President Ford dead at 93

[YogsVR4]

http://www.business-standard.com/com...N&autono=19000


Former American President Gerald Ford, who assumed the office in 1974 after the resignation of Richard Nixon, died yesterday at the age of 93.

"My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age," Betty Ford, the wife of the ex-president, said in a statement in Rancho Mirage, California.

The time, place and cause of death of the oldest surviving former US president were not disclosed.

"His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country," she added.

He is survived by his wife; three sons, Michael, Jack and Steven; and a daughter, Susan.

President Bush issued a statement saying that he and first lady Laura Bush were "greatly saddened" to hear of the former president's death.

"President Ford was a great American who gave many years of dedicated service to our country," Bush said. "On August 9, 1974, after a long career in the House of Representatives and service as vice president, he assumed the presidency in an hour of national turmoil and division. With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the presidency.

"The American people will always admire Gerald Ford's devotion to duty, his personal character, and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our 38th president will always have a special place in our Nation's memory. On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to Betty Ford and all of President Ford's family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead."

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He was the first president in office that I was old enough to remember. I think history will regard Ford as one of the few presidents that were the right man for the right time.

['97ventureowner]

Ah, the "Accidental President". He was the only President to date to get into office without being elected President or Vice President. I remember him somewhat back in the mid '70s. I remember Nixon resigning in August of '74, then Ford taking over. I also remember the furor the following month I believe when he pardoned Nixon,(that might be one of the biggest "negatives" people will remember when they look back at his tenure.) I also remember the media having a field day over his many "near falls, and tripping" once while exiting Air Force One.One news report I saw painted him as a simple man, for the people. It took him awhile to relocate to the White House upon assuming the Presidency, he preferred his house at the time in Alexandria, Virginia. He was even reported to make his own breakfasts, not relying on the staff to do it for him. He was the longest living ex-President to date, surpassing Ronald Reagan. I tend to wonder how this country would have turned out had he won election back in '76.
(On a side note. Does this conclude this "circle of 3" when famous people or celebrities die in 3's? You had Peter Boyle, actor, from "Everybody Loves Raymond". James Brown, singer, and now Gerald Ford, former President.)

[BLU CIVIC]

i heard that he couldn't take hearing the loss of James Brown and that's why he passed

[TexasF355F1]

R.i.p.

[taranaki]

Ford may have been the only 'unelected' President of the United States, but quite honestly I would say that the two-party race usually means that the person most suited to campaigning, rather than the person best suited to the position itself, usually ends up running the company.The incumbent has demonstrated great skill in mobilising the redneck vote, but has proven utterly talentless in office. Ford, on the other hand, took on the job at a difficult era, cleared up the mess left behind by LBJ and pardoned Nixon, and then lost the next election to a virtual unknown peanut farmer from Georgia.

[ericn1300]

my favorite qoute from ford was during an interview a couple of years ago the interviewer asked him the secret to longjevity. he tought about that for quite along time and answered "just don't die" R.I.P. president Ford.