Obama's first presidential pardon: Turkey named Courage to be spared

Nov 25, 2009, 16:21 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama doled out the first pardon of his tenure on Wednesday, sparing a turkey from Thanksgiving Day dinner plates in a long-standing White House tradition.

'Courage, you are hereby pardoned,' Obama said in a brief, albeit goofy, ceremony, while holding his right hand above the head of a 20- kilogramme turkey named Courage. 'You will live in Disneyland.'

The annual tradition dates back officially to the presidency of George Bush (1989-1993) to mark the holiday that takes place on Thursday, when Americans hold a festive meal that includes turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, an assortment of vegetables and pumpkin pie.

Obama joked that he had some second thoughts about letting Courage off the hook until his two young daughters, Malia and Sasha, intervened.

'I was planning to eat this sucker,' Obama said. Malia reached out to pet the bird and remarked, 'He's like a large chicken.'

Courage will be flown to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to serve as a grand marshall in a Thanksgiving Day parade. He pardoned a second turkey named Carolina, who will serve as a backup in case Courage is unable to perform its parade obligations.