[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[November 22, 2000]
[Pages 2573-2574]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation Ceremony
November 22, 2000

    The President. I want to thank Secretary Glickman and National 
Turkey Federation Chairman Jerry Jerome and 
President Stuart Proctor for being here. 
And I want to welcome the young people who are here, especially those 
who are from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington.

[At this point, there was a noise from the far end of the Rose Garden.]

    The President. I am--what's all that noise up there? [Laughter] What 
is it? It sounds like another turkey about to fly down here. [Laughter]
    I want to thank the National Turkey Federation for once again 
donating this year's tom turkey. This is the eighth I've had the 
privilege to meet and set free in the Rose Garden. [Laughter]
    I'm told that Jerry, the turkey, traveled all the way here from 
Wisconsin, proving that the Cheese State is about more than good cheese. 
It's also, I might add, about a very well-behaved turkey. [Laughter]
    Tomorrow we will celebrate the first Thanksgiving of the new 
millennium and the last one of our Presidency. As Hillary and Chelsea 
and I sit down to our dinner, we will give special thanks for the 
privilege it has been to live here and to serve for the last 8 years.
    It's still a bit of a mystery when exactly the first Thanksgiving 
was actually held. Some say it was in 1513, when Ponce de Leon landed in 
Florida. But the expert opinions about that are divided, and a recount 
is still underway down there. [Laughter] Others say it occurred in 1541, 
when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived on the Texas panhandle. Some 
conspiracy theorists say neither of those are true.
    The most popular story, of course, and the one all of us learned as 
kids, is that Native Americans and Pilgrims shared a feast of thanks to 
celebrate their first harvest in 1621, soon after the Pilgrims arrived 
in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was a famous meal of maize, squash, and 
venison and lasted 3 whole days. Now, that would take a lot of turkey.

[[Page 2574]]

    But no matter what its roots, Thanksgiving is a tradition that has 
been celebrated in this country since our beginning. George Washington 
was the first President to declare a national day of thanks, in 1789. 
And Abraham Lincoln made the tradition a permanent one in 1863, in the 
darkest days of the Civil War, because he recognized, as he put it, 
``the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies.''
    The times have changed, but the message hasn't: to give thanks for 
all God's blessings, for our strong families, our spirited communities, 
and the good fortune of living in our country's most prosperous and 
peaceful time.
    I am profoundly grateful on this Thanksgiving that we have now more 
than 22 million new jobs, poverty and unemployment at record lows, and 
the highest homeownership in history. The American people worked hard 
for these results, and I hope they're thankful for them as well.
    We should also be grateful for the strength of our democracy and the 
freedom we enjoy, thanks to the courage and patriotism of our men and 
women in uniform and the strength and abiding power of the Constitution 
and the rule of law.
    As we gather around our dinner tables with family and friends and 
celebrate our great bounty, we must not forget, also, those who will be 
hungry this holiday season. That's why it is so important that all 
Americans, like the young people here today, not only give thanks but 
give something back to their communities to help those who are less 
fortunate than themselves.
    Almost 50 years ago, President Truman began the tradition of keeping 
at least one turkey off the Thanksgiving dinner table. And I am very 
pleased to follow in his footsteps and to hereby officially pardon this 
turkey in order that he be sent to the petting zoo in Fairfax County, 
Virginia, to live his remaining days in peace and happiness making 
children happier, if not more peaceful.
    Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving. Let's bring the turkey up.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Jerry Jerome, chairman, and Stuart 
Proctor, Jr., president, National Turkey Federation. The President also 
referred to Kidwell Farm at Frying Pan Park in Fairfax County, VA, 
future home of the turkey. The Thanksgiving Day proclamation of November 
17 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.