Abstract :
This talks reviews the history of the discovery of the hot ISM in elliptical galaxies, and the ensuing debate on the suitability of X-ray observations of these galaxies for mass measurements. How much of the X-ray emission is truly from a hot ISM, and is this ISM in hydrostatic equilibrium? While the debate went on, a deeper understanding on the evolution of the halos was generated. High resolution Chandra observations are providing an answer.