Well, there was an assassination attempt on Reagan, but he was already declining from Alzheimer’s and shrub was being controlled by Darth Cheney. So in a sense they were dead.
While it’s certainly curious that the pattern existed unbroken between 1840 and 1960, it is curiouser still to consider that only one president NOT elected in a year divisible by 20 has EVER died in office…
I used to teach the Zero Factor for 5th grade Social Studies. I remember a gasp or two. This was before Bush 43, so the bullet one inch from Reagan’s heart was close enough for my students. After 2004, I had to cut it out.
It is hard to keep a side project going long term. As a generality, it either keeps going and stops being “side” or it stays “side” and stops going.
I’ve always thought the “every 20 years” thing was more about another generation of voters who almost always feel disenfranchised to whatever extent… and don’t have a clear memory of the last time a President died in office.
Oh, and: Biden is old. There’s a bigger than zero chance that he will just naturally go into decline in the next 4 years. Plus, of course, there are all the over-armed deranged Trumpists out there right now, and Biden is definitely one who likes to get into your personal space w/ you.
As Brian now knows, because I sent it to him a few years ago, I had a term paper on Zachary Taylor, who also died in office. In fact, the paper was due 50 years ago on Monday 1 March. He breaks the pattern, for he was elected in 1848. As far as name calling, I use the divine names when they become gods.
Actually I have been lectured on this topic. The actual curse was an Native American curse that was supposed to last for 6 generations, at 20 years per generation, or 120 years. So President Kennedy was the last and curse ender.
critter19 over 3 years ago
Great, fuel for another conspiracy theory
Teto85 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Well, there was an assassination attempt on Reagan, but he was already declining from Alzheimer’s and shrub was being controlled by Darth Cheney. So in a sense they were dead.
ferddo over 3 years ago
Republicans are thinking about extending the curse to Biden… but they’re scared that will leave them with Harris…
fritzoid Premium Member over 3 years ago
While it’s certainly curious that the pattern existed unbroken between 1840 and 1960, it is curiouser still to consider that only one president NOT elected in a year divisible by 20 has EVER died in office…
(Who can name him first?)
Radish the wordsmith over 3 years ago
They only shoot the good guys, the bad guys plague us forever.
richsolano over 3 years ago
I used to teach the Zero Factor for 5th grade Social Studies. I remember a gasp or two. This was before Bush 43, so the bullet one inch from Reagan’s heart was close enough for my students. After 2004, I had to cut it out.
Concretionist over 3 years ago
It is hard to keep a side project going long term. As a generality, it either keeps going and stops being “side” or it stays “side” and stops going.
I’ve always thought the “every 20 years” thing was more about another generation of voters who almost always feel disenfranchised to whatever extent… and don’t have a clear memory of the last time a President died in office.
Oh, and: Biden is old. There’s a bigger than zero chance that he will just naturally go into decline in the next 4 years. Plus, of course, there are all the over-armed deranged Trumpists out there right now, and Biden is definitely one who likes to get into your personal space w/ you.
Masterskrain over 3 years ago
No, but WE were Cursed by having St. Ronnie the Senile and the shrub in office…
VegaAlopex over 3 years ago
As Brian now knows, because I sent it to him a few years ago, I had a term paper on Zachary Taylor, who also died in office. In fact, the paper was due 50 years ago on Monday 1 March. He breaks the pattern, for he was elected in 1848. As far as name calling, I use the divine names when they become gods.
VegaAlopex over 3 years ago
A half century ago, I was assigned a term paper on Zachary Taylor, who also died in office, but not elected on a year dividable by 20, 1848.
dratomic over 3 years ago
Actually I have been lectured on this topic. The actual curse was an Native American curse that was supposed to last for 6 generations, at 20 years per generation, or 120 years. So President Kennedy was the last and curse ender.