Rhythmism.com
Wednesday, Aug 4th 2004, 12:59 PM
#1
Saudi prince gave Bush family $130k in jewelry last year
Raw meat - a gift fit for a President
By Matthew Lee
August 03, 2004
A SAUDI prince lavished nearly $US130,000 ($185,000) of fine jewellery on US President George W. Bush, his wife, children and top aides in 2003, but the weightiest gift for the first family last year was kilos of raw meat.
Documents released today showed that, while Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's exquisite baubles may have cemented US-Saudi friendship amid tension over Iraq, Argentine President Nestor Kirchner's 136kg present most likely did more to slake war-time appetites.
Although valued at only $US1500 ($2140) - far less than the crown prince's $US128,000 ($182,000) largesse - President Kirchner's meat was arguably the most unusual gift the president received.
Presented to Bush during an official visit to Washington in July, during which Mr Kirchner secured US support for a new international loan program, the lamb was transferred to the General Services Administration, presumably for distribution to government cafeterias or charity.
Unfortunately, there is no record of what actually became of the meat or whether there was any connection between it and the sheep responsible for a $US214 ($304) grey wool poncho that Mr Kirchner and his wife also gave to the first family during the visit.
Under US law, almost all gifts to the president and his top aides - from the most humble to the most extravagant - must be reported.
According to today's documents, compiled by the State Department's Office of Protocol and published in the Federal Register, the single-most valuable item received in 2003 was a $US95,500 ($136,000) matching set of diamond and sapphire earrings, bracelet and necklace presented to First Lady Laura Bush by Crown Prince Abdullah.
Mr Bush received a mantel clock "elaborately detailed in silver and gold vermeil" and worth $US8500 ($12,100), while the "first family" was listed as the recipient of two Bulgari necklace, ring and earring sets.
Made of pearl and diamonds and diamonds and black onyx - and valued respectively at $US8000 and $US8500 dollars ($11,390 and $12,100) - the sets appear to have been intended for the president's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara.
All the prince's presents - including two $US1500 ($2135) gold and silver ceremonial daggers for White House chief of staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, a $US3000 (about $4300) horse sculpture presented to Rice deputy, Stephen Hadley, and a $US1500 ivory and gold letter opener offered to Secretary of State Colin Powell - have been turned over the National Archives, according to the documents.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - one of Mr Bush's strongest European allies - was no slouch in the gift-giving department the 74 pages of records show.
Mr Berlusconi presented the Bush family, Ms Rice, Mr Card and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with more than $US35,000 ($50,000) worth of gifts in 2003.
Those included a $US12,000 ($17,000) wristwatch and $US4500 ($6400) alabaster statue for the president, a $US7500 ($10,700) silver and diamond choker for the first lady, a $US7500 gold and diamond bracelet for Ms Rice and a $US3000 ($4300) watch for Mr Card.
The single most valuable gift given to Mr Bush in 2003 came from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who presented him with a collection of original watercolour portraits of all 43 US presidents bound in a "red velvet book studded with precious gems" worth $US45,000 ($64,000).
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E1702,00.html
By Matthew Lee
August 03, 2004
A SAUDI prince lavished nearly $US130,000 ($185,000) of fine jewellery on US President George W. Bush, his wife, children and top aides in 2003, but the weightiest gift for the first family last year was kilos of raw meat.
Documents released today showed that, while Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's exquisite baubles may have cemented US-Saudi friendship amid tension over Iraq, Argentine President Nestor Kirchner's 136kg present most likely did more to slake war-time appetites.
Although valued at only $US1500 ($2140) - far less than the crown prince's $US128,000 ($182,000) largesse - President Kirchner's meat was arguably the most unusual gift the president received.
Presented to Bush during an official visit to Washington in July, during which Mr Kirchner secured US support for a new international loan program, the lamb was transferred to the General Services Administration, presumably for distribution to government cafeterias or charity.
Unfortunately, there is no record of what actually became of the meat or whether there was any connection between it and the sheep responsible for a $US214 ($304) grey wool poncho that Mr Kirchner and his wife also gave to the first family during the visit.
Under US law, almost all gifts to the president and his top aides - from the most humble to the most extravagant - must be reported.
According to today's documents, compiled by the State Department's Office of Protocol and published in the Federal Register, the single-most valuable item received in 2003 was a $US95,500 ($136,000) matching set of diamond and sapphire earrings, bracelet and necklace presented to First Lady Laura Bush by Crown Prince Abdullah.
Mr Bush received a mantel clock "elaborately detailed in silver and gold vermeil" and worth $US8500 ($12,100), while the "first family" was listed as the recipient of two Bulgari necklace, ring and earring sets.
Made of pearl and diamonds and diamonds and black onyx - and valued respectively at $US8000 and $US8500 dollars ($11,390 and $12,100) - the sets appear to have been intended for the president's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara.
All the prince's presents - including two $US1500 ($2135) gold and silver ceremonial daggers for White House chief of staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, a $US3000 (about $4300) horse sculpture presented to Rice deputy, Stephen Hadley, and a $US1500 ivory and gold letter opener offered to Secretary of State Colin Powell - have been turned over the National Archives, according to the documents.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - one of Mr Bush's strongest European allies - was no slouch in the gift-giving department the 74 pages of records show.
Mr Berlusconi presented the Bush family, Ms Rice, Mr Card and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with more than $US35,000 ($50,000) worth of gifts in 2003.
Those included a $US12,000 ($17,000) wristwatch and $US4500 ($6400) alabaster statue for the president, a $US7500 ($10,700) silver and diamond choker for the first lady, a $US7500 gold and diamond bracelet for Ms Rice and a $US3000 ($4300) watch for Mr Card.
The single most valuable gift given to Mr Bush in 2003 came from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who presented him with a collection of original watercolour portraits of all 43 US presidents bound in a "red velvet book studded with precious gems" worth $US45,000 ($64,000).
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E1702,00.html
