Special Sub-Topic: Presidential Final Words Authored by: bigwoo Sub-topic of: Presidential Deaths

This US president was elected to the Confederate Congress in 1861. He died in Richmond, Virginia waiting to begin his term. Moments before he died he uttered, "Perhaps it is best." Who is he?

John Tyler. Tyler's coffin was draped with a Confederate flag. His body lay in state at the Confederate Congress in Richmond. Because of his loyalty to the Confederacy, Tyler's death was ignored by the US Government.

This president's last words were, "Thomas Jefferson still survives." He and Jefferson were bitter political enemies in their earlier years. Who is this president?

John Adams. Adams didn't know it but Jefferson had died a few hours earlier. Adams died at age 90. He was America's longest living president until recently being passed by Ronald Reagan.

This president survived an assassination attempt, an African Safari, and a war. His last words were, "James will you put out the light?" Who is he?

Theodore Roosevelt. His last words were spoken to James Amos, TR's former White House valet. Amos came by to visit his former empolyer. He became alarmed at the former president's weakened condition and stayed with him until his death.

Whose last words were "I know I am going where Lucy is"?

Rutherford B Hayes. Lucy Hayes was the first "First Lady" to have a college degree. She was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" because she did not serve alcohol in the White House. The Hayes' were happily married. Lucy died in 1889. Rutherford died four years later. He longed to be with his wife.

His health became so bad that his wife would screen requests for meetings and review his Presidential papers. His last words were, "The machinery is worn out, I am ready.... Edith!" Who was he?

Woodrow Wilson. Edith Wilson became known as the "Secret President" and as the "first woman to run the government" because of her attempts to help her sickly husband.

Grover Cleveland had an interesting life. He was the only president to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms. His dying words were "I have tried so hard to do what is right." Which of the following statements are NOT true about Cleveland?

He married a woman in the White House who was 32 years older than he was. Cleveland married Francis Folsom while president. She was twenty-eight years younger than he was. He did support a child that he fathered out of wedlock. The opposition during the 1884 campaign mocked Cleveland with the slogan, "MaMa, Where's my Pa?" The candy bar "Baby Ruth" is possibly named after his daughter, although some believe it was named for Babe Ruth. During his second term doctors secretly removed a malignant tumor from his mouth and his left jaw was replaced with a rubber prosthesis.

This president's written funeral plans were a 54-page document that included such details as the pace of the funeral procession and the timing of the gun salutes. His last words were, "I want to go, God take me." Who was he?

Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower is buried in his hometown of Abilene, Kansas. He is one of only five men to recieve the rank of 5-star General. Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to statehood during his administration.

It is reported that his last words were, "My God, I have been hit." What are the famous initials of this president?

JFK & J.F.K.. President Kennedy was struck twice, once in the neck and once in the back of the head. He died at 2:00 PM on that tragic day (November 22, 1963) at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

He was one of only three remaining signers of the Declaration of Independence when he died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of that historical document. His final words were, "Is it the fourth?" Who is he?

Thomas Jefferson. John Adams and Charles Carroll were the other two Declaration of Independence signers who were still alive at the time of Jefferson's death. Ironically Adams died a few hours later in Massachusetts.

This president died of complications from a sore throat. He was afraid of being buried alive so he ordered his secretary to wait at least three days after his death before burying him. He died while taking his own pulse. His final words were, "Tis well." Who is he?

George Washington. Washington's doctors probably hastened his death by using, what at the time was an accepted medical practice, "blood letting." The First President was 67-years old at his death.

This president's inaugural speech lasted over 100 minutes. He died after serving only one month as president. His final words were, "I wish you to understand the true principles of government. I wish them carried out. I ask for nothing more." Who is he?

William Henry Harrison. Harrison's widow, Anna, never lived in the White House. She was planning on joining him in May, but he died in April. Although she never made it to Washington DC, she was the first widowed "first lady" to receive a pension. President Tyler gave her 25,000 dollars.

Suffering from throat cancer, this president's last words were a request for water. He is buried in New York City. Who is he?

Ulysses S Grant. Grant considered being buried at West Point, but chose not to be because the Academy would not allow his wife to be buried with him. Finally the site in Manhattan was selected. Grant's tomb is the largest mausoleum in North America. Grant reportedly smoked twenty cigars a day at one point in his life

A metal dectector, invented by Alexander Graham Bell, was used to try to find the bullet after this president was shot. It did not work and this president's last words were, "Oh Swaim there is pain here... Oh Swaim!" Who is he?

James A Garfield. The metal detector did not work because the metal springs in the president's bed made his body look bullet-riddled. The doctors could not figure out why. David Gaskill Swaim was Garfield's chief of staff.

His last words were, "I am sorry that I am about to leave my friends." His wife was so overcome by grief that she refused to allow the president's body to be embalmed. His favorite horse, "Old Whitey," was part of the funeral procession. Who is this president?

Zachary Taylor. Taylor returned from the groundbreaking ceremony of the Washington Monument on July 4, 1850. It was a hot day so he ate some cold fruit and drank some cold milk. Doctors say that the food had not been refrigerated correctly and that the president caught cholera, which led to his death.

The First Lady was accused of poisoning this president. His last words addressed to his wife were, "That's good, go on, read some more." He died in a San Francisco hotel room. Who is this president?

Warren Harding. Harding's wife was reading the ill president an article from the "Saturday Evening Post" which spoke favorably of Harding's scandal plagued administration. A journalist accused Florence Harding of poisoning the president because of his extramarital affairs. Evidence was never produced and nothing was ever proven