When U.S. President Gerald Ford and leaders of the five other leading democracies gathered at a 14th-century castle outside Paris on Nov. 15, 1975, they planted the seed for what subsequently became the Group of Seven nations. The initial six industrial powers that huddled at the Château de Rambouillet for three days of brainstorming about the global economy became the G7 the following year when Canada joined the elite club. G7 leaders are meeting again next week in France. As part of its coverage, The Associated Press is republishing its story from the opening of the inaugural summit in 1975.