Thanksgiving turkeys pardoned by presidents

The presidential presentation of a turkey has been a longtime annual Thanksgiving tradition that dates back to the Truman administration. Though the pardoning of turkeys is a more recent tradition and the pardoned turkeys aren't eaten, most of them do not survive past Thanksgiving. Judy Pedersen, public information officer for Frying Pan Park at the Fairfax County Park Authority, told CBSNews.com that the mature turkeys are not wild and are usually too fat and unhealthy to survive. In this photo, President Truman poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 16, 1949, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov