Gerald Ford, 93, Hospitalized at Mayo Clinic for Evaluation

Former President Ford was admitted Tuesday to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for testing and evaluation, according to a statement from his chief of staff.

The statement provided no details on Ford’s condition and said that no updates were expected until early next week. Chief of Staff Penny Circle’s office did not offer additional comment.

Mayo Clinic spokesman John Murphy confirmed Tuesday that Ford was a patient at the renowned specialty institution, but declined to elaborate.

Ford, 93, has battled health problems in recent years. The former chief executive was admitted to Vail Valley Medical Center for shortness of breath last month while vacationing in Beaver Creek, Colo.

In January, a bout of pneumonia put Ford in a Rancho Mirage, Calif., hospital for 12 days. The country’s 38th president also visited the same hospital, Eisenhower Medical Center, late last year for a bad cold and medical tests. Since 2000, he has suffered two mild strokes and a dizzy spell.

Ford, who lives in Rancho Mirage with his wife, Betty, became the oldest living former president after former President Reagan’s death in 2004. Ford served in the White House from 1974 to 1977.

The former U.S. House minority leader was tapped as Richard Nixon’s vice president to replace Spiro T. Agnew, who had been charged with tax evasion.

Ford took the oath of office in 1974, after Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal. A month after taking office, Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.