Foreign largesse goes to National Archives

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- Foreign governments were very generous in the gifts they gave members of the George W. Bush administration, a U.S. State Department report indicated.

The report said when former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Tripoli -- the first visit by a U.S. official to Libya in more than a half-century -- Moammar Gadhafi gave her some serious bling -- a diamond ring and other items with a total value of $212,225, Politico reported.

In January 2008, Saudi King Abdullah gave Rice a "gold, diamond and sapphire set with necklace, ring, bracelet and earrings" along with a robe and scarf, worth a cool $230,145, the State Department said.

By law, federal officials are required to relinquish such gifts to the government, which either sells them or stores them at the National Archives. Sometimes a few items are kept for display at government offices or bought by the recipient, the Washington publication said.

Bush, an avid biker, received many cycling related gifts -- all apparently on the road to the National Archives. The State Department report indicated that in 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa proffered mountain bikes, while Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave Bush "a hydration system cycling backpack" and bike shorts displaying Bush's name and Israeli flags.