The Curse Lives On...

As legend goes, after the army of General William Henry Harrison defeated the coalition of British and Native American forces in the Battle of the Thames in October 30, 1813, Tenskwatawa, the brother of the fallen Shawnee leader Tecumseh, subsequently placed a curse on Harrison that he would be elected president of the United States and die while in office; as will every other president elected in the year ending in the same number as him.

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Tenskwatawa, the "prophet"

Fatefully, Harrison was elected the nation's ninth president in 1840 under the newly created Whig party. On April 4, 1841, only 32 days into office, Harrison died of pneumonia famously caught while making his extremely long inauguration speech out in the cold in March. Tenskwatawa was right so far.

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William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States

What's even more impressive is that Tenskwatawa continued to be right as every single American president elected in a year ending in a zero after Harrison died in office.

And then came March 30, 1981...
 
March 30, 1981

"We are very sad to announce that our beloved president, Ronald Reagan has been pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C. His sudden passing has been the result of a gunshot to the lung by assassin John Hinckley, Jr. at the Washington Hilton Hotel. It has only been 69 days into Reagan's presidency making him the second shortest serving president in American history after William Henry Harrison who died a little over 140 years ago and served just under half the time Reagan served. We offer our condolences to the Reagan family for this tragic event. Ronald Reagan will be greatly missed as a great American hero. Vice-President George H.W. Bush will immediately be sworn in as the 41st President of the United States."

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Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States (1911-1981)
 

Dialga

Banned
Well, this is going to be interesting. Awaiting Bush Sr.'s reaction to the Soviet "evil empire".

Keep the updates coming.
 
Bush 43 came close, by the absurd incident of nearly choking on a pretzel. As he'd been elected in a year ending in three 0s, it's interesting.
Assuming Reagan did die in 1981 and George HW succeeded him, would the Bushes go on to greater things?
I'm still putting George W winning the 2000 election, first or second term, and dying from the pretzel incident in 2002.:rolleyes:
 
Bush 43 came close, by the absurd incident of nearly choking on a pretzel. As he'd been elected in a year ending in three 0s, it's interesting.
Assuming Reagan did die in 1981 and George HW succeeded him, would the Bushes go on to greater things?
I'm still putting George W winning the 2000 election, first or second term, and dying from the pretzel incident in 2002.:rolleyes:

Stay tuned to find out what happens to the Bushes!

And the pretzel incident will be great for a timeline (as will anything that forces a Cheney presidency!)
 

d32123

Banned
Subscribed! Should be interesting. Always wanted to see someone follow through with a Reagan gets assassinated TL.
 
Butterflies, butterflies...

It is possible that president, who elect on 2000, will die, but him should be someone else as GWB and different way too.
 
With the curse unbroken would it impact any of the candidates?

Are any that did run superstitious enough to bow out for fear they might win in a curse year?
 
My brother had a comedy routine in the 80's.

"Has the zero curse lost its zap? Or maybe it's communicable... How many Soviet premiers have died recently?"

Reagan: "Mr. Brezhnev! You're looking well... SHAKE HANDS WITH DEATH!"
 
The First Term of George H.W. Bush (1981)

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March 30, 1981

After news of Reagan's tragic assassination, Vice-President George H.W. Bush is sworn in as president in Fort Worth, Texas by district judge David O. Belew, Jr.

March 31, 1981

A day after being sworn in as president, Bush makes a speech in Austin, Texas which is televised. In this speech, he honors his fallen predecessor and orders a "week of mourning for the nation." He also promises that he will do everything in his power "to dutifully carry out Reagan's plans for the nation." Bush is very well received after his speech and his approval ratings skyrocket to 91%.

April 14, 1981

In an interview, President Bush announces that he will appoint a vice-president within the next following weeks.

April 28, 1981

President Bush appears before congress for the first time in his presidency. With the tragic memory of Reagan's assassination fresh in people's minds, Americans feel a wave of sympathy for Bush just like they felt for LBJ after the assassination of Kennedy. Bush seeks to pass the economic plans Reagan proposed including cuts in government spending toward social programs, lower taxes and increased spending for defense. Bush receives overwhelming support for his/Reagan's plan in both houses of the Senate, especially in the Republican controlled house.

May 2, 1981

A few days after his explosive speech, Bush reveals his pick for vice-president, Representative Phil Crane from Illinois.

I'm proud to introduce you to the new Vice-President of the United States, Representative Phil Crane!

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July 9, 1981

Congress passes the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 more commonly referred to as the Reagan-Bush Tax Cuts. Instead of a 30% tax cut over three years Bush accepts 20%.

July 28, 1981

Air traffic controllers under the union PATCO which endorse Reagan in the 1980 election go on strike seeking better working conditions, better pay and a 32-hour workweek. President Bush responds by agreeing to offer the union those things as long as they return to work. Bush is often complimented for working out a solution with the strikers.

August 11, 1981

President Bush shocks the nation by nominating the 38-year-old juris doctor and former Texas state representative Kay Bailey Hutchison to replace the retiring Potter Stewart on the supreme court staying true to Reagan's promise to appoint a woman to the court.

September 17, 1981

Hutchison is confirmed by the congress and becomes the first female Supreme Court Justice.

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Associate Justice Kay Bailey Hutchison

October 22, 1981

President Bush makes a televised speech where he along with budget director David Stockman publicly state that the economy is recovering and "on it's way out of the Carter years" and that the Reagan-Bush Tax Cuts were working.

December 31, 1981

Bush ends his first year in office with an extremely high approval rating of 83%.
 
1841: William Henry Harrison (Whig) then John Tyler (Whig)
1865: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) then Andrew Johnson (Democratic)
1881: James A. Garfield (Republican) then Chester A. Arthur (Republican)
1901: William McKinley (Republican) then Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
1923: Warren G. Harding (Republican) then Calvin Coolidge (Republican)
1945: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) then Harry S. Truman (Democratic)
1963: John F. Kennedy (Democratic) then Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
1981: Ronald W. Reagan (Republican) then George H. W. Bush (Republican)
2000: UNKNOWN (UNKNOWN PARTY) then UNKNOWN (UNKNOWN PARTY)
 
1841: William Henry Harrison (Whig) then John Tyler (Whig)
1865: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) then Andrew Johnson (Democratic)
1881: James A. Garfield (Republican) then Chester A. Arthur (Republican)
1901: William McKinley (Republican) then Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
1923: Warren G. Harding (Republican) then Calvin Coolidge (Republican)
1945: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) then Harry S. Truman (Democratic)
1963: John F. Kennedy (Democratic) then Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
1981: Ronald W. Reagan (Republican) then George H. W. Bush (Republican)
2000: UNKNOWN (UNKNOWN PARTY) then UNKNOWN (UNKNOWN PARTY)

Oh TB! You know how much I love the random creative stuff you add to my TLs! :D
 
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