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Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Putting politics aside, the president utilized the light-hearted event to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional ceremony at the White House, expressing gratitude for his role as commander in chief. He mentioned that over the last four years, he had pardoned several pairs of turkeys, and this year, Peach and Blossom were pardoned based on their temperament and potential to be productive members of society. This event signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and also marked Biden’s last time speaking as president during this season. He expressed his gratitude and stated that serving as president had been the honor of his life.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
On Monday, President Biden took 8 minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and comments were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were 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 through the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request," was stated.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of staying calm and enjoying good food. He also mentioned the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time as president, all while wearing his trademark aviator sunglasses.
The president shifted his tone to a more somber one as he recognized that the holiday season signified the final stretch of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"I am speaking as your president for the last time during this time of year, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue a tradition of theirs by serving food at a holiday celebration with friends, this time with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this 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 expressed the importance of taking a break from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families in this moment.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration in two months hinted at changes to the norms and traditions often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, he left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that Americans always persevere and never give up, always maintaining their faith and continuing forward.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the Times who focuses on reporting about the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. You can find out more about Zach Montague on his profile.
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