The term Curse of Tippecanoe (also known as Tecumseh's curse, the presidential curse, zero-year curse, or the twenty-year curse) is sometimes used to describe the pattern where, from 1840 to 1960, every United States President elected (or reelected) every twentieth year died in office. The pattern was broken by Ronald Reagan, who was elected in 1980 and served two full terms; however, he barely survived an assassination attempt early in his first term and, like the presidents who had died in office, Reagan was succeeded in office by his vice president, George H. W. Bush. In the process, Bush became the first incumbent vice-president in 152 years to win a presidential election, the last one having been Martin Van Buren (who was elected in 1836, in the last election before the zero curse began). For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1894, just 70 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ... Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862), nicknamed Old Kinderhook, was the 8th President of the United States from 1837 to 1841. ...

The current president, George W. Bush, is the first since Reagan to have been elected in a zero year (2000). George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...

The curse, first noted in a Ripley's Believe It or Not book published in 1934, starts with William Henry Harrison, who was called "Old Tippecanoe" because of his victory in the 1811 battle. Ripleys Believe It or Not! deals in the bizarre—events and items so strange and unusual that it is often hard to believe that they actually exist--but they do: believe it. ... William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was an American military leader, politician, and the ninth President of the United States. ... Combatants Tecumsehs confederacy United States Commanders Tenskwatawa William Henry Harrison Strength 550-700 1,000 regulars and militia Casualties 50+ killed 70+ wounded 62 killed 126 wounded The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought in 1811 between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory...

Presidents in the line of the alleged curse

* This was not the final year they were elected. Lincoln's reelection year was 1864. Roosevelt was first elected in 1932, and reelected in 1936, 1940 (the curse year), and 1944. William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was an American military leader, politician, and the ninth President of the United States. ... Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the alveoli (microscopic air-filled sacs of the lung responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere) become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831–September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States and the second U.S. President to be assassinated — Abraham Lincoln was the first. ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the mountain, see Mount McKinley. ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was an American politician and the 29th President of the United States, from 1921 to 1923, when he became the sixth president to die in office. ... Stroke (or cerebrovascular accident or CVA) is the clinical designation for a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to an interruption in the blood supply to all or part of the brain. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... FDR redirects here. ... A cerebral hemorrhage is a bleed into the substance of the cerebrum. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also referred to as John F. Kennedy, Kennedy, John Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, or JFK, was the 35th President of the United States. ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Curse of the ninth
• Star Trek movie curse
• Superman curse

The curse of the ninth is the superstition that any composer of symphonies, from Beethoven onwards, will die soon after writing his or her own Ninth Symphony. ... The Star Trek movie curse is an apparent curse on odd-numbered Star Trek films that dooms them to poor reception in terms of drawing power and critical opinion. ... Cover of the June 16, 1959 edition of New York Post, reporting the death of George Reeves The Superman curse refers to a series of misfortunes that have plagued creative people involved in adaptations of Superman in various mediums, particularly actors who have played the role of Superman on film...

References

• The Curse of Tecumseh on Snopes.com
• Ripley's Believe It or Not, 1934