President Gerald Ford passes away at 93

It just came across the news that former President Gerald Ford has passed away at age 93. (ABC, CNN, MSNBC, AP)

When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts." - WhiteHouse.gov

On November 12th he became the oldest living President, surpassing Ronald Reagan at 93 years 121 days. The new record will be about 93 years 164 days if my math is correct. Reagan was 93 years, 120 days when he died June 5, 2004. The nation's 40th president was born Feb. 6, 1911. On Oct. 11, 2001, Reagan surpassed the longevity milestone of the nation's second president, John Adams. Adams lived from Oct. 30, 1735, to July 4, 1826. His statement he released from his Rancho Mirage compound which he shares with his wife Betty Ford, about surpassing Reagan's mark was:

"The length of one's days matters less than the love of one's family and friends," - sfgate.com

A quick side note on John Adams death. John Adams had proclaimed before that he would outlive Thomas Jefferson. Just before John Adams death, he uttered "Thomas Jefferson survives".It is rumored that when the messenger was dispatched to carry the news to Jefferson's home in Virginia, the messenger passed another messenger bearing the news that Thomas Jefferson had also passed. But, just a few hours earlier, Thomas Jefferson died and both men who were architects of the document that gave birth to this wonderful nation died 50 years to the day from the birth of the United States of which they founded.

Now there are only three living former presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, and William J. Clinton.