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| US ex-President Gerald Ford dies | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former US President Gerald Ford has died aged 93. | |
| Last month he became the longest-living US president when he reached 93 years and 122 days, passing the record held by Ronald Reagan. | |
| Mr Ford was never elected president. He took office after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal in 1974 but lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976. | |
| President Bush paid tribute, praising his "integrity and common sense". | President Bush paid tribute, praising his "integrity and common sense". |
| Gerald Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and lived with Betty, 88, at Rancho Mirage, about 130 miles (210km) east of Los Angeles in southern California. | Gerald Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and lived with Betty, 88, at Rancho Mirage, about 130 miles (210km) east of Los Angeles in southern California. |
| The former president suffered ill health this year and he was taken to hospital four times for tests and angioplasty. He suffered a stroke in 2000. | The former president suffered ill health this year and he was taken to hospital four times for tests and angioplasty. He suffered a stroke in 2000. |
| His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country Betty Ford Gerald Ford: Obituary | His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country Betty Ford Gerald Ford: Obituary |
| A statement from Betty Ford said: "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." | A statement from Betty Ford said: "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." |
| The statement did not give the cause of death. | The statement did not give the cause of death. |
| In a message from the White House, President George W Bush said he was "greatly saddened" at the news. | |
| "With his quiet integrity, commonsense and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the presidency," Mr Bush said. | "With his quiet integrity, commonsense and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the presidency," Mr Bush said. |
| "Our 38th president will always have a special place in our nation's memory." | "Our 38th president will always have a special place in our nation's memory." |
| President Reagan's wife Nancy also paid tribute to a "dear friend and close political ally". | |
| "His accomplishments and devotion to our country are vast, and even long after he left the presidency he made it a point to speak out on issues important to us all." | |
| Vietnam War | Vietnam War |
| Gerald Ford was the only US president never to win a national election. | Gerald Ford was the only US president never to win a national election. |
| He was chosen as Richard Nixon's vice-president in 1973, when Spiro Agnew resigned amid corruption charges. | He was chosen as Richard Nixon's vice-president in 1973, when Spiro Agnew resigned amid corruption charges. |
| Ford succeeded Nixon and brought honesty to the White House | Ford succeeded Nixon and brought honesty to the White House |
| Mr Ford then succeeded to the top office when Nixon became embroiled in Watergate - the scandal over a break-in at the offices of the rival Democratic party in Washington in 1972. | |
| The attempted bugging of the building was linked to officials in the Nixon White House, and the cover-up went all the way to the top. | |
| On taking office Mr Ford declared the "national nightmare" of the Nixon scandal over but soon after he revived the debate by controversially granting his former boss a pardon for any crimes committed as president. | |
| Analysts believe in the short term it may have cost him the 1976 election, but in the long term the decision has been seen as astute. | |
| Mr Ford was in office as the US accepted its defeat in the Vietnam War, with the fall of Saigon in April 1975. | Mr Ford was in office as the US accepted its defeat in the Vietnam War, with the fall of Saigon in April 1975. |
| He said it was time to "bind up the nation's wounds". | He said it was time to "bind up the nation's wounds". |
| The opposite of Nixon, Gerald Ford was praised for his openness, sunny disposition and most important, his honesty. | |
| Wife Betty became a national figure in her own right, crusading against drug and alcohol addiction. | Wife Betty became a national figure in her own right, crusading against drug and alcohol addiction. |
| Following his stroke, Gerald Ford slipped further from the limelight. | Following his stroke, Gerald Ford slipped further from the limelight. |
| However, he did join Jimmy Carter, George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton at a memorial shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001. | However, he did join Jimmy Carter, George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton at a memorial shortly after the 11 September attacks in 2001. |
| He was also at the funeral of Ronald Reagan in June 2004. | He was also at the funeral of Ronald Reagan in June 2004. |
| If you have any comments on the legacy of Gerald Ford, please use the form below | If you have any comments on the legacy of Gerald Ford, please use the form below |