LOS ANGELES: Gerald Ford, who took over the US presidency from disgraced Richard Nixon in the 1970s, has died aged 93.

The 38th and the only unelected president in America's history fought pneumonia in January and underwent two heart treatments - including an angioplasty - in August.

He was the longest living president and had been living at his home in Rancho Mirage, 130 miles from Los Angeles.

Ford was an accidental president as Nixon's hand- picked successor, and took office minutes after Nixon flew into exile, in August 1974, following the Watergate scandal.

His first address to the nation included the words "My fellow Americans our long national nightmare is over."

He was in the White House only two years and four months during which time two women tried separately to kill him.