I immediately remembered that President Gerald Ford played football at the University of Michigan and I suggested to Duffy that we give the statue to the president as part of the art collection at the White House. Duffy thought that was an excellent idea but very much doubted it could be done.

I, of course, disagreed. That afternoon I called Donald Rumsfeld, our former Secretary of Defense and at the time. He was the excellent chief of staff to President Ford. Rumsfeld agreed with me and in two hours called me back to say I had a breakfast meeting with President Ford at nine in the morning and I could bring my friends. He said to come early and have a quick tour of the White House.

At nine 0' clock we were ushered to the Oval Room and the president got up from his desk. He greeted us. Rumsfeld obviously told the president a few things about me for he greeted me saying "I understand you've been to China. I'd like to hear about your trip and the Peking Man fossils. I introduced George Duffy and his daughter, Karen, and gave him the statue. But before this he looked at the statue we brought and said" Hey, did they lose for once? That's a fine addition to our art collection. Now keep up the good work and do more fine things."

"Now, sit down and let's have some breakfast," he said.

The President then brought us some sweet rolls and filled my cup of coffee. It was a wonderful, very friendly meeting-the kind of meeting the President was known for.

The President then turned to me and said, "Chris, I understand you've written a book regarding the search for the missing fossils. Did you bring a copy of the book? I'd like to see it."

"Yes, Mr. President. I just happen to have a copy!"

To my great surprise, the President said, "Come, let's take a picture." You can imagine what this meant to my publisher MacMillan who used the picture in all five foreign languages copies of the book and much success.

Then the President asked me how the search was coming. I told him after three years of searching they had not been found.

The President then said I should ask the State Department to help me and said I could tell them this was his recommendation.

I, of course, was immediately pleased as was George Duffy and his daughter. I thanked the President and Donald Rumsfeld for a memorial event in my life.

I'm concluding this essay with some quotes from the President and information about him from various sources:

"I was the only Vice President of the United States to become president upon the resignation of a chief executive."

Ford was challenged by major economic problems including a recession, rapid inflation, and high unemployment. The economy began to recover in 1975, when the Vietnam war ended with a Communist victory.

Ford was an athletic man who loved sports. He often turned to the sports section of his newspaper before reading other news. Ford starred as a football player in high school and college, and football had a major influence on his life. He once said, "I know the value of team play. It is, I believe one of the most important lessons to be learned and practiced in our lives." Ford also swam regularly and enjoyed golf and skiing.

When Ford became president, he was challenged at home by soaring inflation and a loss of public confidence in the government. Inflation was causing hardship among many Americans especially the poor and elderly. Sharp rises in prices also threatened to cause a severe business slump.

Public faith in government had plunged to its lowest level in years.

Close observers of President Ford at work in the White House are impressed by his composure in the midst of confusing and conflicting demands on his attention and by the control he maintained as a man "at home with himself."

His political heroes are Abraham Lincoln, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower -Presidents whose influence and example may well affect his own conduct of the Presidency in carrying out his repeated pledge to the American people to do the best he could for the country.