Booze from Putin, a Basketball from Xi, and an iPad from the Saudis

[jakeXT]

President Barack Obama got a personally autographed basketball from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Russian President Vladimir Putin gave former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton $560 worth of cognac. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates each bestowed an Apple iPad.

These are among the foreign gifts that federal employees received from foreign governments in 2012, according to an annual list published in the Federal Register.

The diplomatic swag included more than 40 rugs, 21 necklaces, 19 bowls and three paperweights. American officials were also presented with 10 swords, eight daggers, six sabers, three AK-47s and one anti-tank gun. (The guns were a gift from the Afghan National Army to a lieutenant colonel.)

Most gifts were valued under $5,000. But there were also some real gems — literally. Mrs. Clinton flew home from a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah last year with white gold jewelry with teardrop rubies and diamonds valued at $500,000.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2013/08/29/booze-from-putin-a-basketball-from-xi-and-an-ipad-from-the-saudis/

[liberal N proud]

1. Most gifts are turned over to the GSA

Congress, though, allows government employees to keep foreign gifts of “minimum value”, which at the moment is defined as less than $350. (The basketball from President Xi was appraised at $740.)

When it’s above $350, recipients can purchase the gifts at fair-market value or their agencies can hold on to them for official use, as outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano did with a “clear-glass perfume bottle with purple glass stopper” she received from King Abdullah II of Jordan.

But most are turned over to the GSA, which manages government property. Some gifts are then donated, and others are sold to the public.


Most corporations limit the gift allowance between $25 - $100.