The Ongoing, Awkward War Between The President & The Turkey (With Pictures!)
The 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. In 1989 George H. W. Bush granted the first official “presidential pardon” to the turkey, but the president-turkey photo op existed long before. Seldom does it ever go over without some level of awkward.
Roosevelt started the awkward president/turkey relationship when he was startled in 1938
Photo Credit: Life/Time
That ended fast
Photo Credit:
Truman had a tentative truce with the bird
Photo Credit: trumanlibrary.org
That ended swiftly
Photo Credit: trumanlibrary.org
Ike tried for peace
Photo Credit: poppowwow.com
It did not last long
Photo Credit: poppowwow.com
At all…
Photo Credit: Life/Time
Nom Nom Nom
Photo Credit: poppowwow.com
Kennedy was not really sure what to do & remained awkward
Photo Credit: jfklibrary.org/
Johnson engaged in a furious staring contest with the bird
Photo Credit: poppowwow.com
Nixon shook hands
Photo Credit: seattle98.wordpress.com
…and tried to be friends
Photo Credit: seattle98.wordpress.com
No use — awkward.
Photo Credit: bonappetit.com
Gerald Ford frankly just looked awkward everywhere
Photo Credit: www.poppowwow.com
Reagan worked at the relationship
Photo Credit: Getty Images
No use
Photo Credit:
Awkward
Photo Credit:
Clinton formed a coalition
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Bush gave it his best
Photo Credit: AP
Awkward.
Photo Credit: Life/Time
Now Obama is trying his hand at the relationship
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Our hopes are not high
Photo Credit: Carrie Devorah / WENN.com
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Secret Squirrel
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 10:43am.
We’ve come a long way.
Now the turkeys are running the administration.
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SeattleSmittys
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:54amI’m surprised no one has complained that all the turkeys are white.
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izzy1127
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 7:36pmDid you miss Truman and Ike’s Turkeys? Not white. I like the non white Turkeys. Where I live I’m surrounded by Turkey Farms here in Southeastern NC. All the farm raised turkeys are white. But they,re still good. Happy Thanksgiving to all my Conservative friends. I’ll even extend it to the trolls.
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ktmrider1
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:09pmobama’s kid is saying what the heck is that? that doesn’t look like caviar or phelei minoin. dady when are the white servants going to serve us?
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alias.stone
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 4:04amHahaha…
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Jesse_J
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:33amThe thing is Obama probably doesn’t even know that the live bird before him is where the one he is served comes fro. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
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normalmom
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:22pmThose were cute pictures, however Obama’s kid doesn’t look too happy in the last photo. By the way whose kid did Clinton have all he had was a very homely daughter. When he was elected a friend of mine commented on how unattractive Chelsey was.
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:10pmHow happy would you be, if Barry was your dad? Imagine a father who daily set an example of lying, deceit and treachery. It has to be hell.
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ThoreauHD
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 4:44pmMaybe his kids aren’t proud of this Country either.
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1217chic
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:08pmShe looks just as miserable as her fake “Wookie” mother.
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chips1
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:33pmIt’s hard to tell who’s plucking who!!!!
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ZAB
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:11pmWhy are you so mean? A normal mom would never say such a thing!
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OperationNorthwoods
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:16pmNotice the blacks serving Roosevelt. How progressive.
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chips1
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:36pmWorking for your EBT card is illegal.
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ThatsJustCrazyTalk
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:16pmNice catch. The Liberals will simply spin it into some sort of “affirmative action” favor. I’m so tired of pointing out Liberals history of racism and bigotry to them. They have even demonized Honest Abe Lincoln, and in so had other minorities (Indians) spread untruths of their own. It’s the Leftist education systems fault. They allow different versions of history to be taught in secondary, and post-secondary schools. There is no such thing as “Truth” anymore, unless you’re a fervent believer in Jesus Christ.
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BootsAreWalkin
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:03pmSo, now which one is the turkey?
