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Curse of Tippecanoe

Every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office from 1840 to 1960. Harrison, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, Roosevelt, Kennedy. The curse was attributed to Tecumseh's brother after the Battle of Tippecanoe. Reagan survived—breaking it.

1840 - 1963
United States
1000000+ witnesses

The Presidential Curse killed seven presidents.

The Origin

1811:

  • Battle of Tippecanoe
  • William Henry Harrison
  • Defeated Tecumseh
  • Shawnee leader’s curse
  • Or his brother’s

The Curse

Tenskwatawa’s prophecy:

  • Harrison would die
  • Every “Great Chief”
  • Elected in 20-year cycle
  • Would also die
  • In office

The Deaths

1840: William Henry Harrison

  • Pneumonia
  • 31 days in office

1860: Abraham Lincoln

  • Assassinated 1865

1880: James Garfield

  • Assassinated 1881

1900: William McKinley

  • Assassinated 1901

1920: Warren Harding

  • Heart attack 1923

1940: Franklin Roosevelt

  • Cerebral hemorrhage 1945

1960: John F. Kennedy

  • Assassinated 1963

The Breaking

1980:

  • Ronald Reagan elected
  • Shot 1981
  • Survived
  • Curse broken?
  • Or just lucky?

2000

George W. Bush:

  • Elected 2000
  • Survived terms
  • Grenade incident 2005
  • Did not detonate
  • Curse ended?

Sources

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