Turkey Pardon: A White House Thanksgiving Tradition

The presidential turkey pardon is an interesting White House tradition that has captured the attention of the public in recent years. Live Thanksgiving turkeys have been presented to presidents since the Lincoln administration. The turkey pardon ceremony has been said to date back to 1947, when President Harry Truman received a turkey as a gift from the National Turkey Federation. The Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence of this.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan informally issued a "pardon" to a turkey and sent him to a petting zoo. It wasn't until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned. Each year since, the President has formally pardoned a turkey and spares it from ending up on the Thanksgiving table. A pardoning ceremony is held each year in the White House Rose Garden a day or two before the national holiday.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Restaurants in the Washington, DC Area

 

Looking for an interesting place to eat out on Thanksgiving? Here are some suggestions of nice restaurants to enjoy your holiday meal. Some places get very busy, so call now to make your reservation! Pricing excludes tax and gratuity and is subject to change. Please verify the information with the restaurant when making a reservation.

10 Ways to Make the Most of Fall in Washington, DC

Whether you’re an urban explorer or fall fashionista, there’s so much to do when autumn hits the District.

While spring and summer get much of the glory in Washington, DC, as the leaves turn shades of auburn and red the nation’s capital remains buzzing with so many sights to see and things to do. From witnessing the fall foliage on the National Mall to exploring lesser-known gems like the National Arboretum, getting spooked at the zoo and so much more, here’s how to make the most of fall in Washington, DC.