It was Ronald Reagan who carved out a spot in history by being the first to use the word pardon when talking turkey in 1987. The tradition became formalized in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush.

The first president to receive a live turkey was Harry S. Truman from the National Turkey Federation. As a result, he is often credited as the first to pardon a turkey. But the 33rd president does ...

However, it wasn't until 1989 when former President George H. W. Bush officially presented the turkey with a presidential "pardon," an annual tradition that has been honored in the decades since.

The first official presidential pardon for a Thanksgiving turkey Still, it wasn't until George H.W. Bush's administration that pardoning turkeys became a formal tradition.

The history of White House Thanksgiving traditions date back more than 160 years to President Abraham Lincoln, who established the national holiday. During his time in office, Lincoln issued a ...

The presidential turkey pardon is a wacky American tradition that some historians date back to President Harry Truman. The chairman of the National Turkey Federation, an organization that ...

A lame-duck president "pardoned" a turkey Monday. "They tell me there's 2,500 people here today looking for a pardon," President Biden joked at a White House ceremony on the South Lawn. After one ...

Continuing a tradition that goes back years, President Joe Biden will partake in his last turkey pardon during his administration. Every year, the president "pardons" one or two turkeys before the ...

A lame-duck president “pardoned” a turkey on Monday. “They tell me there’s 2,500 people here today looking for a pardon,” President Biden joked at a White House ceremony on the South Lawn. After one ...

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.

We all know where most turkeys end up on Thanksgiving. But for a lucky pair, a presidential pardon will save them from the table. The presidential turkey pardon is a wacky American tradition that ...