An iPod and book from Bono, a $5,474 bicycle and custom poker chips were among gifts given to President George W Bush last year.
WASHINGTON: An iPod and book from Bono, a $5,474 bicycle and custom poker chips were among gifts given to President George W Bush last year.
Bush, an avid mountain biker, received two pairs of cycling shoes valued at $515 from Trek Nike Cycling Division in addition to the bicycle from John Burke, president of Trek Bicycle Corp, according to financial disclosure reports released by the White House on Monday.
But the $17,316 total in gifts reported by Bush was eclipsed by the $39,722 in gifts given to Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney’s gifts included a $6,125 prewar single-action Colt 45 revolver, which was donated to the Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming, and a $1,000 handmade, engraved Lewis & Clark reproduction rifle.
Cheney’s hunting pastime made headlines this year after he accidentally shot a friend while bird hunting in Texas. Bono, lead singer for U2, gave the president an iPod and the book The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H Peterson valued at $440.
Bono, who has met with Bush at the White House, has campaigned for erasing the debts of poor countries to help fight poverty.
The former Texas governor received two custom poker chip sets and wood cases valued at $900 from The United States Playing Card Company, and a chainsaw and accessories worth $US351 from Robert Nardelli, president and chief executive officer of Home Depot Inc.
Cheney gave Bush $400 binoculars, and Bush gave Cheney a $338 hammock on a steel frame as Christmas presents.
Former President Gerald Ford gave Cheney a $US489 leather-bound commemorative edition of the Warren Commission Report signed by him. Ford was a member of the commission that investigated the assassination of President John F Kennedy. Bush and Cheney are not allowed to accept personal gifts from foreign citizens or governments. The forms do not provide precise values of the president and vice president’s financial assets but instead give ranges.
The disclosure said Bush’s 1,583-acre central Texas ranch was worth between $1 million and $5 million. The president also reported having at least $3.95 million in Treasury notes, $945,000 in certificates of deposits, $153,000 in checking and money market accounts and at least $1 million in investments held in a blind trust.
The goodies basket
An iPod from Irish rock star Bono and a book on the Bible — valued about $440.
A bicycle from Trek — valued at $5 474
Two hand-carved wooden puzzles — valued at $3 000.
From vice president Dick Cheney, pair of binoculars, fishing equipment, and a chain saw — valued at $400, $1 220 and $351 respectively.
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