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President Bush Pardons "Pumpkin and Pecan" in National Thanksgiving Turkey
Ceremony
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 26, 2008

President Bush Pardons "Pumpkin and Pecan" in National Thanksgiving Turkey
Ceremony Rose Garden

˙ /news/releases/2008/11/20081126-3.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio ˙˙Photos

˙˙˙˙˙ Thanksgiving 2008

11:20 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Please be seated. Welcome to the Rose Garden
for the pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey.

This is a tradition that dates back to the presidency of Harry Truman. Just
to be safe, I will be pardoning a second bird -- (laughter) -- in the
unlikely event the main act chickens out. (Laughter.) Turkeys are not only
the ones on edge this morning -- you see, it turns out the Rose Garden is
Barney's turf. (Laughter.) So the press corps is a little nervous, as well.
(Laughter.)

I appreciate the representatives of the National Turkey Federation who have
joined us: President Joel Brandenberger; Chairman Paul Hill; Paul's wife,
Mary June. Today's birds were hatched on the Hill family farm in Ellsworth,
Iowa. Paul's son, Nathan, and daughter-in-law, Betsy, along with grandsons
Collin and Connor, did a fabulous job of raising the guests of honor.

I also welcome the children here from Cloverly Elementary School. And after
I make my brief remarks, you will be welcome to come up and pet our
feathered friends.

This is an election year, so it is fitting that the names of these two
birds were chosen through the democratic process. After a long, drawn out
election season, when the people finally spoke, the name of the ticket sent
here to the White House was Pumpkin and Pecan. (Laughter and applause.)
Pumpkin is right there. (Laughter.) Pecan is in an undisclosed location.
(Laughter.)

Pumpkin and Pecan have an exciting trip ahead of them: Later today, they
will fly to Disneyland aboard "Turkey One." (Laughter.) Pumpkin will be the
honorary Grand Marshal of Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Together
these birds will gobble the rest of their days in "The Happiest Place on
Earth." I just hope they stay humble there. (Laughter.)

This is my final Thanksgiving as the President. Over the past eight years,
I have been given many reasons to be thankful. I'm thankful to our men and
women in uniform and I am incredibly proud to have been their
Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) I am thankful for the armies of compassion
volunteers who feed the hungry and shelter the poor. I am thankful for the
teachers and nurses and pastors police officers and firefighters, and
others who serve their neighbors and better their communities.

I'm thankful for the wonderful and supporting family that I have been
blessed with. I'm grateful to Laura for her love. I'm grateful for two
Thanksgiving miracles who were blessed -- who we were blessed with 27 years
ago: Barbara and Jenna. I'm thankful for the fact that my mother is doing
well. (Applause.) And this year we're looking forward to having another
place at our Thanksgiving table with a son-in-law, and I'm thankful for
Henry.

Most of all, I thank the American people for the tremendous privilege of
serving as the President. In recent weeks, I've talked a lot about
sprinting to the finish. Yet I've assured these turkeys they will not be
trotting to their finish. (Laughter.) That's because in keeping with a
longstanding tradition, Pumpkin and Pecan are hereby granted a full and
unconditional -- unconditional presidential pardon.

I wish all Americans a happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you.
(Applause.)

END 11:24 A.M. EST

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