Chocolate and Chip are two grateful gobblers. On Tuesday, those turkeys were by U.S. President Joe Biden!
American presidents have important jobs. They keep the nation safe. But one silly duty happens before Thanksgiving. Presidents pardon turkeys! The pardon means these birds won’t end up on someone’s plate.
This year, Biden saved two turkeys. Chocolate and Chip traveled to Washington, D.C. Biden greeted the birds in the White House Rose Garden.
“Please welcome the 2022 national Thanksgiving turkeys,” Biden said. “It’s chilly. So, I’m going to keep this short,” the president added. “Nobody likes it when their turkey gets cold,” he joked.
Biden went off on a about his dog, Commander. The pup watched over the turkeys from the balcony! Then, Biden got back on track. “Before I gobble up too much time,” he began. But the turkeys interrupted with gobbles! Commander barked. There were even more clucks. Finally, Biden pardoned the birds. Chocolate and Chip will live at North Carolina State University.
“It’s a wonderful ,” Biden said of the pardon. The custom may have started in the 1860s. Abraham Lincoln was president. His son begged him to save a bird! About 100 years later, President John F. Kennedy decided not to kill a turkey. U.S. leaders have saved birds ever since!
Biden talked about Thanksgiving. “We can’t forget the reason for Thanksgiving,” he said. “The pilgrims thought it was important to come together,” Biden added. “That’s what Thanksgiving is all about: being grateful, and —”
Chocolate and Chip began to gobble again. The crowd giggled! “There you go,” Biden smiled. “They’re grateful!”
Updated November 23, 2022, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Alexa Tirapelli
