President's annual ceremony of releasing turkeys began during Truman's administration 1947, but in fact this traditional ceremony can be traced back to President Lincoln's administration during the American Civil War. /kloc-one day in 0/863, Lincoln's son Ted suddenly broke into the cabinet meeting and demanded pardon for a pet turkey named Jack, because the turkey sent to the White House was about to become a Thanksgiving dinner.
Bush pardons bird turkey. On June 22, 2006, Bush pardoned a turkey named "Bird" at the Thanksgiving release ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden.
As for why, it is estimated that it is to express his ruling thought of "benevolent government", care for the heart of life and win the hearts of the people.