President Truman receives a turkey from the National Egg and Poultry Board, 11/16/1949. Truman Library. NARA ID 200138.

Did Truman Pardon a Turkey?

The Truman Library has received many requests over the years for information confirming the story that President Truman "pardoned" a Thanksgiving turkey in 1947, thus initiating a Presidential tradition that continues to this day.

The presentation of a turkey to the President at Thanksgiving is a long-standing tradition. But these kids were not impressed. 

Many believe that it was President Truman who first pardoned a turkey, but until President George H.W. Bush pardoned the turkey in 1989, the presented poultry was destined for the dining room! 

In 1947, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board began presenting the White House with a turkey. Truman accepted the turkey…and most likely ate it.  

Staff at the Truman Presidential Library have never found any documents, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, or other contemporary records in their holdings which refer to Truman pardoning a turkey. 

However, after President Bush’s official announcement in 1989, the birds have retired to a farm after their moment in the spotlight.

Amy and Rosalynn Carter meet with “Purdue Pete” and the National Turkey Foundation, 11/21/1978, Carter Library, NARA ID 6783240.

President Barack Obama and his nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson react to an unexpected commotion by Tot, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, during the pardon ceremony 11/23/2016, Obama Library, NARA ID 178713536.

See also: NARA's Thanksgiving-related online resources (National Archives News special topics page).

What Donald would do if told that the nation of Turkey has info on Joe Biden

President Trump wished the country a happy Thanksgiving during a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday where he pardoned the national Thanksgiving turkey. . #turkeypardon https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBHwMbB5m1/?igshid=hrr3khe7uff8

#Trump2020 #TurkeyPardon

If you think making #commercials is #glamorous, you might be in for a shock. We shot three commercials in two half days and one full day. Call times for all days were 4 a.m. For our full day, we shot from 4 a.m. to noon! But these #actors were true #professionals and unaffected. They actually loved having the @childrensmuseumhouston practically to themselves! BTW, this is a #TurkeyPardon #scene #LightsSnowUglySweaters #ChildrensMuseumOfHouston #ChildrensMuseumHouston #CMHouston #CMH (at Children's Museum of Houston) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrCY7RZgA-J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=unalmrfw86xx

#turkeypardon #ipardonyou #bourbonred #royalpalmturkey (at Entropy Acre) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqe_myfB_gM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wxmrtuxu9agc

COLDEST THANKSGIVING EVER! | We Want Local News

Millions of Americans in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states will wake up to the coldest Thanksgiving in more than a century, with high winds even threatening the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, meteorologists said Wednesday.

The mercury in Philadelphia is expected to dip to a bone-chilling 29-degree high on Thursday, with similar shivering temperatures also set for New York and Boston at 26 and 21 degrees, respectively, according to NBC meteorologist Kathryn Prociv.

New York City is also bracing for winds between 15 mph and 25 mph on Thursday, which had Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade organizers on high alert Wednesday. The parade will go on, but the 16 giant balloons are another question.

Any sustained winds of 23 mph or gusts of 34 mph would ground the massive inflatable stars of the annual event, organizers said. The decision will be made Thursday morning whether those balloons will be in action.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he’s worried that his citizens will look at the calendar and not realize just how cold it’ll be on Thursday.

“I’m a little concerned about it because I don’t think people realize … it’s Thanksgiving so everyone knows it’s going to be cold, but no one realizes it’s going to be that cold,” Walsh told reporters on Wednesday.

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#wewantlocal #wewantlocalnews #wwl #wwln #localnews #keepitlocal #local #ShopLocal #Thanksgiving #thanksgivingtravel #ThanksgivingEve #TurkeyPardon #TurkeyDay #TurkeyDayHorrorStories #Thanksgiving2018 #ThankfulFor #turkey

My Thanksgiving. I am a vegan. I do not eat anything that ever drew breath. Its been a long road to this life changing decision. My Thanksgiving is cruelty free. Thank you @matthewkenneycuisine for providing a plant based vegan Thanksgiving meal option. #plantbased #vegan #crueltyfree #turkeypardon #thanksgiving #matthewkenney #finecuisine #cuisine #chef #foodie #organic #localproduce (at Venice, California)

🤭😂 #thesimpsons #turkeypardon #oops #funnyaf

Happy Thanksgiving! May it be filled with laughter and love. #thanksgiving #turkeypardon #family #holidaysnaps #haveagreatday

All of us at PVPD - Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry extend our best wishes to you, our patients, for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! PVPD - Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry http://pvpd.com #pvpd #kid #children #baby #smile #dentist #pediatricdentist #goodyear #avondale #surprise #phoenix #litchfieldpark #PalmValleyPediatricDentistry #verrado #dentalcare #pch #nocavityclub #no2thdk #NetNeutrality #Catsgiving #turkeypardon (at Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry - Goodyear)

Probably kill him later like everything else #dumptrump @Regranned from @nytimes - It began with a familiar pledge: President Trump’s audience, he promised, was going to be very proud of him. “Hi, Drumstick,” the president called out earlier today. “Oh, Drumstick, I think, is going to be very happy.” It ended with characteristic introspection. “I feel so good about myself,” he said softly, laying a hand on the bird after seeking permission to touch it from #turkey professionals. @realdonaldtrump marveled at the size of Drumstick (“36 pounds — that’s a big bird”), admired the animal’s appearance (“beautiful turkey”), praised the facility where the turkey would settle (“Gobbler’s Rest, beautiful place”) and the university that houses it (“Virginia Tech, tremendous school”). He looked upon the crowd in the Rose Garden and announced his decision: The animal was hereby pardoned for the crime of being born a turkey. Like most American traditions, the presidential #turkeypardon is wrought with intrigue and legend. Most presidents have had turkeys formally given to them, but it wasn’t until the first President George Bush officially used the word “pardon” during the ceremony in 1989 that the custom formally began. @tom_brenner took this photo of Drumstick — with a member of the family that provided this year’s turkeys — during the ceremony earlier today. #🦃 - #regrann (at RVJLL Management)

Can he do Anything with Class?

https://livefyre-media.s3.amazonaws.com/mp4/hi/development-2e00d4d90ebc94072f73ad08deb7c1f3.mp4

So once again, #45 proves that no tradition, no matter how insignificant, cannot be made to be classless and embarrassingly awkward.

You had one job.  Pardon the damn turkey.  Yet, here we are.

Making a joke of how your only mission is to undo anything Obama.  You seem to think that MSM America finds this humorous in some way.  WE DO NOT.

Instead, #45 once again shows just how lacking in class, simple minded, and petty one human can be.

Two is a start. What about the other 153,424,655 animals who will lose their lives today? #turkeypardon #ThanksLiving #vegan #Thanksgiving https://www.facebook.com/onboardvegan1/photos/a.1880557852231383.1073741828.1879346935685808/2050265341927299/?type=3

#tbt to that time #sashaandmalia pardoned this fluffy turkey with their dad. Grateful for these luminous beings and also Malia’s discerning taste in jackets ☁️☁️☁️ + + + + #bookstagram #bibliophile #illustration #publishing #bookish #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #readerlife #writerlife #editorlife #giftbook #morrowgift #gifttags #sashaobama #maliaobama #totustuus #barackobama #michelleobama #becoming #firstfamily #gratitude #turkeypardon #thanksgiving #michelleobama (at 195 Broadway) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqfL9ngB4lc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=z1odedjb42lr