Ex-President Ford is hospitalized for pneumonia in California

1/16/2006

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. Former President Ford was undergoing treatment for pneumonia today at the same facility where he was briefly hospitalized a month ago, his chief of staff said. He was said to be doing well.

Ford, 92, was admitted Saturday to Eisenhower Medical Center near his home in Rancho Mirage in Southern California, Penny Circle said.

Based on his age it is prudent for his initial course of treatment IV antibiotics to be done at the hospital, Circle told The Associated Press.

Ford was expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday or Thursday, she said.

He s doing very well, she said.

Hospital spokeswoman Elizabeth Wholihan referred inquiries to Circle, who said in a statement that there would be no further comment until a press release is issued Tuesday.

Ford was admitted to the hospital Dec. 12 and left the next day. Circle said at the time that Ford had undergone a regularly scheduled health exam but noted that he also had been battling a bad cold.

Asked if the pneumonia was the result of any lingering effects from the cold, Circle said, I don t think so.

Ford suffered two small strokes five years ago and spent about a week in a hospital.

He became the nation s oldest living former president after the death of Ronald Reagan in 2004.

Ford was House minority leader when President Nixon chose him to replace the resigned Spiro Agnew as vice president in 1973. Ford became president on Aug. 9, 1974, when Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal.

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