With their stay at the White House coming to an end, outgoing US President George W Bush and his wife Laura will take only a few treasured mementos with them from the eight years they spent at the mansion.
This would be in contrast to the previous occupants of the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton, who took with them over 50 gifts, including a chandelier and paintings, valued at nearly $200,000, when they vacated the White House in January 2001, a media report said.
The Bush family, however, borrowed from furnishings that already existed within the White House collection, Sally McDonough, Press Secretary to Laura Bush, told Fox News.
"Mrs Bush -- having the experience of being at the White House when her father-in-law was President -- knew how many beautiful things she had to choose from to furnish the residence. And she will go back to Texas with only those items that belong to her," she was quoted as saying.
Bush's official state china service -- a Lenox gilt-edged style with a green basket weave border valued at USD 492,798 -- will remain at the White House, the report said, adding two custom rugs, including one with emblems from all 50 state flags, will also stay behind in the Executive Mansion.
But a few cherished items, including a chest of drawers that had belonged to Bush's grandmother, will be taken back to their home in Crawford, Texas, it said. "She (Laura) will bring that back to Texas with her," McDonough was quoted as saying by FOXNews.com. "It's very sentimental to them."
The Bush family will also take home stacks of books they have acquired over the last eight years.
"The one thing she (Laura) does joke about is that she certainly will take many clothes with her because obviously she has a much more formal wardrobe than when she came," McDonough was quoted as saying, adding the first lady looks forward to sporting more "casual wear."
