Every year the New York Police and Fire Departments face off in an annual football game.  The good-natured but intense contest has been a New York City tradition since 1973. 
 
In 2004, members of both squads visited the Oval Office to present President George W. Bush with a token of appreciation for his response following the attacks of September 11, 2001.  The meeting had special meaning since among the many casualties of 9-11 were 22 members of the New York City Fire Department Football Club. (See bravestfootball.com and nypdfootball.com).   Originally, President Bush was asked to attend the annual game to receive the players’ thanks, but he was unable to do so, so I arranged the visit to the White House for the players.
 
The meeting was scheduled to last about ten minutes.  At the president’s insistence, it lasted longer, in part so he could show the players another recent gift–something he was obviously proud to share with them.  You see, that morning, the warriors who captured Saddam Hussein visited the President and gave him a glass-enclosed gun, the gun Hussein had on him when they dragged him from his rat hole. 

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