Rancho Mirage, Calif. – Former President Ford, suffering from “a horrible cold,” was in the hospital today for what his chief of staff called routine medical tests.
Ford, 92, was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center late Monday and was expected to be released Wednesday, spokeswoman Penny Circle said from Ford’s Rancho Mirage office about 110 miles east of Los Angeles.
“He’s in for medical tests, routine tests,” Circle told The Associated Press by telephone. “He’s had a horrible cold and he still hasn’t gotten over it.” Circle said those tests are scheduled each December. She did not release other details.
In January, Ford underwent two days of hospital tests to follow-up on his annual pre-Christmas physical.
After the death of Ronald Reagan in June 2004, Ford became the nation’s oldest living former president.
Ford was House minority leader when President Nixon chose him to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned in 1973. Ford became president on Aug. 9, 1974, when Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal.
Ford made Vail his “winter White House” in the 70’s, made it his secondary retirement home, and placed the developing ski town on the map.
