# Why do presidents pardon turkies? They're just going to eat a different one instead. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029 "2009-11-26T14:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MarkyDeSade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@MarkyDeSade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkyDeSade)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/1 "2009-11-26T14:01:54Z")
I think the title pretty much says it all. In doing some research I’ve learned that turkeys have been pardoned since before Trueman and that when they get pardoned they go to Disneyland. [No kidding.](http://www.mnn.com/food/farms-gardens/blogs/where-do-the-pardoned-turkeys-go) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/2 "2009-11-26T14:04:13Z")
Well, wouldn’t you rather go to Disneyland that be eaten? And is it your problem if some other dude is sitting on death row? ---
**Author:** ![MarkyDeSade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@MarkyDeSade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkyDeSade)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/3 "2009-11-26T14:25:09Z")
More research shows the first official pardon came from Bush Sr. [Did the Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon Begin with President Truman? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/holidays/thanksgiving/pardon.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/4 "2009-11-26T14:33:24Z")
Publicity, why does Mr Obama go to Egypt or China to make a bunch of speeches, he could’ve given via TV and saved the taxpayers all that money. (And yes I know Republican Presidents made trips too). The point is it’s all about publicity. I wonder how many people would eat turkey if they had to kill it. Reminds me when I had some mice in my flat. I killed the first one with a smash of the shoe, and felt a bit bad. But after that, no way, they’re in my flat they get killed and smooshed and tough luck on them. Let them stay outside and live. Once in my flat, they are goners 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/5 "2009-11-26T15:01:47Z")
**Why do presidents pardon turkies? They’re just going to eat a different one instead.** You’re right. It doesn’t make any sense. It never has. ---
**Author:** ![\_xiao\_wenti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b782af/32.png) [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/6 "2009-11-26T15:29:40Z")
I think that it makes perfect sense. The president in a quid pro quo gives thanks to the National Turkey Federation who gives him the turkey(s?) and they get prominent advertising of their organization. I do think it is cheesy that an org that is for WILD turkey hunting and conservation gives him Domestic turkeys. Mercedes versus Hundai ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/7 "2009-11-26T15:37:07Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > **Why do presidents pardon turkies? They’re just going to eat a different one instead.** > > You’re right. It doesn’t make any sense. > It never has. It makes sense if you eat the guilty one. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/8 "2009-11-26T16:45:35Z")
Because it does no harm and is not controversial. It may be lame, but nobody is going to start a war over it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/9 "2009-11-26T16:48:04Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Because it does no harm and is not controversial. It may be lame, but nobody is going to start a war over it. Turkeys might. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/10 "2009-11-26T17:19:32Z")
We’re going to war with Turkey? Why wasn’t I told? ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/11 "2009-11-26T17:33:01Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Publicity, why does Mr Obama go to Egypt or China to make a bunch of speeches, he could’ve given via TV and saved the taxpayers all that money. (And yes I know Republican Presidents made trips too). The point is it’s all about publicity. > > I wonder how many people would eat turkey if they had to kill it. Reminds me when I had some mice in my flat. I killed the first one with a smash of the shoe, and felt a bit bad. But after that, no way, they’re in my flat they get killed and smooshed and tough luck on them. Let them stay outside and live. Once in my flat, they are goners 🙂 Well, given that you live in a _flat_, it only seems fair. So, is the presidential pardon a way of saying, “(no) harm no fowl”? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/12 "2009-11-26T17:37:44Z")
Eh, they’ve already got their hands full with Armenia and Kurdistan. They’re not going to try to add more to their troubles. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/13 "2009-11-26T18:12:02Z")
Barvo just aired the _Shibboleth_ episode of _The West Wing_ that features President Bartlett pardoning a turkey. Obviously it’s fiction, but [Dee Dee Myers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dee_Dee_Myers), Press Secretary to President Clinton was a consultant to the program, and those aspects of White House live always seemed to ring especially true. In the show, the White House had purchased a turkey for the event. They felt silly doing it, but like many silly things, it had become a tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/14 "2009-11-26T19:25:31Z")
To be politically correct and balanced, shouldn’t they absolve Grease, too? I’m back! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/15 "2009-11-26T20:57:21Z")
[moderating] I don’t think there’s really a GQ answer to this (other than what’s already been given), so I’m moving it over to MPSIMS for further discussion. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![St.Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@St.Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Anger)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/16 "2009-11-26T21:31:01Z")
Even if you can save just one turkey, it’s a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/17 "2009-11-26T21:41:14Z")
Oh, I thought this was going to be about Nixon… nevermind. ---
**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 26, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/18 "2009-11-26T21:43:43Z")
To get a pardon, don’t you have to be convicted of a crime? ‘You are convicted of being a turkey!’ ‘I expected that from this kangaroo court, pig!’ ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/19 "2009-11-26T23:34:55Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Reminds me when I had some mice in my flat. I killed the first one with a smash of the shoe, and felt a bit bad. But after that, no way, they’re in my flat they get killed and smooshed and tough luck on them. Let them stay outside and live. Once in my flat, they are goners 🙂 She criticized his apartment, so he knocked her flat? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029/20 "2009-11-26T23:57:01Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It makes sense if you eat the guilty one. Did they waterboard the turkey to get a confession? How do we know that it’s not just some random innocent turkey they’re railroading? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-presidents-pardon-turkies-theyre-just-going-to-eat-a-different-one-instead/519029.md?page=2)