Prom
Backed by
President Biden granted clemency to turkeys as a tradition before Thanksgiving for the last time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, he took the opportunity during the light-hearted event to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
written record of
President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for being in charge. He mentioned that he had previously pardoned other turkeys during his time as president. The turkeys, named Peach and Blossom, were pardoned based on their behavior and contributions to society. Biden also spoke about the start of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for serving as president. He ended his speech by thanking everyone for the opportunity and expressing his eternal gratefulness.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, continuing a tradition that is 77 years old. He took a moment to reflect and express gratitude for the country.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and witty comments were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each and named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which is the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated the president.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of staying calm and enjoying eating, as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president shifted to a more somber attitude to recognize the sad truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service after over half a century.
"This will be the final time I speak as your president during this season, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they celebrated with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During the event, President Biden took a moment to honor those who have lost loved ones, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we use this opportunity to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families, emphasizing what is truly important.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at potential changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden valued during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never quit. We continue forward and maintain our belief.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click here.
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation to find information on