Many newspapers this morning are carrying details on the gifts received over the years by the President of the United States from various state officials.
Among the bounty of goodies received, its been revealed that Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra gave President Bush an $11,000 Cartier Santos Dumont watch, he received black leather Huszar riding boots from Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, and a blue Burberry jumper from Tony Blair � a very British gift!
When Elvis Presley paid an impromptu visit to President Nixon in 1970, we all know he was there to boost his ever-growing collection of law enforcement badges, but the King did not turn up empty handed either. Elvis wanted to give the President a customised Colt gun, but was informed that no weapons were allowed in the Oval Room. The other guns Elvis had concealed around his body were also reluctantly handed in� but he forgot a few, just in case.
Most of the gifts given to Presidents are not kept, apart from a few keepsakes. So we wonder what George Bush did with the collection of Elvis CDs he was given by Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi, when they met up in the States and visited Graceland.
Posted: 13th. December 2007