Pardoning of the turkey!

                         Thanksgiving tradition in the White House: the pardoning of the Turkey!

 

           Throughout history, 22 have been pardoned at the White House, and today, President Obama will pardon one more.

           Rumors and mythmakers thrust the clemency onto Harry S. Truman, but it’s true. The pardoning of Tom Turkey can be traced to Abraham Lincoln, believe or not! In 1865, Tad pleaded on behalf of a holiday turkey and his father granted clemency. The moment was reported by White House dispatcher Noah Brooks.

                                                      

                                                            Harry S. Truman

            Turkeys were donated from a Rhode Island poultry dealer, Horace Vose. The tradition began in 1870, and held until his death. In 1921, Harding Girls Club in Chicago outfitted the turkey as a flying ace, complete with in 1925.

             First Lady Grace Coolidge accepted a turkey from a Vermont Girl Scout.

             Harry Truman was the first president to receive a turkey from the poultry and egg board. There was some kind of ‘thing’ going on from September to November 1947, about ‘poultryless Thursday’, and the White House was flooded with chickens. ‘Hens for Harry’. Truman then decided to promote the industry, and he got two turkeys in December 1948. He said, ‘They’d come in handy’. 

             President Kennedy said, “Let’s keep him going.” The pardoning didn’t jell until 1989 when President George H. W. Bush.

             Now you know the rest of the story-!

                                                                    

 http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_press/index.php/backgrounders/thanksgiving-pardoning-turkey-white-house/

History of White House Christmas Cards

      White House Christmas Cards History.

Wouldn’t it be great to receive a greeting card from the White House? I think I’d flip. My husband would have to revive me if that were to happen.

The act of sending greeting cards over the holiday season began with President Coolidge. At that time, people all over the United States had begun the tradition, and it’s still in practice.

President Hoover, in 1930-31, sent greeting cards to friends and family with pictures included! So he was in the Christmas spirit even in office.

 FDR introduced more of a stylized Christmas card in 1937 which was provided by the distinguished Brewood Engravers. The single-sided FDR offering was a small, three by four inch, lithograph of a snow covered farm with two red barns and two green fir trees. The inscription said simply, "Christmas 1937."

In 1942 the Roosevelt’s were seated for a black and white photograph. The greeting read: "With Christmas Greetings and our Best Wishes for a Happier New Year."

The Truman’s had larger and smaller cards.

Throughout the remainder of the Eisenhower years the Presidential Seal was the single stark feature on the front of the cards. "The President and Mrs. Eisenhower extend their best wishes for Christmas and the New Year."

In 1961 President John Kennedy also incorporated the dramatic Presidential Seal for the White House Christmas cards. The card used a smooth white stock with a bold green silk border, and used the words, "Season's Greetings 1961," on the front. Inside the card the president and Mrs. Kennedy extended wishes for a "Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Every president since has added a special twist their greeting, and the tradition continues. A card now from the Kennedy’s would sell on the market for about $11,000.00

My information came from the White House historical site.

Interesting, isn't it?

Barb

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