# What really happens to those presidentially pardoned turkeys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369 "2004-11-17T23:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/1 "2004-11-17T23:10:56Z")
I mean are any of them still around from the Clinton administration? Are they put out to stud? In a petting zoo? Animal porn films? Or do they quietly end up in somebodies oven the following Thanksgiving? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/2 "2004-11-17T23:36:22Z")
A presidential pardon only applies to the Federal Death Penalty. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/3 "2004-11-17T23:51:22Z")
[Apparently they die fairly shortly thereafter](http://www.teachkind.org/page/lesson_5.pdf) > [@](#): > > According to the Abraham Presidential Library, President Lincoln grew up with a deep affection and respect for animals. While in the White House, the Lincoln family was given a live turkey before Christmas to be killed for their holiday dinner. The turkey quickly became part of the family, and as the holiday loomed closer, Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, cried and asked his father to write out a presidential pardon to spare the turkey’s life. President Lincoln agreed with Tad and let the turkey join the family. > > Many recent presidents continued this tradition, but for the turkeys, it’s too little, too late. According to an ABC News investigation, the presidentially pardoned turkeys live at most a few months post-pardon. Why? The manner in which turkeys are raised forces their flesh to grow abnormally fast. Their organs and bone structure can’t support this rapid growth. Consequently, most turkeys are physically crippled by the time they are slaughtered. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/4 "2004-11-18T00:00:58Z")
Pardoned turkey … mmmmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/5 "2004-11-18T00:55:54Z")
One “presidentially-pardoned turkey” died on April 22, 1994. His name was Richard Nixon. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/6 "2004-11-18T03:09:05Z")
The OP is correct. I think the tradition started with Truman. After that, they have the dumb luck to get snagged by Perdue. Unless, could it be the SAME turkey year after year? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/7 "2004-11-18T13:32:46Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > One “presidentially-pardoned turkey” died on April 22, 1994. His name was Richard Nixon. 😃 Sounds like he lasted a lot longer than feathered ones. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/8 "2004-11-18T13:56:53Z")
Was it Clinton or Bush who publicly intimated that he thought the tradition was pointless and silly, but went along with it to appease the press? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/9 "2004-11-18T14:14:12Z")
I’ve always been cynical about the tradition. ‘We’re sparing the turkey! [sub]Okay, now bring out the _other_ turkey so we can eat it.[/sub]’ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/10 "2004-11-18T14:20:08Z")
It’s kinda pointless if the President only meets the turkey a minute or so before the ceremony. There’s no emotional attachement, like if he’d gone bowling or fishing with the turkey, or had the turkey briefly serve in the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/11 "2004-11-18T14:27:05Z")
> [@Mr. Babbington](#): > > A presidential pardon only applies to the Federal Death Penalty. No, a presidential pardon applies to federal crimes. Capital punishment is irrelevant. Obviously the turkeys aren’t _actually_ pardoned, since they haven’t been convicted of anything. But if we do start charging turkeys with crimes, I propose a sentence of being turned into sandwiches and soup. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/12 "2004-11-18T14:34:39Z")
> [@](#): > > But if we do start charging turkeys with crimes, I propose a sentence of being turned into sandwiches and soup. Sorry, I’m pretty sure SCOTUS and the Constitution have already forbidden _“gruel as the usual punishment”_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/13 "2004-11-18T14:35:30Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Obviously the turkeys aren’t _actually_ pardoned, since they haven’t been convicted of anything. But if we do start charging turkeys with crimes, I propose a sentence of being turned into sandwiches and soup. How about the reverse? Imagine the sentencing stage of a murder trial… ‘You have been found guilty of heinous murder. You will be taken from the place where you are to a place of preparation; wherein you will be beheaded and eviscerated, your body filled with breadstuff, and be roasted until your skin has turned brown and crispy. Yum, yum.’ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/14 "2004-11-18T14:40:50Z")
> [@KP](#): > > Sorry, I’m pretty sure SCOTUS and the Constitution have already forbidden _“gruel as the usual punishment”_ Been saving that one for a while, have you? ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/15 "2004-11-18T17:04:05Z")
Hey, at least he didn’t mention that the turkey had been convicted of “murder most fowl”. oops ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/16 "2004-11-18T17:10:31Z")
I just gobble up these awful puns. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/17 "2004-11-18T17:47:34Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I’ve always been cynical about the tradition. ‘We’re sparing the turkey! [sub]Okay, now bring out the _other_ turkey so we can eat it.[/sub]’ A perfect metaphor for the land I love. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/18 "2004-11-18T18:24:33Z")
[quote=President Jedidah Bartlet] I can’t pardon a turkey! And if you think I can, you need to go back to your school and tell them that they’ve done a terrible job preparing you to live in our society! [/quote ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/19 "2004-11-18T18:40:38Z")
IIRC a presidental pardon can be used in either Federal or State circumstances. Didn’t Ford pardon Nixon for crimes he may have commited but not been charged with yet? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369/20 "2004-11-18T18:41:19Z")
(Another _West Wing_ quote): C.J.: The more photo-friendly of the two turkeys gets a Presidential pardon and a full life at a children’s petting zoo; the other one gets eaten. Bartlet: If the Oscars were like that, I’d watch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happens-to-those-presidentially-pardoned-turkeys/275369.md?page=2)