TECUMSEH’S CURSE
William Henry Harrison battled the Shawnee leader, Tecumseh.
Tecumseh, in his hatred of Harrison and the American
government, placed a curse on “The Great White Leader.”
This curse would surface every twenty years beginning with
Harrison, himself, in 1840.
Don’t believe in curses? See for yourself! Advance to the home
slide by clicking on the Home icon below and click on one of
the eight choices to learn about the President’s in each of the
corresponding years. If you want to learn an interesting fact
about the president just click on the question mark box. The
return box at the interesting fact will take you back to that
president.
An interactive presentation by Tracy Moricone
TECUMSEH’S CURSE
1840
1920
1860
1940
1880
1960
1900
1980
William Henry Harrison-1840
9th President of the United States. After his “Log cabin and Hard Cider
Campaign, Harrison was the first president to fall prey to Tecumseh’s
curse. After Harrison was elected, he gave a two hour long acceptance
speech during which he coughed the entire time. He was coming down
with pneumonia, Harrison died after only one month in office.
B. 1843 D. 1901
Abraham Lincoln-1860
Sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln was a superb
politician who successfully abolished slavery and preserved the
Union during the Civil War. On April 14, 1865, just days after
General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Lincoln was
attending the play “Our American Cousin.” JohnWilkes Boothe,
a deranged Southern sympathizer, walked into the rear of the
theater box occupied by the President, his wife,and another young
couple. He proceeded to shoot the President in the back of the head,
mortally wounding him.
B. 1809 D.1865
James Abram Garfield-1880
20th President of the United States. He was in office only four months
when he was fatally shot by an assassin while waiting for a train in the
Washington Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station. He was taken to the
White House and nursed there for weeks, then he was moved to his family
residence in New Jersey where he died eleven weeks later. His assassin
was Charles J. Guiteau, a religious fanatic who reasoned that he shot the
President to “unite the Republican Party and save the Republic.” He gave
himself up and thought everyone would understand his purpose. Not many
did and he was executed in 1882.
B. 1831-1881
William McKinley-1900
25th President of the United States. During his second term he was
scheduled to speak at a Pan American Exposition in Buffalo. On
September 6, 1901, he was greeting visitors at the Expo.
Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist (a person who opposes government)
shot him twice. One bullet grazed his ribs while the other penetrated
his abdomen. McKinley was immediately taken into surgery, however
gangrene set in and he died. Czolgosz was executed the following
month.
B. 1843 D. 1901
Warren Gamaliel Harding-1920
29th President of the United States. In June of 1923, he and his
wife traveled to Alaska. His health was suffering and he further tired
himself by giving over eighty-five speeches. On the way back from
Alaska he fell sick. They stopped in San Francisco so he could rest,
and stayed at the Palace Hotel. It was there that the President
collapsed, four days later, on August 2, 1923, President Harding
died. There was no autopsy, however, the attending physician stated
that he died from an embolism.
B. 1865 D. 1923
Franklin Delano Roosevelt-1940
32nd President of the United States. Roosevelt served longer than any other
president. He servedan unprecedented four terms in office. After he died,
the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution forbade any person the right to be
elected more than twice. He held office during the Great Depression and
World War II. During his campaign for a 4th term in office many people commented
that he looked old,thin, and ill. He was victorious over NY Governor
Thomas E. Dewey in 1944. In the early spring of 1945 he traveled to Warm Springs,
Ga. to rest and recuperate. On April 12, 1945, while there, he suffered a massive
Cerebral hemorrhage and died.
B. 1882 D. 1945
John Fitzgerald Kennedy-1960
35th President of the United States. Well known for his adept handling of the
Cuban Missile Crisis. He brought to the forefront the values of 20th Century
America. On November 22, 1963, while riding in a convertible as part of a
motorcade with his wife, Jacqueline, three shots rang out. One bullet went
through the President’s neck, another in his head. The third bullet missed
the motorcade. He fell forward and once others realized what had happened
the car sped off to Parkland Hospital. He never regained consciousness
and died just a few hours later.
B. 1917 D. 1963
Ronald Wilson Reagan–1980
The Curse is Broken
40th president of the United States. Reagan stressed self-reliance,
traditional family values and patriotism. He strongly opposed Communism
and was president during the height of the Cold War. On March 30,1981
John W. Hinckley attempted to assassinate the president by shooting
him. Reagan survived the assassination attempt, thereby
breaking the Tecumseh Curse.
Well, that may be interesting you say, but
haven’t lots of President’s died in office?
Actually, other than these
President’s, the only other president to die
in office was Zachary Taylor.
That’s the end of your presentation. Hope you
learned some interesting Presidential facts and
had some fun!
B. 1911 D. 2004
Click here for
bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://encarta.msn.com/
http://www.littleknownfactsshow.com/presidents.html
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
William Henry Harrison - 1840
He was one of eight U.S. presidents to be born a British subject
The others were: G. Washington, J. Adams, T. Jefferson, J. Madison,
J. Monroe, J.Q. Adams and A. Jackson.
He was the only U.S. president to have studied to be a doctor.
Abraham Lincoln - 1860
Abraham Lincoln was the tallest U.S. president, standing
at 6’4”.
He was the first U.S. president to die by assassination
Many polls by historians have chosen Lincoln as our
greatest president
James Abram Garfield-1880
He was the first left-handed president.
He was the last of seven presidents born in a log cabin.
William McKinley-1900
The first president to use a telephone while campaigning.
He is thought to hold the record for presidential handshaking,
2,500 per hour.
He exercised very little, his doctors say if he had been in better
shape he may have survived the assassin’s bullet.
Warren G. Harding - 1920
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the first president to own
a radio.
He was the first newspaper publisher to be elected president.
His parents were both doctors.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 1940
He was related by blood or marriage to eleven, that’s right,
ELEVEN, former presidents.
He was an avid stamp collector, receiving the first sheet of
every new commemorative issue.
John F. Kennedy - 1960
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the youngest president. He was
Forty-three years old when he took the oath of office. He was
Also the youngest president to die in office.
He was the first president to serve in the U.S. Navy
He was the only president to ever have won a Pulitzer Prize.
He won the Pulitzer for his biography, Profiles in Courage
Ronald Reagan - 1980
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the oldest president inaugurated
at the age of 69.
He was the first president to have been divorced.