Prom
Backed by
President Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. In a light-hearted event, he expressed gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president.
record of spoken
President Biden pardoned two turkeys at a traditional ceremony at the White House and expressed his gratitude for serving as president. He mentioned how he has pardoned other turkeys in the past four years and announced that Peach and Blossom will be pardoned this year based on their behavior. He also acknowledged that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his thanks to the people, saying it has been an honor to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
On Monday, President Biden made an appearance that lasted eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys. He briefly acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During a brief speech, a few jokes and funny remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute," stated the president.
"Mr. Biden shared with spectators at the White House’s South Lawn his personal motto of ‘keep calm and gobble on,’ 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 changed his demeanor to be more serious as he recognized the bittersweet truth that the holidays signaled the approaching end of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be the final time I address you as your president during this period, and express my appreciation and thanks," mentioned Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue a tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering 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, particularly remembering his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we should take advantage of this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
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 President Biden cherished during his time in office. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, President Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is never an option. The belief in continuing forward and maintaining faith is important in this country.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal court cases. Find out more information about Zach Montague.
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation to find information on