Bush library backs off on foreign contributions -- for now

Remember the flap over the weekend when the Sunday Times of London surfaced a video of a Houston lobbyists soliciting a six-figure contribution for the George W. Bush presidential library, with the suggestion the money would help gain access to the president and Vice President Dick Cheney?

It brought a red-faced promise from library officials that they would not accept foreign donations -- until the president leaves office.

But the Dallas Morning News followed up, and, as the paper put it, "the public will have to take them at their word."

It found that the foundation running the library, which is to be built at Southern Methodist University, is not pledging to identify all the donors, or the amounts they are giving. Or the dates of the gifts.

Citing federal law, Dan Bartlett, who was at Bush's side throughout the 2000 campaign and worked his way up to the crucial post of White House counselor, told the paper: "Current law only requires annual disclosure of the total sum raised."

-- James Gerstenzang

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