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Former U.S. President Gerald Ford is seen in this June 5, 2000 file photo.
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Gerald Ford, who turned 93 in July, became the longest-living US president on Sunday, edging past Ronald Reagan.
Ford, who was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska, has been alive for 93 years and 121 days, one day more than Reagan, who was 93 years, 120 days when died June 5, 2004.
Ford, a former Michigan congressman and vice president, became US 38th president on August 9, 1974, after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal.
The only US president who was not elected to either the presidency or vice presidency, Ford remained in office until Jimmy Carter replaced him in January 1977 after losing the November 1976 election.
Ford and former first lady Betty Ford, 88, live in Rancho Mirage in the desert of Southern California.
"The length of one's days matters less than the love of one's family and friends," Ford said last week in a statement in the local Desert Sun newspaper.
"I thank God for the gift of every sunrise and, even more, for all the years he has blessed me with Betty and the children, with our extended family and the friends of a lifetime," he added.
Ford has suffered a variety of health problems in recent years.
The other living former presidents are Carter, 82; George H.W. Bush, 82; and Bill Clinton, 60.
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美国前总统杰拉德·福特于今年七月满93岁，并在上周日这一天刷新已故总统罗纳德·里根创下的纪录，成为美国历史上寿命最长的总统。
福特总统于1913年7月14日出生在内布拉斯加的奥马哈市，他在上周日这一天满93岁零121天，而里根总统2004年6月5日逝世时刚好93岁零120天。
福特曾是密歇根州的众议员、并担任过美国副总统。他于1974年8月9日接替因“水门事件”而下台的理查德·尼克松总统，成为美国历史上第38任总统。
福特是美国总统中唯一一位未经选举而当上总统和副总统的人，但他在1976年11月的总统大选中败给吉米·卡特，并于1977年1月卸任。
福特总统和现年88岁的前第一夫人贝蒂·福特一直居住在南加州沙漠地带的“幻像园”。
福特总统上周在加州《沙漠太阳报》上发表的一份声明中说：“家人和朋友的关爱比生命的长短更重要。”
“我感谢上帝的恩赐，让我每天能看到日出，更要感谢他赐予了我贝蒂、孩子、家人和那些一辈子的朋友。”
福特近几年来身体状况一直不好。
目前，其他几位健在的美国前总统包括，82岁的卡特、82岁的老布什和60岁的比尔·克林顿。
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发布日期：2006-11-17 来源：chinadaily
