VIDEO: President Bush pardons turkeys

Two turkeys have escaped the possible demise of being on a dinner plate on Thanksgiving.

President Bush spared “Pumpkin” and “Pecan” at the White House Wednesday morning.  The turkeys’ names were chosen through the White House website.

This is the 61st presidential turkey pardon.

Though live Thanksgiving turkeys have been presented intermittently to presidents since the Lincoln administration, the current ceremony dates to 1947, when the first National Thanksgiving Turkey was presented to President Harry Truman. 

The president says despite the current economic climate, Americans have a lot to be thankful for.