The first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation was issued by the first president, George Washington, in 1789:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATIONWhereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks – for His kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
GO. WASHINGTON.
On this Thanksgiving Day, we hope you will take the time to consider the blessings that you have received, to give thanks for those blessings, and that you may be an instrument of blessing to others.
Awesome! I thought we were thanking the Injuns for saving the Pilgrims from starving though… Isn’t that what’s in the History Books now? Then the Pilgrims started free enterprise and created the 1% who spread Global Warming and went out and like slaughtered all the innocent people of the earth (native Americans) so that they could like steal their land to drill for evil oil for cars and plastic bottles and stuff! Then the Pilgrims, being Christians, formed this evil emperialist country that Michelle has never been proud of until Barry was elected POTUS… I should write History books…I’m awesome!!!
Thank you, Basil, and a happy Thanksgiving to all!
“by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed”
^ This.
And thanks to Frank and Sarah and Basil and Harvey for bringing us together here!
Ussjimmycarter, you just compressed a modern 500 page US history book into one paragraph. Well done.
I would love to see a president or any politician try to give this speech nowadays.
Oh I almost forgot, happy Thanksgiving to everyone on IMAO
I pray the blessings of family and friends to all at IMAO, and I thank all of you for replacing my bitterness with laughter at all that is insanity in the US and abroad.
I am thankful for my friends here at IMAO, the Marlin firearms company, the 2nd Amendment, my grandfather, and my new 30-30 rifle courtesy of said grandfather.
Hooray for exercising our rights!
A president would have the ACLU all over him if he released such a proclamation today…
I am thankful for each and every one of you in the IMAO blogverse (well, except for maybe MFL. You’re just annoying). You make me smile every day despite reality. It is reassuring to know that there are still right-thinking people out there (heh. RIGHT-thinking) who understand that hippies are for punching, guns are for shooting, bacon! is for enjoying, liberals are for despising, dinosaurs are for missile-launching, and the moon is for nuking. Now, I am off to Occu-pie Thanksgiving! with my genetic family. God bless you all!
I am a big confused by that last part where he says “Go Washington” I did not know that the our First President was a Redskins fan.
God bless you, Basil; and all the IMAO crew. I read Pres. Washington’s address out to my wife just now and she said, “You ever get the feeling we were born in the wrong century?”
I’m grateful for all the IMAO gang and tuna!
But not in that order.
I’m thankful that you guys keep me sane by reminding me every day that I’m not the only one that thinks like me.
Of course, finding other people who think like me doesn’t necessarily mean I’m sane, but at least I’m not lonely!
4of7 – you’re as sane as I am.
I’m a cat!
Mxymaster, all the time.
That was a wonderful post. When my kids get old enough, I’m going to read that before the Thanksgiving meal.
Ahhh, Thanksgiving – a day for blessings, thanks and football. Although depressingly, even the athletic arena doesn’t seem to be free from our friends on the left, who seem intent to “Palinize” a certain prominent QB … http://bit.ly/qVdDUt
But, I thought Thanksgiving was a day to eat turkey, apologize for killing indians and prepare to push people to the floor so I can make sure to get a Wii at 20-percent off on Black Friday.