Curse of Tippecanoe
from the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe involving William Henry Harrison and Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa.
An urban legend linking US presidential deaths to election years ending in zero.
A modern urban legend claiming that every U.S. president elected in a year ending in zero dies in office. The story traces back to Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa cursing William Henry Harrison after the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.
- Eight presidents died in office after being elected in years ending in zero.
- The legend blames Shawnee prophet Tenskwatawa for punishing William Henry Harrison.
- Trivia books popularized the pattern in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden survived their terms.
- Skeptics cite logical fallacies like cherry-picking and correlation errors.
What it is
The Curse of Tippecanoe is a modern urban legend concerning the deaths of United States presidents while in office. It claims that any chief executive elected in a year divisible by twenty will die during their term. The narrative attributes this misfortune to a supernatural punishment delivered by the Shawnee prophet Tenskwatawa against General William Henry Harrison following the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.
Where it comes from
The story emerged long after the events it describes. Harrison won the presidency in 1840 and died shortly after taking office, establishing the first instance cited by believers. The pattern gained traction in the mid-twentieth century when trivia columns like Ripley's Believe It or Not! highlighted the coincidence in 1931 and 1948. A written account linking the deaths directly to Tenskwatawa appeared much later, in a 1980 magazine article.
Curse of Tippecanoe, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- American urban legend
- Timing
- election years ending in zero
What it is for
The legend serves as a framework for interpreting political tragedies and statistical anomalies. It offers a supernatural explanation for the deaths of leaders like Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy, all of whom were elected in years ending in zero.
Peoples and places
The belief is rooted in American political history and Native American lore. It centers on the United States presidency and references the conflict between American expansionists and the Shawnee confederation led by Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa in the Indiana Territory.
At a glance: who, where and when
Who does it
Belief worlds
What people believe
Analysts view the pattern as a result of selective memory and statistical chance rather than magic. Skeptics point out that the claim relies on cherry-picking data points and ignoring presidents who broke the streak. The theory also shifts its criteria when exceptions occur, a tactic known as moving the goalposts.
When it is done
The curse applies specifically to election years ending in the digit zero. This includes 1840, 1860, 1880, 1900, 1920, 1940, and 1960. Subsequent elections in 1980, 2000, and 2020 did not result in the predicted deaths in office.
How scholars and sceptics see it
Fact-checking organizations like Snopes classify the curse as an undocumented folktale. Researchers in logic and statistics identify multiple fallacies in the argument, such as confusing correlation with causation. Presidential historians generally dismiss the pattern as a curious factoid without deeper significance.
Compare and confuse
The legend shares traits with other political superstitions, such as the Bald–hairy rule regarding Russian rulers and the Kennedy curse. These stories often highlight eerie coincidences in leadership histories while lacking empirical evidence.
Today
The validity of the curse weakened significantly after 1960. Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt and served two terms after being elected in 1980. George W. Bush completed two terms following his 2000 election, and Joe Biden finished a single term after winning in 2020.
Questions people ask about Curse of Tippecanoe
What is the Curse of Tippecanoe?
It is an urban legend stating that U.S. presidents elected in years ending in zero will die in office. The story links these deaths to a curse placed by Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa on William Henry Harrison after the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.
Who started the curse?
The legend grew from statistical coincidences observed in presidential history. It was popularized by trivia columns like Ripley's Believe It or Not! in the 1930s and 1940s, though the specific link to Tenskwatawa appeared in writing only in 1980.
Has the curse ever failed?
Yes. The pattern broke after 1960. Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980, survived an assassination attempt and served two terms. George W. Bush and Joe Biden, elected in 2000 and 2020 respectively, also completed their time in office.
Why do people believe in it?
Believers see a supernatural cause for tragic events. Skeptics argue it relies on cherry-picking data and confusing correlation with causation. They note that many presidents outside the pattern also faced health issues or assassination attempts.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Curse of Tippecanoe", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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