Obama's first gift as president to be crystal bowl

Fri Jan 9, 2009 9:28 AM EST

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WASHINGTON — To Barack Obama, from Congress on behalf of the American people: One hand-cut, crystal bowl with an etching of his new home in Washington.

The president-elect will receive the present at a luncheon with members of Congress after the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20.

The $2,500 one-of-a-kind bowl weighs nearly 8 pounds and shows an image of the White House, with cherry trees on each side. As the bowl is rotated, the president's residence can be seen through the trees.

Congress commissioned the bowl from Lenox Inc., which donated it as a gift, a favor permissible under a congressional resolution.

Joe Biden will receive a similar crystal bowl when he becomes vice president, only his will have an image of the Capitol, with blooming cherry trees.

The gifts took hundreds of hours to make and were designed by glass cutter Timothy Carder using a combination of etching and hand cutting. Obama's is 5 1/2 inches high and 9 inches in diameter and sits on a hand-cut base made of optical crystal engraved with his name and the date of his inauguration.

"The inauguration of a new president is one of the most solemn and ceremonial moments in our nation's history," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The bowl "captures the beauty and dignity" of the occasion, she said.

The company created the inaugural gifts for George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

___

On the Net:

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies: http://inaugural.senate.gov

(This version CORRECTS number of hours.)

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1.9

0.4

{"commentId":4729766,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Oh.

*That* kind of bowl.

I don't have a comment, now.

{"commentId":4729766,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"brianford"}

5 votes

#1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 9:57 AM EST

{"commentId":4729972,"authorDomain":"rlcr55"}

Trying to find Work

They can't agree on a stimulus package, they are already disagreeing and fighting among themselves on all the other important issues we face, but they can agree on a pay raise and giving the President and Vice-President crystal bowls.

Idiots!

{"commentId":4729972,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"rlcr55"}

2 votes

#2 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:09 AM EST

{"commentId":4729976,"authorDomain":"askari-ali"}

Askari

Do we need to be giving any more gifts to politicians? They already stole $850 billion from us via the bank and auto bailouts. Obama's campaign raised $750 million and is continuing to ask for donations on his site. Can we start using our money more wisely?

{"commentId":4729976,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"askari-ali"}

3 votes

#3 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:09 AM EST

{"commentId":4730098,"authorDomain":"ppflock"}

3sheets2thewind

It is a beautiful bowl, I wonder if he will use it as a place to put his loose change?

{"commentId":4730098,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"ppflock"}

1 vote

#4 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:16 AM EST

{"commentId":4731635,"authorDomain":"dviking12"}

Sgt. Pepper

It would be awesome if he drinks something out of it.

{"commentId":4731635,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dviking12"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:29 AM EST

{"commentId":4731676,"authorDomain":"sha-1"}

SH-2000

Lenox? We must be in a recession, a Steuben bowl would be nicer. lol.

{"commentId":4731676,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"sha-1"}

#4.2 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:31 AM EST

{"commentId":4731960,"authorDomain":"gregjarvis"}

gregjarvis

drink some f'ing lysol

{"commentId":4731960,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"gregjarvis"}

#4.3 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:40 AM EST

{"commentId":4732517,"authorDomain":"dthwag"}

DW-580669

Made by a U.S. company Lenox but the question is, Is it made in the U.S.A. If not then he should not accept it

{"commentId":4732517,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dthwag"}

#4.4 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:00 PM EST

{"commentId":4732891,"authorDomain":"Jewelibob"}

Jewelibob

I remember hearing that Ronald Regan used to keep jelly beans on his desk so I'm wondering what Obama will put in his.

{"commentId":4732891,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"Jewelibob"}

#4.5 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:14 PM EST

{"commentId":4730671,"authorDomain":"JStranahan"}

Jimster

oooooo there's some news we can use.

Waste of good pixels

{"commentId":4730671,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"JStranahan"}

#5 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM EST

{"commentId":4730747,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

Dan Hallo, aka, Zoilus

I live near Chicago and I've voted for Obama 4 times now. This is all he gets?

{"commentId":4730747,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:52 AM EST

{"commentId":4730970,"authorDomain":"utilizer"}

utilizer

he is getting all of our taxes... thats good enough.

{"commentId":4730970,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"utilizer"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:02 AM EST

{"commentId":4738595,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

Dan Hallo, aka, Zoilus

Duh, the taxes are still ours, he just will use it for what the voters who voted for him want it to be used as, and not to go to the rich, in the hope that maybe some of it might trickle down their legs.

{"commentId":4738595,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

1 vote

#6.2 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 4:04 PM EST

{"commentId":4743060,"authorDomain":"utilizer"}

utilizer

I have no control over taxes, this is money taken from me by force. I do not support many gov't subsidies... mainly the Iraq war. I guess, you support it because, as you have said, you are voluntary giving taxes.

{"commentId":4743060,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"utilizer"}

#6.3 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 9:06 PM EST

{"commentId":4746151,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

Dan Hallo, aka, Zoilus

No, you do have control, because you don't always get your way doesn't mean that you don't have to pay taxes any more.

i do not agree with everything that my taxes pay for. but it's my DUTY to pay them, should I only pay taxes that benefit me directly it would be poor excuse for a country.

