To celebrate Thanksgiving, President Biden overlooked politics to host the annual White House turkey pardon where turkey named Liberty and Bell were pardoned at an event ahead of the holiday. Despite the occasion, President Biden made a factual error by calling thirty-one years younger, and he confused pop star Taylor Swift with Britney Spears, much to the amusement of the attendees. Despite the charmingly funny moments that ensued, the President used the event to celebrate rural farming, pay respects to the late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and brighten the holiday season for families and children.
The story dives into the rich history of the turkey pardon, tracing it back to President George H.W. Bush in 1989, who began the annual tradition after assurances to a protesting animal rights activist that the turkey he patted on the head would not end up on a dinner table. The entire event is rooted in the tumultuous relationship between the poultry industry and the government, underlined by gestures like gifting chickens to President Harry S. Truman as a statement against WWII-era food conservation practices. The tradition currently extends to lower government offices, with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer intending to pardon a turkey named Dolly Pardon this week.
The article goes on to share that the two birds, Liberty and Bell, after their moment of pardon and glory at the White House, will head back to their original home in Minnesota. They will reside at the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, where they will supposedly enjoy partaking in activities such as indulging in Honeycrisp apples. The article ends with an anecdote from the Willard hotel’s general manager, Markus Platzer, who humorously stated that the turkeys had an elaborate routine, including an evening bubble bath and even raiding the minibar.
