In his final turn at a 77-year-old holiday tradition, President Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom, two Thanksgiving turkeys presented to the White House by U.S. turkey growers, on Monday. “They tell me there’s 2,500 people here today looking for a pardon,” chuckled the president, who will leave office in two months.
President Truman was the first president to formally accept a turkey from the National Turkey Federation for Thanksgiving and it was the Reagan era when the practice took root of sending the birds to a farm rather than the kitchen, says the White House Historical Association. President George H.W. Bush was the first to jocularly announce a presidential pardon.
“In the last four years, I’ve had the honor to continue that tradition by pardoning Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell. And today, Peach and Blossom will join the free birds of the United States of America,” said Biden. Peach’s motto was “Keep calm and gobble on” while Blossom lived by the words, “No fowl play, just Minnesota nice,” said Biden in reading short biographies of the white-feathered birds. The turkeys were raised in Northfield, Minnesota, but their combined names matched the Delaware state flower, the peach blossom.
“Based on your temperament and commitment to being productive members of society, I hereby pardon Peach and Blossom,” said Biden. The turkey pardoning marked the start of the holiday season in Washington. On Monday afternoon, First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the arrival of the White House Christmas tree.
To watch a video of the five-minute turkey pardoning, click here.