The annual turkey pardoning is a long-held Thanksgiving tradition for the White House. But the history of exactly when the pardon began "gets tricky." ...

The history of White House Thanksgiving traditions date back more than 160 years to President Abraham Lincoln, who established the national holiday. Latest U.S.

According to the White House Historical Association, John F. Kennedy was the first president to pardon a turkey. In a Washington Post article in 1963, Kennedy had said, "Let's keep him going ...

The White House turkey pardon becomes a tradition. Prior to 1947, gifting a turkey to the US president can be traced back to the 1870s.

History of the White House Turkey Pardon. The White House Historical Association joined with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to look at the role of food and dining in ...

This account, however, may be overstated, the White House Historical Association reports. Starting in 1947, the National Turkey Federation began giving the president a turkey ahead of Thanksgiving.

The history of the turkey pardon. ... President John F. Kennedy began the trend of publicly sparing a turkey given to the White House in November 1963, just days before his assassination.

Presidential turkey pardons. The first turkey pardon ever issued is believed to have been by Lincoln as recorded by White House reporter Noah Brooks in an 1865 dispatch, according to the White ...

The turkey pardon at the White House is an annual tradition that is usually “cranned” full of a cornucopia of corny jokes. The history of the turkey pardon.

President John F. Kennedy, left, reaches out to touch a big, 40-pound turkey, presented to him Nov. 19, 1963, at the White House. the presentation was made on behalf of the nation’s turkey industry.