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Biden’s Farewell Pardons: Reflecting on Tradition and Gratitude

In Citizen
November 29, 2024

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Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Putting political differences aside, the president expressed gratitude to the nation during a playful ceremony for allowing him to serve.

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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony as part of a tradition, thanking them for their service. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would be pardoned this year. He also noted that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president. Biden ended by expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to serve as president.

Written by Zach Montague

Writing from the nation

President Biden made an appearance on Monday that lasted for eight minutes to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.

The brief speech, containing only a few jokes and witty remarks, acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of President Biden’s state.

During the event, the president was speaking when Peach, a turkey, made noises that were loud enough to be heard over the microphone. This caused interruptions in Mr. Biden’s speech and led to laughter from the audience.

"The president mentioned that Peach is reaching out with a final request," said the president.

Mr. Biden, wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses, shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He also mentioned the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.

The president’s demeanor became more somber as he recognized the significance of the holidays signaling the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the end of his long career in public service.

"This is the final time I will address you as your president during this period, and 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 their tradition of serving food to friends at a holiday celebration. This year, they celebrated 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 suggested that we take advantage of this moment to pause 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 valued. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, President Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-partisan message.

He expressed that in America, we always persevere regardless of the challenges we face. We continue to move forward and hold onto hope.

Zach Montague is a journalist at 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.

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