Presidential turkey makes a break for it at State Capitol

In the Capitol’s august governor’s reception room, Turkey Ted tried to make an escape.

Ted, one of a flock of 30 presidential turkeys, visited the Capitol before heading to the White House for a possible pardon from President Barack Obama next week.

Perhaps not knowing his potentially cushy fate, the bird bolted from his cage before Minnesota’s annual turkey ceremony. As Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar looked on, the turkey was soon repenned and kept calm by Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. Frederickson was quickly dubbed the “Turkey Whisperer.” 

StarTribune

High-res Sasha Obama, the daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, looks at a turkey named ‘Courage’ during an event to pardon the 20-week-old and 45-pound turkey at the North Portico of the White House November 25, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Presidential pardon of a turkey has been a long time Thanksgiving tradition that dates back to the Harry Truman administration. By Alex Wong/Getty images

Sasha Obama, the daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, looks at a turkey named ‘Courage’ during an event to pardon the 20-week-old and 45-pound turkey at the North Portico of the White House November 25, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Presidential pardon of a turkey has been a long time Thanksgiving tradition that dates back to the Harry Truman administration. By Alex Wong/Getty images

“I was planning to eat this sucker,”

President Barack Obama just joked, before issuing an “official” pardon for Courage the turkey. His girls convinced him to do otherwise, Obama said. - via npr