Article: The Fading Presents; Foreign Gifts to the Reagans Fell in '87

Lame ducks don't get lavish gifts. In 1987, according to the list of foreign gifts to be published in the Federal Register today, Nancy and Ronald Reagan received presents valued at $81,178, down from $92,000 in 1986 and $200,000 in 1985.

Indeed, the most expensive gift given last year to an American official was not to either of the Reagans but to Mayor Marion Barry-he was given a $14,000 AMC jeep Cherokee by Beijing Mayor Chen Xitong.

The Cherokee was the first off the new American Motors production line in Beijing, according to Ann Stanley, Barry's special assistant for protocol and international affairs. Beijing is Washington's sister city, and officials there also provided some ...

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