Former President Ford Taken to Hospital

Former President Ford was taken to a Philadelphia hospital Tuesday night, suffering from a sinus infection, after being honored at the Republican National Convention, an aide said.

“He felt uncomfortable,” said Calvin McDowell. “That’s what prompted him to come to the hospital.”

Convention spokesman Leslie Goodman said shortly after 1 a.m. EDT that Ford was expected to be released soon.

Ford, 87, was among three former presidents honored during the second night of the convention.

John Van Fossen, a legislative aide for Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.), said the Michigan delegation was told that Ford was suffering from bronchitis.

Ford told CNN’s Larry King, in an interview broadcast Tuesday night, that he’s “looking forward” to living longer. “I couldn’t be healthier. Betty and I are having a magnificent life: 52 years of married life, four great children, 15 grandchildren. Everything is breaking just right, and I am delighted to be here at this convention after going to so many for so many years.”

At Tuesday night’s convention session, Ford was honored, along with former Republican Presidents Bush and Reagan, for his role in the country’s, and the GOP’s, success.

Earlier in the day, appearing on C-SPAN, he answered questions from a variety of callers on everything from the U.S. policy on Iran to whether President Clinton should be pardoned for any charges he might face. Ford, frail but congenial, answered virtually all of the questions with detail and acuity.

Ford, the 38th president, took office minutes after President Nixon flew off into exile, and Ford declared “our long national nightmare is over.”

But he revived the debate a month later by granting Nixon a pardon for all crimes he committed as president. That single act, it was widely believed, cost Ford election to a term of his own in 1976.

Ford also earned a place in the history books as the first unelected vice president, chosen by Nixon to replace Spiro T. Agnew, who also was forced from office by scandal.