Nov 21 WATCH: Trump pardons his first Thanksgiving turkeys, Drumstick and Wishbone The act of leniency means 47-pound Drumstick and 36-pound Wishbone will instead get to live the rest of their lives at a Virginia farm. Continue reading
Nov 23 Watch 3:19 The history of presidential pardons — for turkeys By PBS News Hour On the day before Thanksgiving, President Obama continued the annual tradition of pardoning a turkey, with an address rife with Thanksgiving puns. The tradition has continued every November for the past 25 years, but there’s debate about how it all… Continue watching
Nov 23 Column: What is behind the turkey pardoning ritual? By Tobin Miller Shearer, The Conversation The presidential pardoning of turkeys invites the question: What is the significance of such a public rite of forgiveness?… Continue reading
Nov 25 Obama pardons ‘Honest’ and ‘Abe’ before Thanksgiving By Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama spared two turkeys Wednesday named for one of the nation's most admired presidents, continuing a White House tradition that provides a refreshing sense of amusement and bipartisan cheer no matter how troubled the times. Continue reading
Dec 01 Republican aide resigns over comments about Sasha and Malia Obama By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Elizabeth Lauten, communications director to Rep. Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, said Malia Obama, 16, and Sasha, 13, should have shown more "class" at a turkey-pardoning ceremony last week at the White House. Continue reading
Nov 26 Watch Mac and Cheese won’t be served at the White House this Thanksgiving By PBS News Hour President Obama used his executive authority to pardon Mac and Cheese, the two birds who were saved from the Thanksgiving table this year. Who was the first president to give flight to this holiday amnesty? Political director Domenico Montanaro looks… Continue watching
Nov 26 Why presidents pardon turkeys — a history By Domenico Montanaro The presidential turkey pardon is not a new tradition -- it’s happened every year for the last quarter century. But there has been confusion about how it all got started. Continue reading