Today, November 12, 2006, former President Gerald Ford surpassed Ronald Reagan as the longest lived United States president ever. Gerald Ford now is 93 year and 121 days old.
Gerald Ford, born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., was born July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Gerald Ford was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1948, representing the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. He was elected House Minority Leader in 1963 and served in the House until 1973, when he resigned to become the 40th Vice President of the United States.
With the Watergate scandal brewing, nine months later Ford became the 38th President of the United States, the only one never elected on a national ballot as Presidential or vice presidential candidate.
The Ford administration saw the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam, the execution of the Helsinki Accords, and the continuing specter of inflation and recession. The administration was hampered in its ability to pass major legislation as the Democrats had an overwhelmingly majority in Congress, and Ford's vetoes were thus frequently overridden. Ford was criticized by many for granting a pre-emptive pardon to Nixon, which may have cost him the 1976 election. Democratic former governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter narrowly defeated him in the 1976 presidential election.
As Ford approached his ninetieth year, he began to experience significant health problems. After many stints in hospital his health is questionable and he's currently suffering from the effects of a lung inflammation.
Congratulations to Ford upon passing this milestone!