See Who Gave Obama Cheapest, Priciest Gifts

Saudi king, Palestinian president at opposite ends of spectrum
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 19, 2011 6:27 PM CST
See Who Gave Obama Cheapest, Priciest Gifts
President Obama smiles as he and his youngest daughter, Sasha, 9, meet Santa.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The State Department has released the list of gifts given by foreign governments to President Obama or federal workers in 2010, and it's already being gleefully picked apart. Read it in full here as a PDF, or check out the cheapest and most expensive here:

  • Most expensive, $34,000: The honor goes to Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, kind of Saudi Arabia, writes Dan Amira at New York magazine. The description: "Large desert scene on a green veined marble base featuring miniature figurines of gold palm trees and camels; large gold medallion with the Royal seal in a green leather display box; large brass and glass clock by Jaeger-LeCoultre in a green leather display case." Click to see Amira's roundup of the top 10 priciest gifts, with a surprise appearance by Haiti.

  • Least expensive, $75: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dug deep in his wallet to buy a bottle of olive oil, writes Jim Newell at Gawker. "Olive oil! Any schmuck can buy that stuff at the supermarket."
(More President Obama stories.)

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