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Washington DC May 31 1912

President William Howard Taft was going about his daily business. He hadn't been good today, but he had a job to do, so he was pushing forward. He didn't know why his chest was tight, but he made a note to ask Dr. Thatcher why his chest was tight.

As President Taft was walking down the hallway. When the pain became unbearable. Taft was grabbing his chest, unable to speak because he was short of breath. As Taft's aids came running to his side trying to help, Taft's eye rolled back in his head and he stopped breathing.

15 minutes later when Dr. Thatcher reach he checked to see if the President had a pulse. There was no pulse. He then checked to see if President Taft was breathing, and President Taft wasn't drawing breath. Dr. Thatcher than pulled out two coins and place them over the eyes. He then spoke, "I'm sorry there is nothing I can do for him. Maybe if I had reached him right after he fell, but there is nothing I can do for him. He is in a better place."

Five minutes later a pair of stretcher bearer, put President Taft on the stretcher and moved him to another room in the White House. They had placed a sheet over the now dead president.

Later in the day, James S Sherman was sworn in as the 28th President of the United States of America.

News of the President death spread like wild fire. Shops closed down for the day out of a sign of respect. Flags were lower to half staff. America was in mourning for the passing of the president.
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