My Problem With National Treasure: Book of Secrets

I saw National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and at one point Benjamin Gates must turn to the President of the United States for help. The President is shown to be an honorable, capable leader who is willing to assist an average citizen with a problem.

So why did the producers go with a fictional President?

Ya got me.

The other problem with it: you're supposed to buy the premise that every President since Washington has passed along the same book of national secrets to his successor...and that Ford never accidentally dropped it in the fire at Camp David. Even after reading Kennedy's page on Marilyn.