President to Grant Life Saving Pardon (Turkey Edition)
One of the President’s many official powers is the ability to issue a presidential pardon. And every year, the Commander-in-Chief uses that authority for its most noble purpose: saving two bewildered turkeys from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. These lucky birds receive a formal pardon at the White House, complete with fanfare and photo ops.
No one’s entirely sure what happens to the turkeys afterward – retirement? Witness protection? A beach in Florida? – but we can safely say they make it past the fourth Thursday in November with all feathers intact. You can browse the roster of these elite, presidentially spared poultry on the National Turkey Federation’s website.
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