How the White House Turkey Pardon Became an American Thanksgiving Tradition

Two turkeys were escorted from the upscale Willard Hotel to the White House this week, becoming the latest recipients of a presidential pardon — a ceremonial ritual that, in its modern form, dates back to the 1980s and was popularized by presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Roots of the national holiday

The White House’s Thanksgiving customs trace back more than 160 years to President Abraham Lincoln, who formally established the national observance in 1863. Writer Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for a national Thanksgiving for decades while editing Boston's Ladies' Magazine; after she appealed to Lincoln in a Sept. 18, 1863 letter, he issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation on Oct. 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War. The date of the holiday was later fixed to the fourth Thursday in November by an act of Congress on Dec. 26, 1941.

How pardons became a White House ritual

The idea of sparing a turkey at the presidential table has earlier roots. According to the White House Historical Association, reporter Noah Brooks recorded that Lincoln granted clemency to a turkey named Jack — a gift to his son Tad that had been destined for the family’s Christmas dinner in 1863. Still, the playful, public ceremony now associated with Thanksgiving evolved much later.

During the 20th century, presidents sometimes chose not to eat turkeys that were presented to them, but the routine of delivering presentation birds to the White House and sending pardoned birds to live on farms became common in 1981 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. The ceremony captured public attention through the decade, and by 1989 President George H.W. Bush used the now-familiar line that subsequent presidents have echoed: "He's granted a presidential pardon as of right now."

The modern ceremony

In recent ceremonies presidents formally "pardon" one or two presentation birds, often offering lighthearted remarks and a symbolic gesture of clemency. This year two birds named Gobble and Waddle received pardons; one was designated as a backup in case the other could not play its ceremonial role. The pardoned turkeys are typically sent to a farm to live out their days.

Thanksgiving at the White House

Beyond the pardoning spectacle, White House Thanksgiving observances reflect family gatherings and quieter traditions. The first documented White House Thanksgiving dinner occurred on Nov. 28, 1878, when President Rutherford B. Hayes hosted family and staff, with guests singing hymns afterward. The custom has continued through economic hardship and wartime: President Woodrow Wilson’s modest Thanksgiving in 1917 was noted for its restraint.

In modern times, presidents sometimes spend Thanksgiving at private retreats. President Ronald Reagan visited his ranch near Santa Barbara in 1985; recent presidents have followed similar patterns — traveling to family homes or seasonal residences rather than staying at the White House.

Why it endures

The turkey pardon blends pageantry, light-heartedness, and a nod to national traditions. It complements the broader, older history of Thanksgiving as a day for families and reflection — a holiday shaped by civic appeals, presidential proclamations, and evolving public rituals.