to Corn, wholost a Twitter pollfor the privilege to his pal, Cob.

14of 17Joe Biden, 2021Joe Biden and a turkey.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via GettyThough traditionally two turkeys come to Washington, D.C., and just one is pardoned while the other serves as ‘alternate,’ in 2021, President Joe Bidengranted clemency to both.Indiana natives Peanut Butter and Jellywere selected because of their “temperament, appearance and I suspect their vaccination status,” the president joked. “Instead of getting basted, they’re getting boosted.”

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Joe Biden, 2021

Joe Biden and a turkey.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty

Though traditionally two turkeys come to Washington, D.C., and just one is pardoned while the other serves as ‘alternate,’ in 2021, President Joe Bidengranted clemency to both.

Indiana natives Peanut Butter and Jellywere selected because of their “temperament, appearance and I suspect their vaccination status,” the president joked. “Instead of getting basted, they’re getting boosted.”

15of 17Joe Biden, 2022Joe Biden and a turkey.SAUL LOEB/AFP via GettyBiden repeated his two-turkey tradition in 2022, handing the mic to either Chocolate or Chip — birds named for the president’s favorite ice cream flavor.This marked the 75th anniversary of the turkey pardoning tradition, and Biden leaned into the puns in celebration.“Before I gobble up too much time, the votes are in,” Biden said, making a nod to the recent midterm elections. “They’ve been counted, verified. There’s no ballot stuffing. There’s no ‘fowl’ play. The only red wave this season is gonna be German shepherd Commander knocks over the cranberry sauce on the table.”

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Joe Biden, 2022

Joe Biden and a turkey.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Biden repeated his two-turkey tradition in 2022, handing the mic to either Chocolate or Chip — birds named for the president’s favorite ice cream flavor.

This marked the 75th anniversary of the turkey pardoning tradition, and Biden leaned into the puns in celebration.

“Before I gobble up too much time, the votes are in,” Biden said, making a nod to the recent midterm elections. “They’ve been counted, verified. There’s no ballot stuffing. There’s no ‘fowl’ play. The only red wave this season is gonna be German shepherd Commander knocks over the cranberry sauce on the table.”

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Joe Biden, 2023

In a ceremony held on the South Lawn on Nov. 20, Biden celebrated the occasion, saying, “this is their day” of the two birds, who were raised in Willmar, Minnesota.

Just like in years past, the two turkeys spent the previous night at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., arriving on a red carpet before being escorted to their rooms.

“This is the 76th anniversary of this event,” the President said. “I want you to know I wasn’t there at the first one. I was too young to make it up,” he joked, taking a jab at the fact that heturned 81 on the same day.

17of 17Joe Biden, 2024Presidents Joe Biden with chair of the National Turkey Federation John Zimmerman and his son Grant.Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via GettyFor his last Thanksgiving as president, Joe Biden showed clemency to turkeys Peach and Blossom, who were named after the official flower of his home state of Delaware.Above, Biden is pictured on the South Lawn with chair of the National Turkey Federation, John Zimmerman and his son Grant.

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Joe Biden, 2024

Presidents Joe Biden with chair of the National Turkey Federation John Zimmerman and his son Grant.Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty

For his last Thanksgiving as president, Joe Biden showed clemency to turkeys Peach and Blossom, who were named after the official flower of his home state of Delaware.

Above, Biden is pictured on the South Lawn with chair of the National Turkey Federation, John Zimmerman and his son Grant.

source: people.com