To determine if the combined incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease death differs between diuretic-based and each of three alternative antihypertensive pharmacological treatments. Also, to determine, in a subset of this population, if lowering serum cholesterol with a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor in older adults reduces all-cause mortality compared to a control group receiving usual care. Conducted in conjunction with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.