 In 1970 President Richard Nixon appointed Creutz as Assistant Director for Research of the National Science Foundation . He became Assistant Director for <unk> and <unk> Sciences in 1975 , and was acting Deputy Director from 1976 to 1977 . The 1970s energy crisis raised the national profile of energy issues , and Creutz served on a panel that produced a study called The Nation 's Energy Future . His wife <unk> died of cancer in 1972 . In 1974 he married Elisabeth <unk> , who worked for the National Science Board . The two of them enjoyed locating and photographing rare orchids . 
