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 HousePhotograph: Larry Downing/Reuters2012: 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 WillardsenPhotograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP2011: 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 HousePhotograph: Ron Sachs/CNP/Corbis2003: 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 BushPhotograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP2001: A turkey named Liberty surprises President George W Bush at the annual turkey pardoning event at the White HousePhotograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters1998: 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 dinnerPhotograph: Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images1989: President George HW Bush admires the Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey FederationPhotograph: Diana Walker/Time & Life Images/Getty Images1985: President Ronald Reagan jokes with farmer John Holden and his wife, who raised this Thanksgiving turkeyPhotograph: Dirck Halstead/Time & Life Images/Getty Images1978: Amy Carter stands with her mother, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, as they accept the traditional Thanksgiving turkeyPhotograph: Wally McNamee/Corbis1963: 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 HousePhotograph: AP1962: 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/Corbis1957: First Lady Mamie Eisenhower is amused by the gobbling of a 40lb tom turkey presented to her at the White HousePhotograph: Charles Gorry/AP1956: President Dwight Eisenhower rests his hand on the 40lb, broad-breasted tom turkey presented to him for his Thanksgiving dinnerPhotograph: Bettmann/Corbis1955: President Eisenhower's Thanksgiving turkey, presented annually by the turkey industry, is received by vice-president Richard NixonPhotograph: Al Muto/Bettmann/Corbis1950: President Harry S Truman with one of the turkeys presented to him annually for ThanksgivingPhotograph: Bettmann/Corbis
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