WASHINGTON -- Back from a trip to Asia, President Barack Obama is taking care of some holiday business, pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkey.
The annual White House ceremony took place in the Rose Garden.
Photos: President Obama pardons Thanksgiving turkey
The tradition started in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy became the first president to grant a pardon to a turkey at the White House.
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This year, for the first time, the American public got a say in which bird will be the national Thanksgiving turkey by voting on the White House Facebook page.
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The decision was between Cobbler and Gobbler, who were born on the same day on a farm in Rockingham County, Va.
Obama pardoned two turkeys last year.
Associated Press