The Curse of the White House “Zero-Year” Presidency

The Twenty-Year Death Pattern in U.S. Presidential Elections

Details

The “Zero-Year” or “Twenty-Year” Presidential Curse refers to a superstition that U.S. presidents elected in years ending in zero are fated to die in office. This pattern of presidential mortality spans over a century, beginning with William Henry Harrison (elected in 1840), who died just a month into his term, and continuing unbroken until John F. Kennedy (elected 1960), who was assassinated in 1963.

Seven consecutive presidents elected in 20-year intervals either died from illness or were assassinated:

1840 – William Henry Harrison: Died of pneumonia
1860 – Abraham Lincoln: Assassinated
1880 – James Garfield: Assassinated
1900 – William McKinley: Assassinated
1920 – Warren G. Harding: Died of heart attack
1940 – Franklin D. Roosevelt: Died of cerebral hemorrhage
1960 – John F. Kennedy: Assassinated

The superstition gained even more traction when Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980, survived an assassination attempt in 1981—seemingly breaking the curse. George W. Bush, elected in 2000, also completed two terms without incident, further weakening belief in the curse’s power.

Historical Context

Some folklore versions trace the curse back to Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Prophet and brother of Tecumseh, who is said to have cursed American presidents after Tecumseh’s defeat by Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. This legendary curse was believed to begin with Harrison’s presidency and to doom those elected in subsequent 20-year intervals.

Although no written curse exists, the pattern captivated public imagination, especially during times of national mourning or political instability. It became a popular subject in newspapers, political commentary, and even classroom discussions during the Cold War.

Modern Relevance

Despite scientific skepticism, the “Zero-Year Curse” continues to be referenced in American pop culture and political folklore. Reagan’s survival and Bush’s uneventful presidency are widely seen as having ended the pattern, but the superstition remains a frequent topic during presidential election years ending in zero.

Statisticians and historians use the curse as a teaching example of pattern recognition bias—the human tendency to see significance in coincidences. Nevertheless, the superstition’s eerie accuracy through much of U.S. history ensures it retains a place in the nation’s collective consciousness.

Sources

Boller, P.F. (1996). Presidential Anecdotes. Oxford University Press.
Rosenbloom, J.L. (2008). “The Death of Presidents: A Statistical Analysis of a Purported Generational Curse.” Chance, 21(2), 41–45.