Bush, Cheney to Receive Crystal Lamps

WASHINGTON - President Bush will have to clear space on a couple of White House end tables for the gift commemorating his second inauguration - a pair of hand-cut, crystal hurricane lamps engraved with a likeness of the nation's mansion.

Created by Lenox Crystal of Lawrenceville, N.J., the 18-inch high lamps, made of pure lead crystal, feature a silver-plated base engraved with Bush's name and the inauguration date. A similar set, with the Capitol etched in the lamps, will be presented to Vice President Dick Cheney.

This is the fifth year that Lenox has been asked to create the inaugural gift, the only gift Bush will receive from the nation.

Design and creation of the gift was coordinated with Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and his wife, Patricia.

"Our Founding Fathers wrote our national documents by candlelight," the senator said. "Many leaders guided our nation with the aid of lamps like these. This new design connects us with our historic past."