**The Presidential Turkey Pardon: A Historical Perspective**

In a unique White House tradition, a lame-duck president granted a turkey clemency on Monday. But when did the practice of "pardoning" a turkey first begin?

The origins of this custom are often misattributed. Former President George W. Bush, in 2008, claimed that the tradition began with Harry Truman. Similarly, Bill Clinton made a similar claim in 1996 and repeated it the following year, asserting that Truman was the first president to pardon a turkey. However, these assertions are inaccurate.

Due to continued misinformation, the Truman Library clarified in a 2003 statement that no evidence exists to support the notion that Truman ever pardoned a turkey. The Library's staff found no pertinent documents, speeches, or photographs. Instead, Truman indicated that the turkeys he received were meant for his family's dinner table.

The misunderstanding may stem from the fact that the National Turkey Federation has been presenting turkeys to presidents since 1947, during Truman’s presidency. This gesture was initially intended to promote turkey consumption for Thanksgiving.

There is also an apocryphal tale suggesting Abraham Lincoln was the first to pardon a turkey due to his son's attachment to the bird, but the White House Historical Association dismisses this story as unlikely.

The first documented instance of a president sparing a turkey occurred during John F. Kennedy's tenure in 1963. Despite receiving a turkey with a sign that read, "Good eating, Mr. President," Kennedy decided to let the turkey live, marking a significant event, though it wasn't an official pardon.

Following this, Presidents Nixon and Carter also spared their turkeys, sending them to petting zoos. However, the term "pardon" was not used until 1987 when Ronald Reagan indirectly referenced it amid the Iran-Contra affair. When questioned about potential pardons for political figures, Reagan quipped about pardoning the turkey named Charlie instead.

It was George H.W. Bush who officially formalized the turkey pardon in 1989. During that year's presentation, he assured the public that the turkey would not be eaten and would be given a presidential pardon to live out its days on a children's farm, solidifying the custom as a cherished White House tradition.