Thanksgiving turkeys pardoned by US presidents – in pictures

President Barack Obama joins his daughters Sasha, right, and Malia as they pardon National Thanksgiving Turkey Popcorn, on the 66th anniversary of the ceremony, at the White House Photograph: Larry Downing/Reuters

2012: Sasha Obama pets Cobbler a 19-week old, 40-pound turkey, as he is pardoned by President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. At left is National Turkey Federation Chairman Steven Willardsen Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

2011: US President Barack Obama is flanked by his daughters Sasha, left, and Malia after pardoning 'Liberty', a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey at the North Portico of the White House Photograph: Mark Wilson/Action images

2007: President George W Bush pardons May the national turkey in the Rose Garden of the White House Photograph: Ron Sachs/CNP/Corbis

2003: Stars, a plump white-feathered turkey, looks around the Rose Garden at the White House just before being granted the traditional Thanksgiving season pardon by President George W Bush Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

2001: A turkey named Liberty surprises President George W Bush at the annual turkey pardoning event at the White House Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

1998: President Bill Clinton watches as turkey handler Walter Gislason, right, tries to catch Jerry the turkey, who was pardoned from his role in the Thanksgiving dinner Photograph: Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images

1989: President George HW Bush admires the Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey Federation Photograph: Diana Walker/Time & Life Images/Getty Images

1985: President Ronald Reagan jokes with farmer John Holden and his wife, who raised this Thanksgiving turkey Photograph: Dirck Halstead/Time & Life Images/Getty Images

1978: Amy Carter stands with her mother, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, as they accept the traditional Thanksgiving turkey Photograph: Wally McNamee/Corbis

1963: Charlie, Caroline Kennedy's pet Welsh terrier, inspects a turkey presented to President John F Kennedy after a traditional Thanksgiving week ceremony at the White House Photograph: AP

1962: Lady Bird Johnson poses with two 40lb broad-breasted Thanksgiving turkeys which she accepted for herself and vice-president Lyndon B Johnson, and for the Kennedys Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

1957: First Lady Mamie Eisenhower is amused by the gobbling of a 40lb tom turkey presented to her at the White House Photograph: Charles Gorry/AP

1956: President Dwight Eisenhower rests his hand on the 40lb, broad-breasted tom turkey presented to him for his Thanksgiving dinner Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

1955: President Eisenhower's Thanksgiving turkey, presented annually by the turkey industry, is received by vice-president Richard Nixon Photograph: Al Muto/Bettmann/Corbis

1950: President Harry S Truman with one of the turkeys presented to him annually for Thanksgiving Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis