President Reagan's Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon: A Humorous Flashback

Reagan's First Thanksgiving Pardon

• 🦃 President Reagan performed his first Thanksgiving turkey pardon in 1981, a tradition he continued from his time as governor of California.
• 💡 The ceremony involved a turkey that became a bit "wild" before the official pardon.

Personal Anecdotes and Humor

• 🗣️ Reagan shared a humorous story about his grandson, who attributed his presidency to stopping "giveaway programs."
• 🔪 He recounted a past incident during a turkey carving at a press event where he accidentally cut his thumb, which "spoiled lunch."
• ✈️ A lighthearted anecdote involved a turkey grower named M.V. Amarine who used his DC3 plane to haul turkeys, leading to a joke about the "turkey plane."

Political and Personal Interactions

• 🤝 Reagan expressed his appreciation for the support from the National Turkey Federation.
• ⏰ He humorously noted being late for the event, comparing it to waiting three hours in Texas.
• ❓ The President deflected questions about personnel problems, stating he was not in a position to comment on matters under review.