Presidential Thanksgivings through the years

Thanksgiving traditions at the White House date back centuries, the most famous being the turkey pardon. The first presidential turkey pardon originated with President Harry S. Truman in 1947 and has since become a White House tradition.

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Nov. 30, 1921

President Warren G. Harding receives another Thanksgiving gobbler at the White House. The turkey was a gift of H.W. Mason of Crystal Springs Miss.

Courtesy Library of Congress /

Nov. 29, 1929

In 1929, the White House turkey was delivered from Minnesota.

Courtesy Library of Congress

Nov. 29, 1929

The Minnesota turkeys await President Herbert Hoover in front of the White House.

Courtesy Library of Congress

Nov. 1902

President Theodore Roosevelt signs his 1902 Thanksgiving Proclamation Act. The first sentence of the Act read: "According to the yearly custom of our people, it falls upon the President at this season to appoint a day of festival and thanksgiving to God."

Courtesy Library of Congress

Nov. 1988

President Ronald Reagan hams it up as he is presented a turkey before his final Thanksgiving in the White House.

Mike Spague / AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 20, 1995

President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton help serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal to the homeless at the Blair Shelter in Washington.

Luc Novovitch / REUTERS

Nov. 26, 1997

President Clinton holds his nephews Zack Rodham, left, and Tyler Clinton, right, during the presentation of the 50th annual National Turkey Federation presidential turkey donation.

Frank Johnston / TWP

Nov. 24, 1998

Before being presented to President Clinton, the turkey wandered the Rose Garden wearing his White House visitor pass as the audience looked on.

Susan Biddle / TWP

Nov. 24, 1998

President Clinton, flanked by National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman Frank Gessell, left, and NTF Secretary Treasurer Jerry Jerome, watch a 45-pound turkey in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Doug Mills / AP

Nov. 22, 2000

President Clinton prepares to pardon a turkey presented to him by members of the National Turkey Federation. Presidential turkey pardons are considered to have started with Harry S. Truman in office.

Frank Johnston / TWP

Nov. 23, 2000

President Clinton looks over a half-cooked turkey Thanksgiving morning during his holiday stay at Camp David in 2000.

/ AP

Nov. 27, 2003

President George W. Bush holds up a turkey platter for U.S. troops at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad, Iraq. Bush made a surprise Thanksgiving day visit to American troops, flying to Baghdad from his ranch in Crawford, Tex.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Nov. 17, 2004

President Bush pardons Biscuit the turkey. Biscuit came from a farm in West Virginia.

Robert A. Reeder / TWP

Nov. 22, 2006

President Bush shows a group of children a turkey named Flyer in the Rose Garden. The pardoned turkeys came from a flock near Monett, Ill.

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Nov. 26, 2006

President Bush and White House visitors pose with Pumpkin the turkey during the ceremony in the Rose Garden in 2006.

Melina Mara / TWP

Nov. 23, 2009

Vice President Joe Biden hugs a guest during a pre-Thanksgiving meal at the Naval Observatory for military members and their families.

Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP

Nov. 25, 2009

President Barack Obama pardons the Thanksgiving Day turkey named 'Courage' as Walter Pelletier, Chairman of the National Turkey Federation, left, and the president's daughter Malia Obama, right, look on.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Nov. 24, 2010

President Barack Obama pardons 'Apple', the National Thanksgiving Turkey at The White House. The President is joined by his daughter Sasha, left and Malia, right and Yubert Envia, Chairman of the National Turkey Federation of Foster Farms.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Nov. 23, 2011

President Obama pardons 'Liberty' the National Thanksgiving Turkey at the White House Behind the turkey is National Turkey Federation Chairman Richard Huisinga. At right are the President's daughters Malia, right, and Sasha.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

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