Gallery: What We're Thankful For: The Sublime Weirdness of the Annual Turkey Pardon

  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Animal Bird Poultry Turkey Bird and Fowl
    Dave Martin
    01

    Turkey Pardoning

    *Clyde the turkey struts around the front lawn of the Governor's Mansion in Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 20, 2013. Gov. Robert Bentley issued a Thanksgiving pardon for the bird. Photo: AP Photo/Dave Martin.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Performer and Stage
    AFP/Getty Images
    02

    Marshmallow, the National Thanksgiving T

    *Marshmallow, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, is carried away by an unidentified handler after US President George W. Bush pardoned him during an event in the White House Complex 22 November, 2005. Marshmallow, will travel to his new home at Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, following the pardon and will serve as honorary Grand Marshal for Disneylands annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Coat Suit Clothing Overcoat Apparel and People
    Harvey Georges
    03

    John F. Kennedy, Mildred Smith, Robert McPherrin, Everett Dirksen

    *President John F. Kennedy reaches out to touch a big, 40-pound turkey, presented to him Nov. 19, 1963, at the White House. Photo: Harvey Georges/AP*
  • Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Human Person Clothing Apparel Coat Suit and Overcoat
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    04

    BUSH BISCUITS

    *President Bush and handlers keep a tight hold on Biscuits the turkey during the Pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004. Photo: Ron Edmonds.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Animal Fowl Bird Poultry Chicken Outdoors Nature Yard Footwear and Clothing
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    05

    Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon

    *Robert Achen, president of the Iowa Turkey Federation, carries a turkey to the back steps of Terrace Hill before a pardoning ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007. Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (not pictured) pardoned the pair of turkeys for Thanksgiving. Photo: Kevin Sanders/AP.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Animal Bird Poultry Turkey Bird Fowl Chicken Plant and Grass
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    06

    Bush

    *White House intern Nick Butterfield, who was assigned to watch May, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, follows the bird sprinkling wood shavings over his droppings, prior to a ceremony where President Bush pardoned the bird in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007. Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP.*
  • Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Flag Symbol Human Person Coat Suit Clothing Overcoat and Apparel
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    07

    Barack Obama, Sasha Obama

    *President Barack Obama, right, speaks as he pardons a turkey, Courage, with daughter Sasha Obama, 8, the day before Thanksgiving, during a ceremony in the North Portico of the White House in Washington Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. Walter Pelletier, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, center and Paul Hill, left, with the federation, look on. Daughter Malia Obama is not seen behind the President. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Bird Animal Clothing Suit Overcoat Coat Apparel Turkey Bird Poultry and Fowl
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    08

    CLINTON GESSELL JEROME

    *President Clinton, flanked by National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman Frank Gessell, left, and NTF Secretary Treasurer Jerry Jerome, watch a 45-pound turkey in the Rose Garden of the White House Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1998 where the president, in a pre-Thanksgiving tradition, pardoned the bird. Photo: Doug Mills/AP.*
  • Image may contain Jack Dalrymple Tie Accessories Accessory Animal Bird Coat Clothing Suit Overcoat and Apparel
    Mike McLeary
    09

    Turkey Pardon

    *North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple extends his arm to "pardon" Grace, a 20 week-old turkey during the annual ceremony held November 19, 2012 at the state Capitol in Bismarck. The North Dakota Turkey Federation donated nine frozen turkeys each to the Abused Adult Resource Center and to the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, both of Bismarck, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Photo: Mike McCleary/Bismarck Tribune.*
  • Image may contain Gerald Ford Human Person Accessories Tie Accessory Animal Bird Poultry Turkey Bird and Fowl
    10

    ford-pardon

    *President Ford reprieves a Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation. November 20, 1975. Photo courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.*
  • Image may contain Lady Bird Johnson Human Person Animal Bird Turkey Bird Poultry and Fowl
    © Bettmann/CORBIS
    11

    Lady Bird Johnson with Turkey Presents

    *Lady Bird poses with the birds. Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson pictured with two 40-pound, broad-breasted Thanksgiving turkeys which she accepted for herself and the Vice President, and for the President and Mrs. Kennedy. The turkeys were presented to Mrs. Johnson at her home on November 16, 1962 by the Poultry and Egg National Board and the National Turkey Federation. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS*
  • Image may contain Lyndon B. Johnson Tie Accessories Accessory Animal Bird Vulture Human Person Coat and Clothing
    © Bettmann/CORBIS
    12

    Lyndon

    *President Johnson is presented with this 40-pound, broad-breasted, white Tom Thanksgiving turkey at the White House November 16, 1967. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS.*
  • Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Human Person Coat Suit Clothing Overcoat Apparel and Petar Stipetić
    © Wally McNamee/CORBIS
    13

    President Nixon Giving Annual Pardon to Thanksgiving Turkey

    *President Nixon with a Thanksgiving Turkey on November 19, 1969. Image by © Wally McNamee/CORBIS.*
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person Tie Accessories Accessory Suit Coat Overcoat and Wedding
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    14

    Harry Truman

    *President Harry Truman stands at arms' length as he inspects a turkey presented to him on Nov. 16, 1949 by a group of turkey raisers. Meanwhile, Mrs. Arthur Hinds of Lexington, Mass., dressed in a Pilgrim costume, keeps a tight grip on the bird's legs. Photo: AP.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Tie Accessories Accessory Coat Suit Clothing Overcoat Apparel Animal and Bird
    15

    Ronald Reagan Reacting to Turkey Flapping Wings

    *President Reagan reacts to a 55-pound turkey flapping its wings during the annual turkey presentation ceremony in the Rose Garden on November 23, 1987. The turkey was raised in Hinton, Virginia and was presented to the President by Gordon Wahs (L) President of the National Turkey Federation. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS.*
  • Image may contain Human Person Poultry Bird Animal Turkey Bird Fowl Clothing Footwear Apparel and Shoe
    16

    42-39522429

    *Cobbler, the 2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey, is stopped from leaving during the Thanksgiving tradition of presidential pardon in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 21, 2012. Photo: Fang Zhe/Xinhua.*
Read More
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Podcasts for Everyone
Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures. 
Simon Hill
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
The Best Kids' Bikes for Every Age and Size
The WIRED Reviews team has kids, and we tested all types of kids’ bikes. Here are our top picks.
Adrienne So
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.
Luke Larsen
Our Favorite Merino Wool Clothes to Keep You Comfy in Any Weather
Merino is one of the best fabrics you can wear. We explain the different blends, what “gsm” means, and how to care for your clothes.
Scott Gilbertson
The Best Android Phones, Tested and Reviewed
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu