President Biden Greets Guests at 2022 Turkey Pardon

This photograph of President Joseph R. Biden greeting guests at the 2022 turkey pardon was taken by Matthew D’Agostino on November 21, 2022 on the South Lawn of the White House. During the ceremony, President Biden formally “pardoned” the official National Thanksgiving Turkey, Chocolate, and the alternate, Chip. Chocolate and Chip were raised by National Turkey Federation (NTF) chairman Ronnie Parker at Circle S Ranch near Monroe, North Carolina. After the ceremony, the turkeys were transferred to the Talley Turkey Education Unit at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Presidents and their families have received turkeys for the holidays since the 1870s. The origin of the turkey pardon, however, dates to 1863—when President Abraham Lincoln offered clemency to a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son's request. The pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey became a formalized tradition during the George H. W. Bush administration.