As you've probably read elsewhere by now, American President Gerald Ford has passed away at the age of 93. The 38th President was never elected to either his Vice Presidency or Presidency as he was hand-picked by President Richard Nixon to succeed Spiro Agnew as his Vice President, then succeeded Nixon after he resigned amidst scandal.

Ford passed away near his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He is the longest lived President - aged 93 years and 122 days - passing the record held by Ronald Reagan. President Bush praised Ford's efforts in the post-Nixon years to restore confidence in the Presidency after the scandals of the Nixon years.

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.

A cause of death has not yet been reported, but the former President was reportedly plagued by pneumonia early in 2006.