Memorable Lines from Turkey Pardon Speeches

Depending on your leanings and taste for politics, being a White House speechwriter may be a dream job. However, for every State of the Union or notable address, there are hundreds of events and proclamations that are not going to move the needle. And every year, someone has to write the remarks for the pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey.

U.S. presidents received turkeys from private citizens throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, but the process of them being formally given one began in 1947 when President Harry Truman was presented with a bird from the National Turkey Federation. Since then, the federation has given a turkey to the White House each year.

While many presidents spared their turkeys, the first one to use the term “pardon” was President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He was asked by reporters if he would pardon his aides accused in the Iran-Contra scandal and responded by saying, "I'll pardon him," referencing the bird. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush began the formal process of pardoning the turkey, and every president has done so since then. Here is a memorable line from each president in the years that followed.

“Let me assure you and this fine tom turkey that he will not end up on anyone's dinner table, not this guy. He's granted a presidential pardon as of right now and [it will] allow him to live out his days on a children's farm not far from here.” – President George H. W. Bush (1989)

“This year, I guess we can say, since the government is back to work, I can at least grant to one living thing in America a permanent furlough.” – President Bill Clinton (1995)

“You cannot take the heat, and you're definitely going to stay out of the kitchen." – President George W. Bush (2007)

“Tomorrow is one of the best days of the year to be an American. It’s a day to count our blessings, spend time with the ones we love, and enjoy some good food and some great company. But it’s also one of the worst days of the year to be a turkey. They don’t have it so good.” – President Barack Obama (2016)

“It was 70 years ago that the National Turkey Federation first presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Harry Truman — who, I might add, did not grant the pardon. He refused. He was a tough cookie. Today, I’m going to be a much nicer President.” – President Donald Trump (2017)

“Folks, as I’ve said before, every American wants the same thing: They want to be able to look the turkey in the eye and tell him everything’s going to be okay. And so, folks, it’s going to be okay. In all seriousness, it’s important to continue traditions like this to remind us how from darkness there is light and hope and progress.” – President Joe Biden (2021)

Happy Thanksgiving! As an added bonus, here is the famous turkey drop scene from WKRP in Cincinnati.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also like my earlier blog on the correct way of using E.g or I.e.

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