It's customary for the president of the United States to spare the life of a turkey each year for Thanksgiving. But when and how did the strange tradition begin?
How the presidential turkey pardon got its start
President Donald Trump, center, with first lady Melania Trump, right, and their son Barron Trump, look at Drumstick, the National Thanksgiving Turkey after being pardoned during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017. This is the 70th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
