When asked about Powell's statement that he didn't know anything about academic finance, Ramsay-Jenkins responded, "I think the General is being very modest and that his knowledge to operate in a not-for-profit environment was extensive."

"In addition, the responsibilities [of] the job at Harvard require an individual who understands not only administration and management but can work with individuals who have competing goals," Ramsay-Jenkins said. "[It is] more the dynamics that I feel Colin would be very successful because of his abilities."

Ramsay-Jenkins, who now lives in Seattle and has retired from full-time employment, still serves on the boards of several organizations.

"I have faxed the General and told him I would be interested to work on his [presidential] campaign if there should be one," she said.

Ramsay-Jenkins said she would definitely vote for Powell if he ran, saying, "We couldn't be in better hands."

O'Brien said he would vote for Powell as well.

"I think he would be an outstanding president and enthusiastic about his presidency if he had decided to run," O'Brien said.

According to O'Brien, the person chosen to fill the position at Harvard was Robert Scott, who later succeeded O'Brien as finance vice president after O'Brien left Harvard in 1987.

When asked if he was amused by the fact that he took the job that Powell declined, Scott chose not to comment.

"I don't know about this in detail. I have not read the book and I really don't have any comment on it at all said Scott, who has since left Harvard and is now a financial officer at Partners Healthcare Inc., the new corporate identity of the merger of two Harvard teaching hospitals--Mass. General and Brigham and Women's