There are very strict rules on what sorts of gifts the president can accept (these apply to all government employees, I think), so I doubt he gets free suits. I believe the limit is $50. Gifts beyond that have to be returned or turned over to the government, which is, I think, what happens to gifts from foreign countries and diplomats.
Similarly, I suspect there is a formal system in place to distinguish what the president spends personally vs. what is spent by the government.
State dinners are paid for out of the taxpayer till because those dinners are part of his official duties as President of the US.
The meals the president pays for out of pocket are the regular, every day meals he and his family eat.
State dinners would likely cost well over $ 100,000 each if feted in the real world. Re smaller engagements we’re still talking tens of thousands of dollars. I find it very difficult to believe there is not some White House entertaining “slush fund” for non-state dinners and cocktail parties available to the President.
There was a story on NPR a couple of years ago discussing this.
It turns out that presidents do indeed have to pay for a lot of stuff like meals, dry-cleaning, various types of travel and entertainment expenses. It is all carefully accounted for and a bill is expected to be paid. Jimmy Carter said he left the White House essentially broke. (He’s more than made up for it since with book sales, speaking engagements, etc).
*You are Cordially Invited to
Potlock Hoe Down
To be held at
The White House
Bring your favorite Vegetable or Dessert
Hot Dogs and Kool Aid provided
Dancing after Dinner
Courtesy of Uncle Billy Joe and his Knee Knacking Spoons*
hmmmm it must depend on the circumstances because I was watching some stupid show on VH1 comparing the luxurious lives of Kerry and Bush, and on one part it had this guy who has a company that makes custom cowboy boots that cost into the thousands and it said Bush had received something like 9 pairs from the guy free of charge. I don’t think giving a politician clothing is really gonna sway any of their policy decisions or anything (well I hope) :eek:
Here is a webpage for members of the president’s team that describes the policies regarding gifts. According to this page, the rule is that only gifts worth less than twenty dollars can be accepted, although there are complications.
Two questions:
How much is Clinton worth. Do governors make a lot of money?
And someone asked about the party paying for suits and events. I can see this being justified as the cost of making a suit(ha!)able candidate. Does anyone know?
Clinton made very little as governor of Arkansas. It was a very low paying job. Clinton needed to be elected president because he needed the raise.
His numerous legal battles cost him a lot. But both Bill and Hillary did well on their book deals and are likely not going to be hurting for cash for the rest of their lives.
I assume that Bill Clinton can charge quite a bit to go give a speech to a group.
That’s what I thought. So who paid for the non-State dinners and parties at the White House?..How about the famous $200 haircut?
It was posted in another thread here once that the president doesn’t actually call down any of his salary until* after * he has left office.
This would (if true) be another valid reason - that he would go a min. 4 years without actually getting paid at all - except by outside interests and other investments.