On
January 31st 2003, The Scotsman reported further Churchill related
gifts for the President.
”The
present, valued at $375 (£206), is listed as a "Churchill Presentation
Box", including a "Churchill" pen, a bottle of ink, a cigar and a
small book of Churchill quotations; held in a green leatherette case with gold
tooling.”
Several
other gifts were exchanged on this occasion but as James Kirkup points out
“Under
US government rules, all gifts to US officials from foreign nationals must be
reported and, if they are retained by the recipient, a reason given.
The
US State Department records for the Blair’s’ gifts to the President and the
First Lady state simply: Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and
US government”
It
might be trivial but its safe to assume that George Bush and Tony Blair share a
mutual admiration for Winston Churchill both in public and in private.