In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller receives a turkey in the lobby of the West Wing. The turkey was presented by United States Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of Illinois (far right) and representatives from the poultry and farming industries on November 10, 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson was at his Texas ranch for Thanksgiving 1966, which fell on November 24th. While presidents have received turkeys for the holidays as far back as the 1870s, and President Abraham Lincoln did not slaughter a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son Tad's request in 1863, the formalized tradition of a turkey pardon did not start until the 1980s during the administration of Ronald Reagan. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Henry Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This is the folded right-side interior of an event program for a Thanksgiving Day party hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon on November 27, 1969. Mrs. Nixon was inspired by the work of a local nonprofit organization that connected isolated elderly people with others in the community to share a meal on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Nixon invited approximately 225 senior citizens, from 18 regional retirements and assisted living facilities, to join her family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, their daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, Julie's husband David Eisenhower, David's sister Susan Eisenhower, David and Susan's grandmother Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and Mamie Doud Eisenhower's uncle Joel Carlson sat among the guest tables in both the East Room and State Dining Room. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Orchestra, balladier Tayler Vrooman, and the Beers Family Folk Singers provided musical entertainment. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The president did not partake in the afternoon dinner, instead eating a lighter lunch of his favorite cottage cheese in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor. President Nixon also enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner with family members at his vacation home in Key Biscayne, Florida. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many celebrations at the White House. To view the complete program, see 1126879.

This is an event program for a Thanksgiving Day party hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon on November 27, 1969. Mrs. Nixon was inspired by the work of a local nonprofit organization that connected isolated elderly people with others in the community to share a meal on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Nixon invited approximately 225 senior citizens, from 18 regional retirements and assisted living facilities, to join her family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, their daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, Julie's husband David Eisenhower, David's sister Susan Eisenhower, David and Susan's grandmother Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and Mamie Doud Eisenhower's uncle Joel Carlson sat among the guest tables in both the East Room and State Dining Room. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Orchestra, balladier Tayler Vrooman, and the Beers Family Folk Singers provided musical entertainment. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The president did not partake in the afternoon dinner, instead eating a lighter lunch of his favorite cottage cheese in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor. President Nixon also enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner with family members at his vacation home in Key Biscayne, Florida. This program also includes the dinner menu. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many celebrations at the White House.

This is the front of an event program for a Thanksgiving Day party hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon on November 27, 1969. Mrs. Nixon was inspired by the work of a local nonprofit organization that connected isolated elderly people with others in the community to share a meal on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Nixon invited approximately 225 senior citizens, from 18 regional retirements and assisted living facilities, to join her family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, their daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, Julie's husband David Eisenhower, David's sister Susan Eisenhower, David and Susan's grandmother Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and Mamie Doud Eisenhower's uncle Joel Carlson sat among the guest tables in both the East Room and State Dining Room. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Orchestra, balladier Tayler Vrooman, and the Beers Family Folk Singers provided musical entertainment. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The president did not partake in the afternoon dinner, instead eating a lighter lunch of his favorite cottage cheese in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor. President Nixon also enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner with family members at his vacation home in Key Biscayne, Florida. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many celebrations at the White House. To view the complete program, see 1126879.

This is the left side of the interior of an event program for a Thanksgiving Day party hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon on November 27, 1969. Mrs. Nixon was inspired by the work of a local nonprofit organization that connected isolated elderly people with others in the community to share a meal on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Nixon invited approximately 225 senior citizens, from 18 regional retirements and assisted living facilities, to join her family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, their daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, Julie's husband David Eisenhower, David's sister Susan Eisenhower, David and Susan's grandmother Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and Mamie Doud Eisenhower's uncle Joel Carlson sat among the guest tables in both the East Room and State Dining Room. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Orchestra, balladier Tayler Vrooman, and the Beers Family Folk Singers provided musical entertainment. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The president did not partake in the afternoon dinner, instead eating a lighter lunch of his favorite cottage cheese in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor. President Nixon also enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner with family members at his vacation home in Key Biscayne, Florida. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many celebrations at the White House. To view the complete program, see 1126879.

This is the unfolded interior of an event program for a Thanksgiving Day party hosted by First Lady Pat Nixon on November 27, 1969. Mrs. Nixon was inspired by the work of a local nonprofit organization that connected isolated elderly people with others in the community to share a meal on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Nixon invited approximately 225 senior citizens, from 18 regional retirements and assisted living facilities, to join her family for an early Thanksgiving dinner. President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, their daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, Julie's husband David Eisenhower, David's sister Susan Eisenhower, David and Susan's grandmother Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and Mamie Doud Eisenhower's uncle Joel Carlson sat among the guest tables in both the East Room and State Dining Room. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Orchestra, balladier Tayler Vrooman, and the Beers Family Folk Singers provided musical entertainment. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner including stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The president did not partake in the afternoon dinner, instead eating a lighter lunch of his favorite cottage cheese in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor. President Nixon also enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner with family members at his vacation home in Key Biscayne, Florida. This page of the program includes the dinner menu. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many celebrations at the White House. To view the complete program, see 1126879.