Turkeys Liberty and Bell enjoyed the luxurious Willard InterContinental Hotel prior to their presidential pardon. Photo courtesy of Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press.
What do Richard Nixon, Roger Stone, Bill Clinton and turkeys Peanut Butter and Jelly all have in common? They have been blessed by what is viewed as the President’s most benevolent power; an act of grace solely dictated by the leader of our country’s executive branch: the presidential pardon. Under Article II, Sec. II of the U.S. Constitution, the president is given the power to “grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States.” In other words, presidential clemency safeguards any individual from serving time behind bars, absolves legal troubles and virtually guarantees reinsertion into society. For a turkey however, a pardon goes far beyond forgiving obstruction of justice, perjury and witness tampering — it is a matter of life or death.
This Thanksgiving, turkeys Liberty and Bell received the supreme blessing by President Biden. Rather than ending up on a dinner table, these privileged birds lived to see another day. How did Liberty and Bell escape the jaws of hungry Americans, in a country that consumes over 46 million turkeys a year? How long has this strange tradition been in effect, and why would presidents want to salvage two turkeys from the precipice of certain death?
Historical accounts debate over when official presidential turkey pardons truly began, but the oldest recorded tradition dates back to 1863 under President Lincoln. Prior, the White House held close ties with the turkey lobby, who provided the birds as a staple of thanksgiving celebration. Tad Lincoln, the son of President Lincoln, begged his father to spare the turkey he considered as a dear pet. Before Lincoln, no President had formally excused a turkey from the thanksgiving table, preferring to eat it with a generous dose of cranberry sauce, stuffing and mashed potatoes. A century later, President John F. Kennedy used his gifted turkey as a political move given the circumstances of the situation. Preferring to be seen as a turkey liberator rather than a turkey executioner, sparing the bird painted Kennedy in a more positive light, famously stating “let’s keep him going.” From George H.W. Bush onwards, presidential turkey pardons have been commonplace as part of a U.S. President’s thanksgiving routine. Today, the bond between the White House and National Turkey Federation remains strong.
In preparation for their presidential pardon, turkeys Liberty and Bell rode from their farm in Minnesota to Washington D.C. in a black stretch Cadillac Escalade. Their personal chauffeur is described as a “seasoned individual in turkey-handling matters” according to Steve Lykken, National Turkey Federation president, guaranteeing the utmost comfort. Once in our nation’s capital, Liberty and Bell arrived on a red carpet and checked into the luxurious Willard InterContinental Hotel, located steps away from the White House, before indulging in a well-deserved bubble bath while sipping on refreshments from the suite’s mini-bar. The turkeys then participated in a news conference where their names were formally unveiled to the public, drawing crowds of reporters from Washington and beyond. To close off the night, Lykken riled up the crowd when he announced that the birds were “absolutely ready for prime time.”
On D-Day, Liberty and Bell made their way to the White House South Lawn alongside the most powerful executives of the National Turkey Federation. President Biden and his cabinet welcomed esteemed guests and initiated the ceremony in high spirits. Following his opening remarks, Biden made his way to the ornamented table adjacent to the podium and blessed Liberty. Bell, on the other hand, enjoyed the temperate fall weather squawking through the grass behind the podium. Biden proclaimed: “That’s a big bird, man. I’m impressed. I hereby pardon Liberty and Bell. Congratulations, birds!” Thanks to this moment in the spotlight, these lucky birds’ lives were changed forever. The 2023 presidential turkey pardon concluded, and the fowls made their way back to Minnesota, alive and well. Today, Liberty and Bell enjoy retirement at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences.
Behind the plethora of dad jokes and ceremonious decor, the presidential turkey pardon hides a beloved American tradition that has spanned decades. While Americans gobble millions of turkeys on Thanksgiving Day, a single Presidential blessing can certainly be life changing. For the sake of all turkeys reading this, keep your ears open: the pardon could be a one-way ticket to a life of luxury, comfort and endless pleasure. Life is certainly good when you are a turkey — well, a presidential one.