A recording of Rush Limbaugh, the late conservative radio star, explaining “The True Story of Thanksgiving” has gone viral on social media this week, reviving an annual tradition that spanned for three decades on his radio program.
The story, which Limbaugh first published in his 1993 book “See, I Told You So” and read on air every Thanksgiving for over 30 years, focuses on the Pilgrims’ economic struggles at Plymouth Colony and their transition from socialism to capitalism and how it saved their colony.
Conservative commentator CJ Pearson shared a video clip of Limbaugh’s telling on X, formerly Twitter, “Rush Limbaugh tells the true story of Thanksgiving.”
Take a look –
If you only watch one video this week, make it this one of the great Rush Limbaugh telling us the true story of Thanksgiving.pic.twitter.com/PKDBgO9VB4
— CJ Pearson (@Cjpearson) November 25, 2025
Limbaugh’s widow Kathryn Adams Limbaugh also posted the story on the official Rush Limbaugh account Tuesday.
“Every year, Rush looked forward to sharing the true story of Thanksgiving. We hope this will bring you fond memories as we carry on the special tradition. Rush loved our country and all of you so very much. Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you, Kathryn.”
Republican Congressman Michael Cloud of Texas shared the story, too.
“The great Rush Limbaugh tells the story of Thanksgiving like no one else can. It’s always worth a listen this time of year!” Cloud wrote.
Limbaugh, who died in February 2021 at age 70 after a battle with lung cancer, hosted the most-listened-to radio talk show in America for decades. He began each Thanksgiving Eve broadcast by playing Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music and reading from Chapter 6 of “See, I Told You So,” titled “Dead White Guys, or What the History Books Never Told You: The True Story of Thanksgiving.”
According to Limbaugh, the Pilgrims initially operated under a communal system where all property and production went into a common store with each member receiving an equal share regardless of their work contribution.
This system led to failure and near starvation because it eliminated individual incentive to work. He cited colonial Governor William Bradford’s decision to abandon the communal arrangement and assign private plots of land to individual families as the turning point that led to prosperity in America.
“What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation!” Limbaugh said.
After Bradford implemented private property rights, the colony experienced dramatic success.
“‘This had very good success,’ wrote Bradford, ‘for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.'”
The prosperity that followed attracted more European settlers and began what became known as the Great Puritan Migration.
“The Real Story of Thanksgiving, going back to the very first early days of the Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth Rock, is that socialism failed,” Limbaugh said.
Limbaugh also expanded on the story in his children’s book series “Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims,” which provided additional details about Native American assistance to the colonists, particularly focusing on Squanto, who taught the Pilgrims agricultural techniques and helped broker peace with other tribes.
The story has become an annual tradition for Limbaugh’s followers.
“On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I can’t help but remember our old friend, Rush Limbaugh – conservative talk radio’s titan who passed away in February of 2021. That’s because each Thanksgiving Eve for three decades, El Rushbo would begin playing Mannheim Steamroller Christmas bumper music and read ‘The True Story of Thanksgiving’ from his book, ‘See, I told You So.'” Paul Batura, vice president of communications for Focus on the Family, wrote.
The story’s viral resurgence comes as Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates Americans will consume more than 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day, representing 21 percent of total annual turkey production.
Limbaugh hosted “The Rush Limbaugh Show” from 1988 until his death in 2021, and built an audience of millions of daily listeners.