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Ford becomes longest-lived ex-president

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From the Associated Press

Gerald R. Ford has surpassed Ronald Reagan to become the longest-living former U.S. president.

Ford, who turned 93 on July 14, became the oldest president Sunday by living to 93 years, 121 days.

“The length of one’s days matters less than the love of one’s family and friends,” Ford said in a statement last week from the Rancho Mirage compound he shares with former First Lady Betty Ford.

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The nation’s 38th chief executive was president from Aug. 9, 1974, when Richard Nixon resigned, until January 1977. Before that, he was House minority leader.

Reagan, born Feb. 6, 1911, was 93 years, 120 days when he died June 5, 2004.

He had surpassed the longevity milestone of John Adams, the nation’s second president, in 2001.

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