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President Lincoln Pardons a TurkeySince the founding of our country there have been many presidential pardons. However, none are as unique as the pardon received by ‘Jack’ in 1863. And now for our story.... He was born on April 4, 1853 and named after his paternal grandfather who had died two years prior, Thomas Lincoln. However, as his father Abraham studied him at length, he noted his infant son’s disproportional frame for the head was much larger than the body. Viewing the contrast, he commented that his young son resembled a tadpole, and from there on out young Thomas was nicknamed Tad, a nickname that was with him for the entirety of his life.
Tad was the youngest of the four children of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. His hair and eyes were dark like his father’s, and his face kind-looking. History leaves room for us to believe that he may have had a cleft palate; Tad spoke rapidly and with a lisp. He is remembered as generous, loving, sensitive and unpredictable. In 1861 when Tad was only eight years old, the Lincoln family moved into the White House. This brings us to our holiday story that revolves around the tender-hearted Tad and a turkey named Jack. Late in the year of 1863, a live turkey named Jack was sent to the White House. Jack was to be the Lincoln’s holiday feast, unbeknownst to Tad who befriended the bird. Jack obviously bonded with Tad, for wherever the boy wandered on the White House grounds, Jack would follow. His apparent admiration could have been due to being hand fed by Tad. Time passed and Jack’s number was up, for the ‘executioner’ came to collect him so that he could be dressed and cooked for the family’s holiday feast. We’re not talking about a tux and a tie here; it was the ax for poor Jack! Tad pleaded with the ‘executioner’ for a temporary delay, then burst into a Cabinet meeting, confronting his father, crying loudly. Tad said, "Jack must not be killed; it is wicked,” to which President Lincoln replied, "Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten. I can't help it." Sobbing further still, Tad told his father, "He's a good turkey, and I don't want him killed." Can you imagine this? A young boy, bursting in unexpectedly – into a Cabinet meeting at that! You can just about picture Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States of America, considering his options. The room was probably silent, all but Tad’s weeping. President Lincoln slowly took a card and wrote Jack an order of reprieve to which Tad delivered to the ‘executioner’ in great haste. Don’t you just love a happy ending?
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