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| Bush pays tribute to Gerald Ford | Bush pays tribute to Gerald Ford |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has paid tribute to former President Gerald Ford, who has died at the age of 93. | US President George W Bush has paid tribute to former President Gerald Ford, who has died at the age of 93. |
| In a televised statement, Mr Bush praised a "gentleman who reflected the best in America's character". | |
| Mr Ford was never elected president but took office after Richard Nixon quit over the Watergate scandal in 1974. | |
| He served for two years but lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976, a year after the US accepted defeat in the Vietnam War. | |
| Speaking from his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Mr Bush said Americans "came to know President Ford as a man of complete integrity". | |
| Gerald Ford, he said, "came along when we needed him most". | |
| Mr Bush said Mr Ford "stepped into the presidency without ever having sought the office" and helped restore confidence in the White House. | |
| President Ronald Reagan's widow Nancy also praised 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." | "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." |
| Ill health | Ill health |
| Gerald Ford lived with his wife Betty, 88, at Rancho Mirage, about 130 miles (210km) east of Los Angeles in southern California. | |
| His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country Betty Ford Gerald Ford: Obituary Life in pictures | His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country Betty Ford Gerald Ford: Obituary Life in pictures |
| 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. |
| Last month he became the longest-living US president when he reached 93 years and 122 days, passing the record held by Ronald Reagan. | Last month he became the longest-living US president when he reached 93 years and 122 days, passing the record held by Ronald Reagan. |
| 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. |
| Vietnam War | Vietnam War |
| Gerald Ford - born in Omaha, Nebraska - 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 |