There are many traditional sayings that the president of the United States pardons turkeys, some of which began in Truman's era and some in Bush's era. This has nothing to do with Lincoln

Turkey is the traditional main course of Thanksgiving, but according to custom, the President of the United States pardons a turkey at the White House the day before Thanksgiving every year to prevent it from becoming a Thanksgiving dinner. There are many traditional sayings that the president of the United States pardons turkeys, some of which began in Truman's era and some in Bush's era. Recent American presidents have taken pardoning turkeys as an opportunity to wish the American people a holiday.