You forget As Benjamin Franklin wrote, "In free governments the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns." The ultimate powers in a society, therefore, rest in the people themselves,

The Sovereignty belongs to the People.

If the governmet is not doing the will of the majority of people it's as much your fault as it is everybody's.

"We think experience has proved it safer for the mass of individuals composing the society to reserve to themselves personally the exercise of all rightful powers to which they are competent and to delegate those to which they are not competent to deputies named and removable for unfaithful conduct by themselves immediately." --Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Dupont de Nemours, 1816.

Or we can forget about over two hundred years of progress toward building a better union and go back to having a King, or worse, Anarchy.

"A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society." --Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 1792.

{"commentId":4746151,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

1 vote

#6.4 - Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:22 AM EST

{"commentId":4731007,"authorDomain":"cuellodetoro21"}

Jason-671241Deleted

{"commentId":4731248,"authorDomain":"dthwag"}

DW-580669

A crystal ball and balls of steel would be more appropriate

{"commentId":4731248,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dthwag"}

1 vote

#8 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:14 AM EST

{"commentId":4731615,"authorDomain":"sha-1"}

SH-2000

Perfect!

{"commentId":4731615,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"sha-1"}

#8.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:28 AM EST

{"commentId":4731709,"authorDomain":"rlcr55"}

Trying to find Work

But how much would that cost the American taxpayers?

If Congress had to pick a new gift, they wouldn't be able to decide on something until 2027.

{"commentId":4731709,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"rlcr55"}

2 votes

#8.2 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:31 AM EST

{"commentId":4732225,"authorDomain":"dthwag"}

DW-580669

The IRS should be able to confiscate them free of charge. Regifting should not be out of the question

{"commentId":4732225,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dthwag"}

#8.3 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:50 AM EST

{"commentId":4731934,"authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

Don Quixsfart

It will make Obama a great bong.

{"commentId":4731934,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

1 vote

#9 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:39 AM EST

{"commentId":4732635,"authorDomain":"dviking12"}

Sgt. Pepper

I am insulted both as an Obama supporter and a bong expert.

{"commentId":4732635,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dviking12"}

2 votes

#9.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:05 PM EST

{"commentId":4733787,"authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

Don Quixsfart

I'll mention to Congress that they might consult you for advice for the next dope smoking President we get.

{"commentId":4733787,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

#9.2 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:47 PM EST

{"commentId":4732120,"authorDomain":"nleath3468"}

NMLeath

A crystal bowl. I love it.

{"commentId":4732120,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"nleath3468"}

#10 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:46 AM EST

{"commentId":4732632,"authorDomain":"dreamer"}

dreamer

Stupid. I would figure that becoming the president would be "gift" enough.

{"commentId":4732632,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"dreamer"}

1 vote

#11 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:05 PM EST

{"commentId":4732996,"authorDomain":"William834"}

Cbagent81

WHO CARES! Now get this horribly boring article off the Top news page!!

{"commentId":4732996,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"William834"}

#12 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:18 PM EST

{"commentId":4733435,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Brian Ford

Whoops. By commenting on this horribly boring story, you've simply done your part to ensure that it stays on the front page a little longer.

Good jorb, guy.

(And, yes, my response is left with the intention of keeping it there even longer.)

{"commentId":4733435,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"brianford"}

3 votes

#12.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 12:33 PM EST

{"commentId":4738743,"authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

Don Quixsfart

It would look great filled with those Obama coins they are hawking on TV. What a bunch of cheesey people. Isn't there like a $50 limit on gifts to and from government officials. While the glass bowl probably isn't worth that much, I'm sure one of the congesses relatives who sold them the bowl made a few grand.

{"commentId":4738743,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"donquixsfart"}

#13 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 4:13 PM EST

{"commentId":4738788,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

Dan Hallo, aka, Zoilus

That is nasty, as were those Bush coins, and the people who wanted Bush to be on the Twenty and carved into Mt. Rushmore.

How crass.

{"commentId":4738788,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}

1 vote

#13.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 4:16 PM EST

{"commentId":5826702,"authorDomain":"brutus-1"}

S.Watson

Does anyone know about the "gift" given the British P.M.?

{"commentId":5826702,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"brutus-1"}

#14 - Mon Mar 9, 2009 12:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":5831119,"authorDomain":"brutus-1"}

S.Watson

Re my question on the "gift" to the British P.M. I just read that he gave him or should I say "regifted" a bust of Winston Churchill that was given to the U.S. (read us "we the people) after 9/11.

Who gave O'Bama the authority to regift this? We the people sure did not and I am outraged. Brown at least tried to explain that England gave us the gift to show it was standing with us following 9/11.

{"commentId":5831119,"threadId":"465189","contentId":"2291873","authorDomain":"brutus-1"}

#15 - Mon Mar 9, 2009 4:01 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"465189","isPrivate":false}

Backyard

Obama's first gift as president to be crystal bowl

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