The yearly tradition of the presidential pardoning of the
turkey.
“President Ford reprieves a
Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation. November 20,
1975. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library”
Every year before Thanksgiving the president of the United
States of America pardons a turkey from being cooked for the festive holiday
meal.
The greatest part of the whole story in my opinion is that
the turkey that the presedent pardons isn’t just any old turkey. The turkey
that gets to live to see another day is from a long line of special show
turkeys that are ok with large crowds and flashing lights.
As the story goes the tradition started back when Abraham Lincoln
was the president. A turkey had been brought the grounds of the white house to
be prepaired for the Thanksgiving meal but the presidents ten year old son,
Tad, befriended the bird and even tought it to follow him around the white
house grounds and named him Jack.
When the time came to prepare the turkey for the holiday
meal, Tad convinced the “executioner” to delay slaughtering the bird, so he
could bring Jack’s case before the President. Tad ran and burst into one of his
father’s Cabinet meetings. Crying loudly, Tad told his father that Jack was
about to be killed. “Jack must not be killed; it is wicked,” Tad pleaded.
President Lincoln replied, “Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten…I can’t
help it.” Tad, sobbing, said, “He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him
killed.” Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States of America, paused in
the midst of the Cabinet meeting. He took out a card, and on it he wrote an
order of reprieve. Jack’s life was to be spared, and Tad raced out of the
Cabinet meeting to present the presidential order to the executioner.*
*A footnote to the story: On Tuesday, November 8, 1864,
Abraham Lincoln was elected to a second term as president. A special polling
place had been set up on the White House grounds especially for soldiers who
chose to vote. Jack, the turkey, actually strutted in front of some of the
soldiers and cut in the voting line. Seeing this, the president looked at Tad
and asked if Jack was going to vote. “He is under age,” Tad replied.
