Was there an Indian curse that presidents elected in “0” years would die in office?
Dear Cecil: Back in 1980 when Ronald Reagan was elected president I heard several mentions of an American Indian curse, cast in the early 19th century, which foretold the death while in office of all presidents elected during years ending in a zero. Who placed this curse and what has been its success rate? Ronnie obviously survived. — Kiazi Brown, Washington, D.C. Dear Kiazi: If Reagan achieved nothing else while in office–and sometimes you have to wonder–he broke the back of the “Tecumseh’s curse” legend by leaving office alive. The previous seven presidents elected in years ending with zero weren’t so lucky. Here’s the grim roll call: – Harrison, elected in 1840, died of pneumonia after serving 31 days. – Lincoln, elected in 1860, assassinated. – Garfield, elected in 1880, assassinated. – McKinley, elected to a second term in 1900, assassinated. – Harding, elected in 1920, died of a stroke in 1923. – Roosevelt, elected to a third term in 1940, died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1945.
