Ronald Reagan poised to beat US presidential longevity record
( 2001-10-11 11:16 ) (7 )

Ronald Reagan is set to beat the longevity record for a US president on Thursday, his spokeswoman said.

Ronald Reagan is set to beat the longevity record for a US president on Thursday, his spokeswoman said.

Reagan -- the 40th president of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989 -- was born on February 6, 1911.

The previous longevity record was held by John Adams, the second US president, who served from 1797 to 1801 and lived for 33,119 days -- almost 91 years, Reagan's spokeswoman, Joanne Drake, said Wednesday.

Drake said the Reagan family would mark the event in a subdued manner.

"It'll be a quiet celebration, considering that the terrorist attacks happened a month ago tomorrow (Thursday)," she said, referring to the September 11 strikes on US landmarks that left some 5,500 people dead or missing in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Only three US presidents -- Adams, Herbert Hoover and Reagan -- lived to celebrate their 90th birthday.