Bill Clinton waylaid from attending Ford funeral

WASHINGTON - Former President Bill Clinton has been forced to cancel plans to attend former first lady Betty Ford's funeral Tuesday in Palm Desert, Calif.

Clinton had planned to fly from New York to Washington to meet his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and fly with her to the service. But mechanical problems on the plane out of New York kept him from being able to depart.

Spokesman Matt McKenna said the plane never left the ground and that Clinton was never in any danger. McKenna said the Clintons spoke by telephone and agreed that she should fly to the service without him rather than risk arriving late.