President Biden , Takes Part in , Annual Turkey Pardon.<br />President Biden , Takes Part in , Annual Turkey Pardon.<br />'The Independent' reports that United States President <br />Joe Biden recently took part in one of the country's more <br />bizarre presidential traditions: the annual turkey pardon.<br />'The Independent' reports that United States President <br />Joe Biden recently took part in one of the country's more <br />bizarre presidential traditions: the annual turkey pardon.<br />Ahead of Thanksgiving every year, the president <br />pardons a turkey, sparing it from the fate that <br />millions of turkeys face in annual celebrations.<br />Ahead of Thanksgiving every year, the president <br />pardons a turkey, sparing it from the fate that <br />millions of turkeys face in annual celebrations.<br />This year, Biden pardoned <br />two turkeys, Chocolate and Chip.<br />CNN originally reported that the two birds <br />were raised by National Turkey Foundation <br />(NTF) chairman Ronnie Parker.<br />CNN originally reported that the two birds <br />were raised by National Turkey Foundation <br />(NTF) chairman Ronnie Parker.<br />Earlier in the weekend, the turkeys <br />arrived in Washington D.C. where they <br />spent the night in at the Willard Hotel.<br />Earlier in the weekend, the turkeys <br />arrived in Washington D.C. where they <br />spent the night in at the Willard Hotel.<br />According to 'The Independent,' American presidents <br />have received turkeys as Thanksgiving gift since <br />the 1870s, while the official tradition began in 1947.<br />Ronald Reagan was the first president <br />to spare the turkey, choosing to send it <br />to a petting zoo or farm rather than eat it.<br />Ronald Reagan was the first president <br />to spare the turkey, choosing to send it <br />to a petting zoo or farm rather than eat it.<br />However, the annual pardon tradition was formally <br />accepted under George HW Bush, who pardoned the <br />turkey in response to protesting animal rights activists.<br />However, the annual pardon tradition was formally <br />accepted under George HW Bush, who pardoned the <br />turkey in response to protesting animal rights activists.<br />'The Independent' reports that this year's <br />pardoned birds will be retired to a new <br />home on Iowa State University's campus.<br />The turkeys will reportedly spend the rest of their <br />lives in comfort, provided with clean bedding, <br />heat, food and water in an indoor pavilion.<br />The turkeys will reportedly spend the rest of their <br />lives in comfort, provided with clean bedding, <br />heat, food and water in an indoor pavilion