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this1can
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:01pmObummers daughter has a look on her face like she’s looking at pork. we know how they feel about pork. Love/pray
banjarmon
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:35pmI hope they kill the left turkey this time!!
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ONLY4UANDME
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:55pmLOL….it doesn’t matter he will still vote.
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caleejr
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:16pmWas Obama trying to HI-Five the bird – or was he in Pentecostal mode trying to HEAL the bird….?
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:40pmNeither. He was saying he did not want that Turkey because it is white.
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Tri-ox
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:16pmI don’t get it – why was obama included in this piece? How does obama fit into a post about PRESIDENTS?
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diskinetic
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:16pmThat last picture of Malia needs a photoshopped McKayla next to her, joining in the unimpression.
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diskinetic
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:24pmOh, wait, am i even talking about the right kid?
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:45pmShe from Chicago, she don know wha dat thang be. Prolly juz a big chicken. Now let’s go to the store and buy some meat!
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:11pmElect me President. There will be no pardon. I will invite the press to come watch me take the large, succulent bird out to the front of the White House lawn, set its neck on a large oak stump and then chop off its head. Turning, I’ll hand the axe to the Secretary of State, give the nod to the Presidential chefs with “make it so” on my lips, and walk away as they prepare the juicy, delicious bird for my family’s consumption.
If the press misses the shot, I’d be glad to snag a couple of more turkeys, just to be certain.
On regular days, I’d make sure to be eating bacon at breakfast or beef for supper at events the press attends.
These are the reasons, just some of them, that I should be President of these united States of America.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:47pmStart building your war chest, your speeches are sounding pretty good, so far :-)
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PlowMan
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:57pmFunny!! The real Jefferson probably did just that. Our society has gone over the cliff even if our economy doesn’t. We are more worried about a dumb bird put here so we can eat than we are about a child who was put here to honor God. Unreal, we are so out of whack!
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taintso
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:10pmI was half asleep when I heard something about Obama pardoning turkeys. And I figured he had pre pardoned Hillary and Holder for Fast and Furious. The Hillary and Holder Drug and Gun Club, Juarez Mexico. this weeks special ‘Buy a Ki and get an AK free’.
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jackact
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:06pmJive Turkey POTUS can’t handle dark meat?
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blackyb
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:58pmThe black turkey will get pardoned. The play prez wants dog, anyway. I have not seen the first dog around in awhile? Is he/she will with us?
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drphil69
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:14pmThe first dog was a little tough… but snake was tougher..
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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:55pmThis should be a caption this photo bit. Caption “Great! We needed a Biden standin”.!!
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sexyvixen21
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:48pmGeorge W. Bush is a cute old man….and I love him.
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The Jewish Avenger
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:39pmIT should have been a narrative and then a psycho low rumble with SWEAK SWEAK SWEAK SWEAK zooming in on the kid starring the bird.
They’ll get dem vittles one way or da udda.
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chips1
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:38pmI expect Obama to have the Blind Shiek on the table for the pardon.
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Gonzo
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:31pmJust seeing The Gipper’s smiling face makes me feel better.
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qpwillie
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:47pm@Gonzo
I’m suspicious of you. So often, I start to comment only to find you have already said what I was about to say.
Oh well, you know what they say about great minds. (-;
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Gonzo
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:56pmI’m reading your thoughts Willie. (Evil laugh)
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:59pm@Vance
Well old bean, you seem to be current on history of Presidents, pray tell, can you tell me what Obama’s thesis was for his post graduate degree in college? Also, if you could forward his transcripts I’d be elated.
Thank you so much for displaying such a deep, abiding and non-partisan interest in history!
Slainte
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:12pmAlso Vance, do let me heap praise upon you for using rumors, admittedly, as your historical source. It takes a brave person indeed to not present a single fact yet stand so boldly in his assertion! You surely display a love of all females in your valiant effort to smear a woman with no corollary evidence!
Proud. That’s what your mother must be. :)
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