# george w bush will die soon?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 23, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667 "2001-08-23T04:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pezwookiee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@pezwookiee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezwookiee)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/1 "2001-08-23T04:26:07Z")
Okay, this is pretty weird… Every 20 years since 1840, something bad has happened to whoever been’s elected president. Let’s take a look. **1840** William Henry Harrison dies in office (1841) **1860** Abraham Lincoln assassinated (1865) **1880** Garfield assassinated (1881) **1900** McKinley assassinated (1901) **1920** Harding died in office (1923) **1940** FDR died in office (1945) **1960** JFK assassinated (1963) **1980** Reagan shot, nearly killed (1981) **2000** George W. Bush… So… what’s gonna happen??? Man, I don’t want Cheney in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/2 "2001-08-23T04:33:14Z")
I think that the “election” itself qualifies as a significant catastrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/3 "2001-08-23T04:34:09Z")
I don’t know what the mods are gonna think of this thread. But, if it’s going to get locked, I might as well throw this in before the axe falls. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > \*\*Man, I don’t want Cheney in charge. \*\* heh. Ha! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! :snort: HAHAheeeheeeheee! I’ll leave it as an excercise for the reader to determine just what is so humorous about this. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/4 "2001-08-23T04:38:46Z")
Ahem. Let’s see if I can do this right … [The Master Speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_082.html) ---
**Author:** ![pezwookiee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@pezwookiee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezwookiee)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/5 "2001-08-23T04:38:58Z")
good point, **Ender**. LOL!! wait, did Bush actually win the election? ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/6 "2001-08-23T04:47:05Z")
Yeah, he did. It was in all the papers. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/7 "2001-08-23T05:06:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*I don’t know what the mods are gonna think of this thread. But, if it’s going to get locked, I might as well throw this in before the axe falls. > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > > \*\*Man, I don’t want Cheney in charge. \*\* > > heh. > Ha! > BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! > :snort: > HAHAheeeheeeheee! > > I’ll leave it as an excercise for the reader to determine just what is so humorous about this. \*\* Oooh Oooh! Mr. Kotter! Is it, How many people think Cheney is already in charge? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/8 "2001-08-23T05:10:12Z")
I’m sorry, but you failed to raise your hand first. You can’t just shout these things out, you know. You think this is some sort of a public forum or something? And, it’s Mr. Moore, not Mr. Kotter. I mean, geeking out with Travolta or getting some “Head.” It’s not a tough choice. ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/9 "2001-08-23T05:20:32Z")
Let’s not be harsh, and say “die”… But I predict Dubya’ will be the first world figure to be abducted by a UFO. If other planets can really monitor our satellites, they are probably planning some sort of rescue. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/10 "2001-08-23T05:26:16Z")
There was an LBMB thread a few months ago that clearly explained how Reagan managed to survive: a lot of people were praying for him. Fortunately, good Christians are ready to help Dubya: [http://www.prayforbush.com](http://www.prayforbush.com) (warning: do not take a big sip of Dr Pepper when you click on this link.) ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/11 "2001-08-23T05:30:02Z")
In one sense, Reagan broke the “zero factor” curse. Unlike all the other zero factor presidents in the chain, he did not die in office. ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/12 "2001-08-23T05:36:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ITR champion \* > \*\* > > Fortunately, good Christians are ready to help Dubya: > [http://www.prayforbush.com](http://www.prayforbush.com) > (warning: do not take a big sip of Dr Pepper when you click on this link.) \*\* This was on that link… "Pray that the economic, racial, and educational elitism by certain conservatives would be torn down, and that Godly humility mixed with Christ-like confidence would guide the Republican party. " I don’t see that prayer being answered anytime soon… Bush is in more trouble than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/13 "2001-08-23T05:44:41Z")
Better hope the CIA or the Secret Service don’t see that thread title. You might get a visit in the middle of the night by some men in black suits. ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/14 "2001-08-23T06:01:16Z")
Reagan was shot, though. And I’m betting that since there were 3 zeroes in this year, the curse was leveling off before the big load comes in. Admit it - how many of you heard about Cheney’s heart problems and thought “Wow! It’s going to take out the vice president too!” “There’s nothing wrong with my heart!” “Oh yes there is, buddy.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/15 "2001-08-23T06:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > \*\*Okay, this is pretty weird… > > Every 20 years since 1840, something bad has happened to whoever been’s elected president. Let’s take a look. > > **1840** William Henry Harrison dies in office (1841) > **1860** Abraham Lincoln assassinated (1865) > **1880** Garfield assassinated (1881) > **1900** McKinley assassinated (1901) > **1920** Harding died in office (1923) > **1940** FDR died in office (1945) > **1960** JFK assassinated (1963) > **1980** Reagan shot, nearly killed (1981) > **2000** George W. Bush… > > So… what’s gonna happen??? > Man, I don’t want Cheney in charge. \*\* How is this every 20 years? I admit to not being very good at math, but from 1841 to 65 is 24 years, 1865 to 81 is 16 years, 1901 to 23 is 22 years, and so on. I think, though, you mean happen to presidents who are elected twenty years apart though, right? Bad things happened to presidents not elected in zero years too, so why would the pattern mean anything? I cut my right wrist on broken glass when I was six, then cut open my right hand when I was 12, if we believed that patterns of bad things meant something and could predict the future, I would have injured that hand/wrist at 18, and would sometime this year too, but I didn’t and I probably won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/16 "2001-08-23T06:43:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jaimest \* > **But I predict Dubya’ will be the first world figure to be abducted by a UFO.** Ooh, he better keep a good supply of ‘lotion’ around. Or that’s gonna huuuurt. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/17 "2001-08-23T06:48:44Z")
What was this called? The Tecumseh Curse? The whole point is that the ONLY Presidents to die in office were elected in years ending in Zero… up until Reagan. It wasn’t just “Bad Things Happening”. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/18 "2001-08-23T07:08:40Z")
The Snopes [link](http://www.snopes.com/history/american/curse.htm). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > **The whole point is that the ONLY Presidents to die in office were elected in years ending in Zero** Not [Zachary Taylor](http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/ztaylor.html), elected in 1848. ---
**Author:** ![Cumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@Cumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumber)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/19 "2001-08-23T09:12:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > Bad things happened to presidents not elected in zero years too, so why would the pattern mean anything? I cut my right wrist on broken glass when I was six, then cut open my right hand when I was 12, if we believed that patterns of bad things meant something and could predict the future, I would have injured that hand/wrist at 18, and would sometime this year too, but I didn’t and I probably won’t. \*\* Two occurences is not a pattern. If you injured your wrist every 6 years without fail until you were 60, that would be more comparable. It would still probably be coincidence though. How frequently have presidents elected in other years died in office? ---
**Author:** ![dobbinaire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@dobbinaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobbinaire)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667/20 "2001-08-23T12:07:25Z")
Reagan was eightth on the list. Maybe the curse only lasted for seven ‘generations’. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-bush-will-die-soon/77667.md?page=2)