WASHINGTON—US President Barack Obama symbolically pardoned a turkey on Wednesday, the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday when Americans will feast on the poultry.
“America is, after all, a country of second chances, and this turkey has earned a second chance to live out the rest of his life comfortably,” a beaming Obama said of the White House tradition.
Flanked by daughters Malia and Sasha, the US president gave the pardon in the gardens of the presidential mansion.
“It is hard to believe this is my seventh year of pardoning a turkey. Time flies—even if turkeys don’t,” a jovial Obama added, pardoning the turkey named “Abe” for President Abraham Lincoln.
Obama thanked his daughters for taking part—and being good sports.
“I am going to publicly thank Malia and Sasha for once again standing here with me during the turkey pardon,” he said, getting into the holiday spirit as his daughters looked on sheepishly.
“They do this solely because it makes me feel good, not because they actually think that this is something I should be doing. And, you know, as you get older, you appreciate when your kids just
indulge you like this,” he added.
The origin of the pardoning tradition is unclear—some say it was President John F. Kennedy who was the first to spare a turkey in November 1963.
However, it wasn’t until the days of President George H.W. Bush in 1989, that pardoning became an annual part of White House turkey presentations.
Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the last Thursday of November. AFP