6C COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL November 25, 2015
Lincoln in 1863
BY TOM EMERY
For the Sentinel
E
ach year just before
Thanksgiving, the Presi-
dent ceremoniously pardons a
turkey, a light-hearted moment
in his otherwise grueling sched-
ule. The tradition is traced to
Abraham Lincoln, who wrote
a pardon at the behest of his
youngest son, Tad, in 1863.
Though the origin is debated,
many researchers believe that
Lincoln was the fi rst to bestow a
Presidential pardon on a turkey,
thus saving it from the dinner
table. The reprieve, though, was
actually issued at Christmas.
In late 1863, the Lincolns
received a turkey as a gift, and
though the bird was intended for
Christmas dinner, nine-year-old
Tad, an animal lover, had other
ideas. He made a pet of the bird,
which he named Jack, and taught
the bird to follow him around
the White House grounds.
On Christmas Eve, the Presi-
dent tried to tell his son that the
bird would become the family
dinner. Upset, Tad reportedly
cried, “I can’t help it. He’s a
good turkey, and I don’t want
him killed.” Lincoln gave in
and wrote out a pardon on a
card, which he handed to his son
to appease him.
“Tad was begging for the
turkey’s life,” said Dr. Wayne
Temple, an accomplished Lin-
as the fi rst President to issue a turkey
pardon, others cite Harry S. Truman,
who was the fi rst to receive a gift bird
from the National Turkey Federation in
1947. However, offi cials at the Truman
Presidential Library in Missouri have
found no evidence of any pardons given
by Truman to a turkey."
coln scholar and Deputy Direc-
tor of the Illinois State Archives
in Springfi eld. “Lincoln was al-
ways looking for something to
amuse the children, so he par-
doned the turkey.”
The President’s playfulness
refl ected other episodes with his
children. In 1861, he had written
a pardon for a soldier doll, also
named Jack, that Tad and older
brother Willie (who died the
next February) had sentenced to
death.
In 1997, Bill Clinton refer-
enced Lincoln’s story in cer-
emonies to pardon a 60-pounder
named Willis. George W. Bush
also made reference to Lincoln’s
pardon in 2001.
“Lincoln is probably the only
President with the sense of hu-
mor to pardon a turkey,” laughed
Temple. “Other Presidents have
been more serious-minded, but
that’s how Lincoln could be.”
Some of Lincoln’s successors
have shown less inclination.
After President Obama’s fi rst
turkey pardon in 2009, a com-
mentator found that the chief
executive “did not seem all that
thrilled with his role.” Seven
years before, when a female
turkey – a 30-pound gobbler
named Katie – was pardoned
for the fi rst time, G. W. Bush
absentmindedly twice called the
bird “he.”
While many researchers cred-
it Lincoln as the fi rst President
to issue a turkey pardon, others
cite Harry S. Truman, who was
the fi rst to receive a gift bird
from the National Turkey Fed-
eration in 1947. However, offi -
cials at the Truman Presidential
Library in Missouri have found
no evidence of any pardons giv-
en by Truman to a turkey.
His successor, Dwight D.
Eisenhower, ate each of the
birds given to him during his
eight years in offi ce. Four days
before his assassination in 1963,
John F. Kennedy offhandedly
said of a 55-pound gift turkey,
“we’ll let this one grow.”
The fi rst President on record
to deliver a pardon was Ronald
Reagan in 1987, allegedly to
draw attention from reporters’
questions on the Iran-Contra
affair. No turkeys were spared
the following year, but in 1989,
Reagan’s successor, George
H.W. Bush, instituted the par-
don as an annual rite.
Two turkeys are normally
chosen for the ceremony, one
serving as an alternate, to stand
in if the fi rst bird cannot fulfi ll
the duties. In 2008, Bush par-
doned the backup, Pumpkin, af-
ter the top turkey, Pecan, came
down sick the night before the
ceremony.
In recent years, reprieved tur-
keys have been sent to various
locations in Virginia, including
George Washington’s estate at
Mount Vernon and a place in
Fairfax County called Frying
Pan Park. From 2005-09, the
turkeys were fl own fi rst-class
to Disneyland to serve as grand
marshals of Disney’s Thanks-
giving Day Parade.
Today, the annual ceremony
to pardon the turkey usually
lasts a few minutes and provides
a prime photo opportunity for
the President and members of
his family. The White House
frequently invites children to
join the ceremony, adding to the
holiday festivities.
I am thankful for my loving
parents that are nice to me and
try to make me happy. I try
to be thankful for all of the
happiness that happens in my
life. I am happy for the people
that are nice to me and changed
my life. I am happy. I am glad
that all of my teachers taught
me many things. I am thankful
for all these things because all
of these nice people taught me
something, made me happy or
helped me I am happy for my
friends that play with me and
make me happy. I am thankful
for all of these things so I am
happy.
Michael Dickinson
I am thankful for my mom
and dad because they work
hard for me and my sister and
brother. My dad works hard
for money for my mom, so that
she can buy things that we need
like food, clothes and shoes.
And my dad is working so he
can save money to go back
to Mexico to live there. I am
thankful for my uncle because
he helped me with multiplica-
tion chart for 4th grade and 5th
grade. And he helps me with
math and reading in English
and Spanish. I am thankful
for cousin because he gave me
money for the jog o thon. I am
thankful for the army because
they fought for us and saved us.
I am thankful for my dad be-
cause he bought my house and
buying for me and my brother
and sister for going to school. I
am thankful for all the teachers
and for Lucig because they all
taught me a lot of math, sci-
ence and reading. Thank you
teachers!
