Then and Now:  

Pardon Me

So which President can be credited with pardoning the White House Turkey for Thanksgiving?

Since as early as 1870 folks have been sending our Presidents Turkeys as a  national expression of Good Cheer for the Holidays. 

But there’s another long held tradition  which has also been faithfully performed by many a President for the holiday, and that is The Presidential Pardon of the White House Thanksgiving Turkey.

So which President started this time honored tradition???

Some have given credit to President Truman, and some to President Kennedy or President Reagan. Even  George H. W. Bush has been given credit for exclaiming happily on behalf of the White House Turkey; “….- he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy — he’s granted a Presidential pardon as of right now”

The tradition of pardoning White House Turkeys though seems to have its beginning with President Lincoln when his son interceded on behalf  of  the Holiday Turkey,  to which the President considered the plea, and granted clemency.