csua.org/u/nq1 -> www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html
Add to My Stories As he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks. Mr Brown is not thought to be a film buff, and his reaction to the box set is unknown. But it didn't really compare to the thoughtful presents he had brought along with him. Marking the special relationship: The Browns put a lot of thought into their gifts for the Obamas - but the gesture did not seem to be reciprocated Marking the special relationship: The Browns put a lot of thought into their gifts for the Obamas - but the gesture did not seem to be reciprocated The Prime Minister gave Mr Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet.
The First Dinner Lady: While President Obama doles out cash, Michelle ladles out lunch The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that has sat in the Oval Office in the White House since 1880. Mr Brown also handed over a framed commission for HMS Resolute and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert. In addition, Mr Brown and his wife showered gifts on the Obama children giving Sasha and Malia an outfit each from Topshop and six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America. In return, the Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John. Mrs Brown has been praised for her well-chosen gifts for the Obama children - but Mrs Obama's gift to the Brown children appeared less thoughtful Mrs Brown has been praised for her well-chosen gifts for the Obama children - but Mrs Obama's gift to the Brown children appeared less thoughtful The Prime Minister has not had the best of luck when receiving gifts from US presidents. He was given a fur-trimmed brown leather bomber jacket by George W Bush during his first trip to America in the summer of 2007. Commentators gleefully pointed out that the garment was hardly in keeping with Mr Brown's usual sober attire of business suit and tie. Downing Street yesterday refused to state which movies were in the box set. But the Mail has learned it included classics such as Star Wars, The Godfather and Citizen Kane and was produced by the American Film Institute as a 'special request' for the White House last month. DVDs Perhaps pertinently, given Britain is floundering in an economic slump, the DVD collection was thought to feature the movie of John Steinbeck's Great Depression novel, 'The Grapes Of Wrath'. The gift also included the Oscar-winning boxing biopic 'Raging Bull' starring Robert Di Nero and Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Psycho - maybe a comment on the PM's notorious short fuse?
Add your comments Comments (22) Here's what readers have had to say so far. the Obamas are demonstrating what the minority of Americans already knew - they are amateurs. The current US administration domestically ignorant and is globally clueless. Click to rate Rating 894 - William, Miami, 05/3/2009 15:59 I wounder if the DVD were region encoded. Will Mr Brown even be able to play them on telly on that side of the pond? Click to rate Rating 911 - Fox, Rochester, NY, USA, 05/3/2009 15:58 Re-gifter!
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