Barack Obama - interrupted by gobbling - pardoned a turkey before Thanksgiving in a ceremony at the White House. But he also revealed the secret history of the ceremony.

"I'm told Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson actually ate their turkeys... President Kennedy was even given a turkey with a sign around its neck that said, 'Good Eatin', Mr. President.'"

"You can't fault them for that. That's a good-looking bird."

Now, before this turkey gets too nervous that Bo will escape and screw up this pardon -- or before I change my mind -- I hereby pardon Courage so that he can live out the rest of his days in peace and tranquility in Disneyland.

Click here for a complete transcript of the ceremony

UPDATE: More than four years later, in February of 2013, Obama used the same joke when introducing Ray Mabus, the secretary of the Navy.

"There he is right there -- the good-looking guy over at the end."

In fact, if you search the White House web site, he's made that joke 109 different times.