Dad jokes and gobbling birds: A brief history of Barack Obama's Thanksgiving turkey pardons

Keely Lockhart
Updated
- 2016 Getty Images
- 2016 Getty Images

One of the latest traditions to arise from the US holiday of Thanksgiving is for the country's president to pardon a turkey at the White House in Washington, saving it from being served at the dinner table. 

Arguably, no other US president has made it his own quite like Barack Obama. For eight years he took great delight in a strange tradition that offers a welcome reprieve from the more sombre duties of the office.

Tater and Tot, the last turkeys to both be pardoned by President Obama - Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Tater and Tot, the last turkeys to both be pardoned by President Obama Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Perhaps his ultimate turkey pardon legacy will be the plethora of "dad" jokes he has rolled out in front of his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, who have stood patiently by his side as their father indulges himself.

Sasha and Malia Obama listen to their father at the National Thanksgiving Turkey pardoning at White House in Washington in 2014 - Credit: GARY CAMERON/Reuters
Sasha and Malia Obama listen to their father at the National Thanksgiving Turkey pardoning at White House in Washington in 2014 Credit: GARY CAMERON/Reuters

And let's not forget the star of the show, the gobbling 20 pound turkey Obama has dutifully pardoned with papal precision, but often barely concealing his glee as he attempts to give his speech only to be interrupted by a series of loud gobbles.

President Barack Obama (R) pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey, 'Tot,' with his nephews Aaron and Austin Robinson in a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House November 23, 2016 in Washington, DC - Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
President Barack Obama (R) pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey, 'Tot,' with his nephews Aaron and Austin Robinson in a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House November 23, 2016 in Washington, DC Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Sadly, 2016 marked Obama's final turkey pardon. And while his daughters were mercifully excused from attending the pardon, President Obama still had a few more wise cracks to share with White House staff.

As POTUS said of TOTUS (Turkey of the United States) "Time flies, even if Turkeys don't", proving it's one of the presidential duties Mr Obama will certainly miss.