Judy: Americans are expected to
gobble up more than 40 million
Turkeys between now and the end
of the year but two massive
birds will escape the holiday
season thanks to a presidential
intervention.
Stephanie sy is back with a
history of the Turkey pardon.
Reporter: Turkey is not on the
white house menu this
Thanksgiving at least not this
plucky pair or should we say
lucky pair?
Reporter: Biden doled out a
morsel of mercy on Monday
sparing chocolate and chip.
>> Based on their temperament
and commitment to be productive
numbers of society, I hereby
pardon -- yes --
reporter: The president garnered
his speech with dad jokes.
>> The votes are in.
They have been counted and
verified.
There is no foul play or ballot
stuffing.
The only red wave the season
will be commander knocking over
the cranberry sauce on our
table.
Reporter: It is a more than
three decade long tradition of
the white house but how it got
started, well, that question has
ruffled some feathers.
>> President Truman was the
first president to pardon a
Turkey.
Reporter: That is as false as
tofu-rkey.
He was the first to receive a
Turkey from the national Turkey
federation but there is no
record of a pardon.
According to the white house's
historical association Truman
quipped the birds would come in
handy for Christmas tradition.
Oh Truman, that talk.
Who was over as president to
save a Turkey?
Let the record show it was
honest Abe Lincoln after his
young son tad begged for the
birds life, the Christmas Turkey
became a patch.
President John F. Kennedy was a
first to spare a Thanksgiving
bird in 1963 despite a sign
hanging around the Turkeys bird
-- Turkeys and saying -- good
eating, Mr. President.
The president sent the bird back
to the farm.
Gifted to a nearby petting zoo
by president Nixon.
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 1980 nine with president
George H W bush.
>> Let me us or you and this
fine Tom Turkey that he will not
end up on anyone's Turkey --
Thanksgiving table.
Reporter: It has become an
annual ritual.
>> This is the eighth I have had
the privilege to set free in the
rose garden.
Reporter: Some years more
Turkeys are domesticated like
Jerry and 2000.
And some years are more
democratic like in 2004 when the
George W. Bush white house let
online voters choose the names
of the Turkey.
>> This is an election year and
biscuits had to earn a spot at
the white house.
Biscuits and his running mate
gravy prevailed over the ticket
of patience and fortitude.
Reporter: 2013 saw the Turkeys
upgrade their D.C. Stay to the
swanky digs of the Willard
hotel.
While running afoul of any
tradition is liable to cause a
flap, the pandemic brought
change to the white house and
homes across the country in
2020.
>> And we give thanks for the
vaccines and therapies that will
soon and the pandemic.
Reporter: One year later with
the pandemic still lingering, at
10 D's kept their distance --
attendees kept their distance.
>> These Turkeys instead of
getting basted are getting
boosted.
Reporter: These lucky ducks were
raised specifically for this day
returning to the tar heel state
thank for to live out the rest
of their days on the campus of
the university of North Carolina
.
That is the story and if you
hated the puns, you can tell
us to stuff it.