I know there was a 100 year gap between Lincoln and Kennedy, but is there a 'formula' to assassinating US presidents or assassination attempts?

neon000

No. Such things are generally the province of urban legends and conspiracy nuts. Feb 24 07, 7:06 AM

star_gazer

Actually starting with Lincoln in 1860 every 20 years the US president died while in office, this supposed "curse" was broken by Reagan in 1980. Feb 24 07, 7:32 AM

skysmom65

Curse of Tippecanoe or Tecumseh's curse The term Curse of Tippecanoe (also known as the presidential curse, zero-year curse, the twenty-year curse or Tecumseh's curse) is sometimes used to describe the coincidental pattern where, from 1840 to 1960, every United States President elected (or reelected) every twentieth year has died in office. The "curse" was "broken" by Ronald Reagan, who was elected in 1980 and survived his presidency, despite having been shot in an assassination attempt. The "curse", first noted in a Ripley's Believe It or Not book published in 1934, is commonly attributed to Tecumseh, who was defeated by William Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Another version attributes it to Tecumseh's half-brother Tenskwatawa, who pronounced the curse while sitting for a painting. This version has been the most widely accepted, but several scholars have questioned its validity. [1] Presidents who were Victims of the Curse: 1840 William Henry Harrison Elected Pneumonia April 4, 1841 1860§ Abraham Lincoln Reelected Assassinated by Gunshot April 15, 1865 1880 James Garfield Elected Assassinated by Gunshot September 19, 1881 1900 William McKinley Reelected Assassinated by Gunshot September 14, 1901 1920 Warren Harding Elected Cerebral hemorrhage August 2, 1923 1940§ Franklin Roosevelt Reelected Cerebral hemorrhage April 12, 1945 1960 John Kennedy Elected Assassinated by Gunshot November 22, 1963 This was not the final year they were elected. Lincoln's reelection year was 1864. Roosevelt was reelected one other time afterwards in 1944, also previously elected in 1932 and 1936. http://www.answers.com/Tecumseh's%20curse Feb 24 07, 7:51 AM

What-A-Mess

SUCH A CONNECTION!? ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 1846. JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 1946. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1860. JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1960. THE NAME LINCOLN AND KENNEDY EACH CONTAIN SEVEN LETTERS. BOTH WIVES LOST CHILDREN WHILE LIVING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. BOTH WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. BOTH PRESIDENTS WERE SHOT ON FRIDAY. BOTH WERE SHOT IN THE HEAD. BOTH WERE ASSASSINATED BY SOUTHERNERS. BOTH WERE SUCCEEDED BY SOUTHERNERS. BOTH SUCCESSORS WERE NAMED JOHNSON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS BORN FEBRUARY 12, 1809 IN KENTUCKY. HE WAS ASSASSINATED ON GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1865, JUST BEFORE THE EASTER HOLIDAY. JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS BORN MAY 29, 1917 IN MASSECHUSETTS. HE WAS ASSASSINATED ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963, JUST BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLDAY. EVERY TWENTY YEARS... YEAR ELECTED 1840: WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON (DIED IN OFFICE) 1860: ABRAHAM LINCOLM (ASSASSINATED) 1880: JAMES A. GARFIELD (ASSASSINATED) 1900: WILLIAM MCKINLEY (ASSASSINATED) 1920: WARREN G. HARDING (DIED IN OFFCE) 1940: FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (DIED IN OFFICE) 1960: JOHN F. KENNEDY (ASSASSINATED) 1980: RONALD REAGAN (SURVIVED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT) 2000: GEORGE W. BUSH (SURVIVED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT BY A GRENADE IN 2005-RUSSIA) ANDREW JOHNSON, WHO SUCCEEDED LINCOLN, WAS BORN IN 1808. LYNDON JOHNSON, WHO SUCCEEDED KENNEDY, WAS BORN IN 1908. JOHN WILKES BOOTH, REPORTEDLY ASSASSINATED LINCOLN. LEE HARVEY OSWALD, REPORTEDLY ASSASSINATED KENNEDY. BOTH ASSASSINS WERE KNOWN BY THREE NAMES. BOTH NAMES CONTAINED FIFTEEN LETTERS. # A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland. # A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater. BOOTH AND OSWALD WERE ASSASSINATED BEFORE THEIR TRIALS. BOTH PRESIDENTS WERE FOREWARNED THROUGH DREAMS OF THEIR PLIGHT WITHIN A MONTH OF THEIR ASSASSINATIONS. http://www.kilty.com/l_and_k.htm http://www.kilty.com/l_and_k.htm Feb 24 07, 8:26 AM

What-A-Mess

Oswald ran from a WAREHOUSE and was caught in a THEATER. Booth ran from a THEATER and was caught in a WAREHOUSE. was omitted from above post. Feb 24 07, 8:29 AM

Baloo55th

Reagan probably didn't die because he was an actor, and actors (almost) always survive death to take part in another film.... Feb 24 07, 9:24 AM

skysmom65

Thanks for the chuckle Baloo!! ;o) Feb 24 07, 10:09 AM

star_gazer

And here are some non-coincidences: Kennedy was a Democrat Lincoln was a Republican Kennedy was born into extreme wealth Lincoln was born into extreme poverty Kennedy was a Roman Catholic Lincoln was non-religious Kennedy went to Harvard Lincoln was self educated Kennedy was shot from long distance Lincoln was shot from close range Kennedy was known to cheat on his wife Lincoln was known as a loyal family man Feb 24 07, 12:37 PM