Why did Abraham Lincoln pardon a turkey? The 16th president of the United States gave a bird a break in 1863. What made him change his mind?

President Abraham Lincoln may have spared the first turkey from becoming a Christmas dinner in 1863, according to a dispatch in 1865 by White House reporter Noah Brooks.

The history of White House Thanksgiving traditions date back more than 160 years to President Abraham Lincoln, who established the national holiday.

Here's what you need to know about the tradition: What is the turkey pardoning? It is believed Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1863.

What is the turkey pardoning? It is believed Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1863.

Here's what you need to know about the tradition: What is the turkey pardoning? It is believed Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1863.

What is the turkey pardoning? It is believed Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1863.

A lame-duck president “pardoned” a turkey on Monday. “They tell me there’s 2,500 people here today looking for a pardon,” President Biden joked at a White House ceremony on the South Lawn. After one ...