Jose Menchaca
I am thankful for parents
because they take care of me,
for putting a roof on my head
and for giving them jobs to
pay for my sister’s college and
to feed us. I am also thank-
ful for my family to care for
us. I’m thankful for the army
to fi ght our world wars. I’m
also thankful for the teacher for
teaching us to read, write, and
for teaching math. I’m thank-
ful for the roof’s on the houses.
I’m thankful for my pets to
play with. I’m also thankful
for my friends to play and hang
out with. I’m also thankful
for peace. I’m thankful for the
fl oors and walls for keeping us
warm and have ground to step
on when we walk. I’m sorry if
I haven’t said thank you. But
I am thankful for everything
I have and for the things that
are in the world to help kids to
learn like me. That’s what am
thankful.
Ashley Pleitez
I am thankful for my family
each one of them. My brother
Emry he is fun to hang out with
and talk to also I love him. My
sister Kara she is caring she
talks to me when I’m sad and
plays with me sometimes. Also
there is my step mom she cares
for me she loves me. And my
other sister Elyssa she plays
with me and we hang out with
each other. Y dad cheers me up
when I’m sad he does what he
can to help us and I love him.
Last but not least my brother
Cody he plays with me he
cheers me up when I’m sad but
I don’t listen I should though.
I just get sad or mad and don’t
listen. That’s all I’m thankful
for.
Ethan McMurray
I am thankful for Cottage
Grove and that it’s a city. I’m
also thankful that I have friends
so that I’m not bored. I’m
thankful that I have family or I
would have nobody to teach me
anything. I would have no way
to get food. I’m thankful that
I have a snug bed to sleep in.
I’m thankful that I have pres-
ence in the world. I’m thankful
that I’m outfi tted with some
clothes. I’m thankful that I’m
writing this paper.
Tristan Bentley
I am thankful for my dad
because he works at the post
offi ce. He makes money to
have a house and a car.
Zachary
I am thankful for my family
because my dad exerciseses and
he helps me ride my bike far-
ther. My mom supports a roof
over my head. I have the best
grandmas in the world because
one got me a bike the other got
me an apartment for me and
my dad. I thank my great aunt
because she got my previous
bike. I also thank my great
great uncle because he taught
me to be who I am and to live
my life the way I want to.
Sophia Chappelle
I am thankful for my family
because they make me laugh
and they work hard to get me
clothes and shoes for me and
my brother. My family cares
for me when I’m gone. Some
kids don’t have a family that
buy them clothes or shoes and
don’t care for them so I’m
lucky that I have a family that
care for me and my brother.
Angelina Rigole
I am thankful for Bohemia
because it is a very nice place
to learn. Some people I am
thankful for are my mom, dad,
and little brother. Because my
mom and dad work so hard to
keep me and my brother safe,
healthy, and happy. I am thank-
ful for my little brother because
he does so much for me like
he stands up for me, and when
I am sad he is there to com-
fort me. I am thankful for my
grandma because she is always
there when I need her.
Gigi Valley
I am thankful for having a
MARVOLOUS family. They
help me learn new things. I’m
thankful that they can afford
to buy me clothes and that we
have a nice home. I’m thankful
for my teachers that taught me
how to read, do math, science,
etc. I am thankful that my sis-
ter Abril, taught me how to be a
good role model. I am thankful
that I am alive and that I can
smell, feel, see, talk, and that I
have doctors that will help me
hear better. I am thankful to be
ME!
Helen Leal-Coronel
STARFIRE
LUMBER CO.
2795 Mosby Creek Rd.
541-942-0168
Wishing you a safe and
happy Thanksgiving.
HOLIDAY SAFETY TIP Hanging outdoor lights?
Stay more than 10 feet away from power lines.
For more safety tips and energy-saving ideas, go to
pacificpower.net or call us toll free at 1-888-221-7070.
Tom Emery is a freelance
writer and historical researcher
from Carlinville, Ill. He may be
reached at 217-710-8392 or il-
civilwar@yahoo.com.
What I'm thankful for....cont.
get to practice sports with him.
I am hopeful we have world
peace. I am thankful for teach-
ers because they help us learn.
I am happy we have beautiful
days. Thanks to all my family
love you all.
Araya Doolittle
From our family to yours go our very best wishes for a
festive Thanksgiving holiday filled with the graces of good
friends, good food and the love of family members.
For your support we are deeply thankful.
© 2015 Pacific Power
Presidential turkey pardon has
become
an
annual
tradition
Custom began with "While many researchers credit Lincoln
Happy Thanksgiving
friends because I have people
to talk to and hang out with.
Another thing I’m thankful for
is school, if there was no school
I wouldn’t have friends, I
wouldn’t know math, science or
how to read. I may not like to
wake up so early for school and
I may not like it sometimes, but
I’m thankful for it. I’m thank-
ful I have this wonderful life.
Shelby Taddei
In the spirit of the holiday, we’d like to give our thanks to you,
our neighbors and friends, for the generous support
you’ve given us this past year.
We feel truly blessed to serve people
like you and look forward to
your continued friendship.
$ PUUBHF ( SPWF
4 FOUJOFM
Our Community Newspaper
since 1889
109 Hwy. 99 South, Cottage Grove
Subscribe
and $AVE
942-4466
At this time of
Th anksgiving
we pause to count our blessings.
Th e freedom of this
great country in which we live.
It’s opportunity for achievement.
Th e friendship and confi dence
you have shown in us.
For all of these things
we are deeply thankful.
Our best wishes for a
Happy Th anksgiving.
Cottage Grove Sentinel
I am thankful for my family
because they make me laugh,
cheer me up when I cry, and
show that they care. My
parents are also very nice and
they are the reason I have food,
clothes and a house. They
work very hard for my brother
and I. I also am happy I have
Cottage Grove
Sentinel