In November 2020, Rush Limbaugh delivered his last annual rendition of the “True Story of Thanksgiving” amid his battle with advanced-stage lung cancer. Marking the fourth year without his tradition in 2024, many Americans are remaining committed to retelling his version of Thanksgiving, ensuring that younger generations grasp the historical realities behind the holiday. Limbaugh encouraged listeners to consider the original narrative that diverges from mainstream teachings, emphasizing that the actual history of Thanksgiving is rooted in the failures of socialism experienced by the Pilgrims in their early days in the New World. He aimed to empower listeners with a more authentic understanding of the Pilgrims’ journey, highlighting the struggles and survival that characterized their experience.
During his monologue, Limbaugh recounted the severe hardships endured by the Pilgrims during their first winter in the New World, a period marked by starvation, illness, and exposure to the elements, which claimed the lives of half their population. He contextualized their suffering within the larger framework of survival, asserting that such experiences are beyond the comprehension of modern Americans. Limbaugh suggested that it was not only the assistance received from Native Americans that would define their success but also a critical shift in the colony’s communal living situation, which was structured around a shared economic model akin to socialism. This model, according to Limbaugh, was ultimately ineffective and could not sustain the needs of the community.
Central to Limbaugh’s narrative is the failure of the Pilgrims’ initial communal structure, as dictated by their sponsors in England and Holland, which required all goods to be contributed to a common store. With such a system, individual incentive was nonexistent, leading to discontent and dwindling productivity. Limbaugh asserted that the traditional educational story of Thanksgiving leaves out this essential aspect, often simplifying it to a tale of gratitude towards the Native Americans for assistance in survival. However, he emphasized that the real significance of Thanksgiving lies in the Pilgrims’ devout thankfulness to God for their survival against overwhelming odds.
Limbaugh emphasized the pivotal moment when William Bradford, the colony’s governor, recognized the inadequacies of the communal approach and decided to assign individual plots of land to each family, thereby activating the principles of capitalism. This shift allowed families to cultivate their land, manage resources, and reap the rewards of their labor. Limbaugh argued that by embracing a system that incentivized personal ownership and productivity, the Pilgrims transitioned from a failed socialist experiment to a thriving communal society that showcased the principles of capitalism before the term was even coined. With this change, the economy flourished, leading to more significant harvests and burgeoning prosperity.
This newfound prosperity not only transformed the colony’s dynamics but also attracted more settlers from Europe, giving rise to what was known as the “Great Puritan Migration.” The Pilgrims perceived their success and the assistance from figures like Squanto as divine intervention, believing that these elements were critical to their survival and subsequent success. The notable harvest celebration of 1621, which would later be romanticized as the first Thanksgiving, was defined by a feast shared with Native Americans, reinforcing the holiday narrative taught in schools today. Limbaugh, however, cautioned that this textbook version of Thanksgiving is a simplified retelling of a much richer and more complex history.
In highlighting the importance of the Pilgrims’ transformative experience, Limbaugh aimed to instill a sense of historical clarity and gratitude in listeners. He urged his audience to recognize that the lessons drawn from the Thanksgiving narrative extend beyond a mere celebration of cooperation and community among different cultures—instead, they reflect foundational aspects of American values such as individualism, hard work, and faith. By doing so, Limbaugh sought to ensure that the true story of Thanksgiving, steeped in the trials and triumphs of the Pilgrims, continues to resonate and remain relevant in American culture long after his own passing, enriching the understanding of what Thanksgiving represents in its essence.