Former President Gerald Ford Dies

The folllowing is a statement by former President William J. Clinton and NY Senator Hillary Clinton on the death of President Gerald Ford:

"Gerald Ford brought Americans together during a difficult chapter in our history with strength, integrity, and humility. All Americans should be grateful for his life of service; he served our nation well. To his great credit, he was the same hard-working, down-to-earth person the day he left the White House as he was when he first entered Congress almost 30 years earlier."

"We were honored to know President Ford. We are saddened by his death, and our prayers are with Betty and the entire Ford family."

Former President Jimmy Carter called President Ford "an outstanding statesman" who "wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time" in America's history.

Senator John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth had this to say:

Elizabeth and I are deeply saddened by the news of President Ford's death.

Our thoughts and prayers are with President Ford's family during this difficult time. He helped heal a wounded nation and allowed the American people to move past a difficult period in our history.

President Ford was a true leader; he made decisions based on what he believed was right, not what was politically expedient. He called on us to never lose faith that we can change America. President Ford once said, "At times it feels as if American politics consists largely of candidates without ideas, hiring consultants without convictions, to stage campaigns without content. It doesn't have to be this way."

He was right. Today we honor his memory by following his example of leadership and lifting ourselves above partisan politics and acting with the courage and conviction of our ideals.