Inside the Bass house, Ford was preparing to veto some ecological legislation already passed by Congress. The strip mining bill he refused to sign called for regulating all strip mining and a 35-cent-per-ton excise tax on all surface-underground coal to pay for reclamation. Oddly enough, the measure would have cost Bass an estimated $100,000 annually because of his many mining leases.

Ford's stay in Vail was not all ski and parley. His people beckoned, so each night the Ford entourage attended one or another of the extravaganzas hosted by the celebrities, tycoons and socialites who also were in town. One afternoon the Mid-Vail lodge was electric with rumors that even Jackie Kennedy was also in town.

Life in Vail was indeed merry for those two weeks. Quite appropriately, the winter sun shone brightly for all but two days, bronzing beautiful faces.

There was Gerry Ford, conducting the affairs of state as usual, while at the same time cavorting about and carrying on like any red-blooded rich American. The economy couldn't be that bad, look at all the happy people, look at all the cars filled with gasoline, look at the ten-dollar bills being slapped down by the thousands for a couple of rides up a mountain, look at the fur and the snazzy outfits. After all this time, here was an American president who could get out among the American people, find out what they were doing and what they thought.

This piece is dedicated to Ruffin Harris and an anonymous Vietnam War veteran. Their's were the only voices of reality that trailed Gerry Ford to Colorado.

[Jeff Leonard borrowed $150 to get to Vail. He lived in a mobile home without heat and forged lift tickets while he was there.]