Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

The history of presidential pardons -- for turkeys

On the day before Thanksgiving, President Obama continued the annual tradition of pardoning a turkey, with an address rife with Thanksgiving puns. The tradition has continued every November for the past 25 years, but there’s debate about how it all began. Judy Woodruff provides insight into the history of the turkey pardon.

Support Provided By
Season
March 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:44
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator