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President Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Despite political differences, he took the chance during a light-hearted event to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned a pair of turkeys during a traditional ceremony at the White House, thanking them for their service as commander in chief. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would also be pardoned this year. Biden noted that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president. He ended by saying it has been an honor and that he is grateful.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to officially pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition that is 77 years old. He also took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During a short and to-the-point speech, Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each, were acknowledged. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president was speaking next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this time."
Mr. Biden shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on" as he talked about the turkeys he has pardoned over the past four years, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president’s demeanor shifted to a more somber one as he recognized that the holiday season signified the nearing conclusion of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"It is my final opportunity to address you as your president during this time and express my appreciation and thanks," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue their 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 time 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 should take advantage of this moment to pause our hectic schedules and prioritize spending time with our loved ones.
As President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration approaches in two months, uncertainty looms over the nation’s capital. This event signals potential changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden had previously praised. Despite this, President Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with those attending the ceremony before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never give up, continuously moving forward with faith.
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, please visit his profile.
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