When Thanksgiving Turned Into Political Theater: Presidential Scandals and Surprise Moments

Thanksgiving often slows the daily news cycle, but over the decades the holiday has also amplified political drama in Washington. Family conversations and Black Friday headlines have at times been overtaken by presidential controversies, surprise trips and last-minute pardons that defined political seasons.

Watergate and Nixon’s Famous Line (1973–1974)

One of the most enduring Thanksgiving-era moments came in November 1973, when President Richard Nixon told television audiences, "I am not a crook," amid growing revelations about the Watergate break-in and its cover-up. Investigations showed efforts by Nixon’s aides and others to obstruct justice: suppressing the FBI inquiry, paying hush money and misusing government agencies to shield the administration.

"I made my mistakes, but in all of my years of public life, I have never profited from public service... Well, I am not a crook." — Richard Nixon

By August 1974, with impeachment proceedings under way and indictments looming, Nixon resigned the presidency. He was later pardoned and did not face federal prosecution for the Watergate-related charges.

Iran–Contra Unfolds Around Thanksgiving (1986)

In November 1986, reporting revealed that U.S. officials had secretly sold arms to Iran in hopes of securing the release of hostages and had diverted proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The revelations crescendoed around Thanksgiving: two days before the holiday President Ronald Reagan dismissed Lt. Col. Oliver North from the National Security Council and accepted the resignation of National Security Advisor John Poindexter.

On Thanksgiving Eve, Reagan ordered a Special Review Board to investigate the National Security Council’s role — the panel later known as the Tower Commission. The controversy and subsequent investigations stretched into the next administration; several figures connected to Iran–Contra received pardons on Christmas Eve 1992.

Clinton’s Black Friday Responses and Impeachment (1998)

During the 1998 impeachment inquiry, President Bill Clinton returned written answers to 81 questions from the House Judiciary Committee on Black Friday. The questions stemmed from special counsel findings about Clinton’s relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky and his conduct in the Paula Jones case.

Earlier that year Clinton had said publicly, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." The House ultimately impeached him on counts related to perjury and obstruction of justice; the Senate later acquitted him on both articles.

George W. Bush’s Secret Baghdad Visit (2003)

In November 2003, President George W. Bush made a covert trip to Baghdad to visit U.S. troops — the first time a sitting president had traveled to Iraq. The visit was kept secret until the president was on the ground for more than two hours. Supporters emphasized the morale boost to deployed service members; critics questioned the political timing ahead of the 2004 election.

Michael Flynn’s Pardon on Thanksgiving Eve (2020)

On the eve of Thanksgiving 2020, President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn. The White House said Flynn "should never have been prosecuted," framing the pardon as corrective. Flynn’s legal saga dated to the special counsel investigation into 2016 election interference: he pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russia and later sought to withdraw his plea, alleging government misconduct. The Department of Justice had been moving to dismiss the case when the pardon was issued.

Across decades, Thanksgiving weekends have provided a backdrop for political drama — from Watergate and Iran–Contra to presidential travels and pardons — turning holiday pauses into moments that shaped public conversation and political history.