The Seven Seas

Newspaper from United States of America -

Published in United States of America - Social interactions and entertainment - 24 Nov 2016 06:53 - 9

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. The President of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey, usually of the Broad-Breasted White variety. Generally, the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board are involved. The ceremony dates back to the 1940s, with presidents occasionally sparing the bird presented to them; since 1989, during George H. W. Bush's first Thanksgiving as president, it has been an annual tradition for the president to "pardon" the turkey.

At his final turkey pardon, President Obama spared two Iowa-raised turkeys: Tater and Tot.