They said it

“My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age. His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country.”

Former first lady Betty Ford

“President Ford was a great American who gave many years of dedicated service to our country. On Aug. 9, 1974, after a long career in the House of Representatives and service as vice president, he assumed the presidency in an hour of national turmoil and division. With his quiet integrity, common sense and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the presidency.

“The American people will always admire Gerald Ford’s devotion to duty, his personal character and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our 38th president will always have a special place in our nation’s memory. On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to Betty Ford and all of President Ford’s family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead.”

President George W. Bush

“Steady, trustworthy, Gerald Ford ended a long national nightmare. When he left the White House after 895 days, America was stronger, calmer and more self-confident. America was, in other words, more like President Ford himself.”

Former President Bill Clinton,

in 1999

“I was deeply saddened this evening when I heard of Jerry Ford’s death. Ronnie and I always considered him a dear friend and close political ally. His accomplishments and devotion to our country are vast, and even long after he left the presidency he made it a point to speak out on issues important to us all.”

Former first lady

Nancy Reagan

“He had to bring our country back and make it whole again and he did it with dignity, he did it with great, great skill and sensitivity.”

Alexander Haig, Ford’s former

chief of staff, on CNN

“With Ford, what one saw was what one got. Providence smiled on Americans when — seemingly by happenstance — it brought forward a president who embodied our nation’s deepest and simplest values.”

Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s and

Ford’s secretary of state, in his

memoir, “Years of Renewal”

“He’ll always be considered in relation to Nixon, which will be both good and bad for him. He had to take over the worst possible situation. He was the caretaker, the lame duck, and he did it very well.”

Charles Jones, professor

emeritus of the University

of Wisconsin-Madison