Biden’s final turkey pardon: Tradition steeped in history

US President Joe Biden carried on the tradition of pardoning a turkey on Monday for the fourth and final time during his presidency.

 - The history behind the tradition - 

The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a yearly tradition at the White House, held just before Thanksgiving.

This annual event, a lighthearted part of the Thanksgiving celebrations, saw the turkeys spared from the dinner table and given a chance to live out their days in peace.

In this ceremony, the president is presented with a live domestic turkey, usually a male Broad Breasted White, by the National Turkey Federation (NTF), an organization that advocates for America's turkey industry.

The origin of the tradition is widely disputed, with many historians, experts, and sources debating which US president started the pardoning tradition. Some claim that the tradition was first introduced by Abraham Lincoln, others argue for Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.

However, the White House Historical Association stated on its website, "After 1981, the practice of sending the presentation turkey to a farm became the norm under President Ronald Reagan... The formalities of pardoning a turkey gelled by 1989 [by] President George H. W. Bush."

- Pardoning Peach and Blossom -

On Monday, Biden pardoned two lucky birds, “Peach” and “Blossom,” in a ceremony on the White House South Lawn.

"Based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society, I hereby pardon Peach and Blossom," Biden declared, giving the two turkeys, weighing 41 and 40 pounds respectively, their official reprieve.

Both turkeys were raised in Minnesota and had spent the weekend in Washington preparing for their big moment, undergoing training to adjust to loud sounds, large crowds, and the bright lights of the media spotlight.

For Biden, this was a particularly reflective moment as he marked his final turkey pardon.

“It’s also my last time to speak here as your president during the season and give thanks and gratitude. Let me say to you: It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” he said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve.