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The Presidential Deaths: Part 2

  • Sarah Stook

    • Benjamin Harrison

    In 1897, Benjamin Harrison married Mary Lord Dimmick. She was the niece of his late wife and (younger) cousin to his children. Dimmick had been his wife’s secretary and it’s believed they could have been having an affair whilst Caroline Harrison was still alive. His adult children were angered and refused to attend the wedding. Harrison and Mary had a child called Elizabeth together.

    He developed pneumonia in early 1901. Harrison’s condition steadily declined and on the 31st March 1901, he died at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. His last words are “are the doctors here? Doctor, my lungs…” Harrison was 67. 

    He was buried at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with first wife Caroline. Mary would be buried with them after her 1948 death. His children with Caroline are also buried there. 

    William McKinley

    In 1899, Vice President Garret Hobart died suddenly. President William McKinley spent the rest of his term without a running mate before one was chosen for the 1900 election. Theodore Roosevelt became the front runner and whilst McKinley didn’t particularly want him, he refused to stand in the way. Senator Mark Hanna, no Roosevelt ally, said this:

    “Don’t any of you realize that there’s only one life between that madman and the Presidency?”

    Flash forward to six months after the second inauguration and Hanna’s almost prophecy came true. McKinley attended the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He refused security as he believed it impeded him meeting his beloved public and that no one would want to hurt him. The public were usually expected to have open hands when meeting the president, but the heat of the day meant that they were allowed to hold a handkerchief. 

    Anarchist Leon Czolgosz managed to smuggle a gun under a handkerchief. He managed to shoot McKinley twice and was prevented from doing so a third time by a brave bystander. McKinley saw that Czolgosz was being beaten and begged people to stop. 

    The President had been shot twice. One was deflected after hitting a button, but the second hit him in the stomach. The local hospital didn’t have any doctors or surgeons on hand. It seemed that McKinley wouldn’t survive the night but he did. McKinley seemingly started getting better, but in fact the gangrene in his stomach was not yet apparent. 

    On the evening of the 13th September, McKinley’s condition suddenly deteriorated and it became clear he was dying. Roosevelt was summoned from his trip in the wilderness. Early on the morning of the 14th, McKinley died. His last words were: “Goodbye, all, goodbye. It is God’s way. His will be done.”

    The nation was shocked and saddened by the tragic murder of a popular president. His funeral saw the entire nation stop to pay their respects. Over 200,000 came to view his casket. He was buried at the Western Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio, until his memorial was finished. His wife Ida died in 1907 and joined him there. Their daughters, who predeceased them, were interred there

    Grover Cleveland

    America’s only non-consecutive President thus far, Grover Cleveland retired in 1897. His retirement was generally quiet. In those years his health declined. 

    On the 24th June, Cleveland had a heart attack. He died that same day from complications due to heart failure. His last words were “I have tried so hard to do right.”

    He is buried at Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, New Jersey. His young wife Frances outlived him by forty years and was buried with him after her 1947 passing.

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Following his second place showing at the 1912 election, Theodore Roosevelt decided to do something he loved- go on an adventure. He, along with son Kermit and a large crew, would be exploring an uncharted part of the Amazon. It was not an easy journey, with all but one of the men falling ill or getting injured. Roosevelt was among them. A gash on his leg became dangerously infected. He baffled a high fever, massive weight loss and hallucinations, nearly dying several times in the process. Whilst he recovered and the trip was ultimately successful, Roosevelt predicted that the trip had shaved a decade off of his life. 

    This would ultimately turn out to be true.

    After several years of recurrent illness, Roosevelt would ultimately die five years after the expedition. He began suffering breathing problems on the night of the 5th January 1919. Early the next morning, Roosevelt died. His last words had been to his valet- “please put out that light, James.” The ultimate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism.

    Woodrow Wilson’s Vice President, Thomas R. Marshall famously said ‘Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake there would have been a fight.’ The funeral was a small, quiet one. Roosevelt is buried at Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay, New York. Edith, his second wife, would be buried there after her 1948 death. Two of his six children are also buried there. 

    Warren G. Harding

    In summer 1923, Warren G. Harding started a long trip down the West Coast and Central America. He suffered from poor health. Doctors were worried about the trip, but Harding and his wife were desperate to see Alaska. Once they’d arrived back in the contiguous US after Alaska and Canada, Harding started to feel ill. They ended up skipping Portland but he felt ok with stopping in San Francisco. 

    Harding insisted on walking from the car to the hotel, but collapsed on the way. Doctors misdiagnosed him and gave him the wrong medication. He felt better after a few days of bed rest. That unfortunately didn’t last. On the evening of the 2nd August, he sat up in bed as his wife as she read positive news coverage of him. He encouraged her with “that’s good. Go on, read some more.”

    Almost immediately after, Harding collapsed back onto the bed. Florence rushed to call doctors to the room but it was too late, as Harding was dead before he hit the bed. The ultimate cause was a heart attack, though doctors at the time did not understand it. Florence’s refusal to allow an autopsy led to rumours that she poisoned her adulterous husband. 

    Harding was extremely popular at the time as the scandals surrounding his presidency were not yet fully known, so he was widely mourned by the public. Millions lined the route and many would have seen him lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda. He was initially buried at the Marion Cemetery before the Harding Tomb was completed years later. His wife Florence died a year later. 

    Woodrow Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson is believed to have had roughly three strokes before his presidency. In 1919, during his second term, another one struck. This one was much worse. Wilson was left paralysed on his left side and lost vision in his right eye. This, however, was not well known. A tight circle of allies that included his wife Edith protected him from public view. Visits from other politicians were banned. Edith signed all of his correspondence and worked through his papers. Because of this, she is often known as the first woman President.  

    Whilst Wilson’s illness would become public eventually, he managed to stay in position. Vice President Thomas Marshall was locked out of the loop. In 1921, Wilson finally retired after a second term.

    Wilson stayed out of the public eye in the last few years of his life, his health remaining very poor. He finally passed away on the 3rd February 1924 at the age of 67 whilst at his Washington DC home. His final words were “when the machinery is broken…I am ready.” Wilson’s funeral was two days later. He is the only president thus far to be buried in the capital, as he is laid to rest in Washington National Cathedral. After her 1961 death, Edith was laid to rest beside him. His first wife Ellen, who had died in 1914, is buried in Georgia. 

    William H. Taft

    William Howard Taft’s weight is well known, but he did manage to slim down after the presidency. Unfortunately, his health soon declined. Knowing that both his mind and his body were failing, Taft resigned his role as Chief Justice on the 3rd February 1930.

    Just over a month later, Taft died at the age of 72, the cause being heart failure. His last words were unknown. He lay in state at the Capitol rotunda before having his funeral and being buried at the famous Arlington Cemetery. His wife Helen died in 1943 and is buried beside him. 

    Calvin Coolidge

    Calvin Coolidge happily retired from politics in 1929 and rebuked efforts to get him back. His retirement lasted only four years however. On the morning of the 5th January 1933, he greeted the carpenter working on his house with a ‘good morning, Robert.’ At around 1:15PM, his wife Florence returned home to find her husband dead in his bedroom. He’d died around half an hour previously. Coolidge was only 60 and had died suddenly of coronary thrombosis. 

    Coolidge is buried at Plymouth Notch Cemetery in Vermont, the cemetery being in his hometown. His father had died only four years previously. His wife Florence and surviving son John would be buried there after their respective 1957 and 2000 passing. 

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Franklin D. Roosevelt was a sick man and everyone close to him knew it. When it came to the 1944 election, the choice of Vice President was essential as there’d be a good chance he’d be taking the mantle. Incumbent Henry Wallace was forced off the ticket by the leadership, despite being popular with the party members. Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman was selected. He was never part of the inner circle and only met Roosevelt a handful of times.

    Three months later Roosevelt was resting at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia. As he posed for a portrait, Roosevelt complained “I have a terrific headache.” Roosevelt then slumped forward. Doctors were called but it was too late- Roosevelt died on the 12th April 1945, aged 63, having never regained consciousness. 

    Though his poor health was known of, the sudden death of a president in his fourth term was a huge shock. Many could only remember Roosevelt as their leader and it felt unthinkable to have anyone else leading them through the war. His body was taken by train to DC, with thousands lining the route. A small White House funeral was held before he was buried at Springwood, his Hyde Park home. Eleanor Roosevelt would be buried with him upon her 1962 death. 

    John F. Kennedy

    With less than a year until the 1964 election, the Democrats were worried about Texas. Young president Kennedy was sent on a short tip there. He was joined by wife Jackie, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Second Lady Lady Bird Johnson. Meeting them there were Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie.

    On the 22nd November, the team arrived in Dallas. They were headed to a luncheon. President Kennedy and his wife sat in a convertible, the Connallys were seated in front. The Johnsons were a few cars behind. They rode into Dealey Plaza. Mrs. Connally turned her head and said to Kennedy “Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you.” Kennedy replied with “no, you certainly can’t.”

    Moments later, bullets came flying. One missed, but two hit their mark. The first hit his upper back before coming out of his throat. The second was the kill shot- it hit his head. The bullet that had come out of his throat also hit Governor Connally. Secret Service agents raced to the nearby Parkland Memorial Hospital. 

    Kennedy was mortally wounded but not yet dead. Surgeons attempted to treat him but it was no use. The 35th President was pronounced at 1:00PM, having received last rites. Connally survived surgery and recovered.

    The assassination of Kennedy shocked the entire world. A President of the television age, people liked the young and energetic Kennedy and his family. Millions crowded around radios and TV stations as the news broke. Kennedy lay in state, with thousands passing through. A huge state funeral was held on the 25th November, with politicians and royals from around the world attending. Kennedy was then buried at Arlington.

    Lee Harvey Oswald also killed police officer J. D. Tippitt on the day. He was arrested, but was a victim of an assassin’s bullet the next day when he was shot by Jack Ruby. The theories surrounding the assassination remain varied to this day, with a decent percentage of people not believing the official version of events.

    Jackie was buried with Kennedy after her 1994 passing. Also interred are their stillborn daughter Arabella and son Patrick, who died at only a few days old. 

    Herbert Hoover

    Despite being remembered as a terrible President, Hoover enjoyed rehabilitation in the over thirty years of post-presidency. On the 20th October 1964, he died in New York City of massive internal bleeding. His last words are unknown.

    After a state funeral and laying-in at the Rotunda, Hoover was buried in West Branch, Iowa. His wife Lou, who had passed away twenty years previously, was reinterred beside him.  

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    In his later years, Dwight D. Eisenhower would see his grandson David marry Richard Nixon’s daughter Julie. His retirement included some political activity and he was said to be happy upon Nixon’s 1968 victory.

    From 1968 onward, Eisenhower was almost constantly in hospital. Ill health caught up to him and he died of heart failure on the 28th March 1969 at the age of 78. His last words were “I want to go. God take me.”

    He lay in state in the Rotunda. A state funeral on the 31st March saw major figures from across the world attend to pay their respects. Following a trip on a funeral train, Eisenhower was buried at his boyhood home and presidential library in Abilene, Texas. Son Doud, who had died young in 1921, was buried with him. Wife Mamie would join them upon her 1979 passing. 

    Harry S. Truman

    For most of his life, Harry S. Truman was a relatively poor man. He and his wife Bess were actually the first recipients of the Medicare initiative. Though the couple would eventually become relatively well-off, they lived rather modestly.

    In early December 1972, Truman was admitted to hospital. His health rapidly declined before he died on the 26th, one day after Christmas. He was 88 and had died from multiple organ failure.

    After a simple funeral, Truman was laid to rest in Independence, Missouri. His wife Bess would join him upon her 1982 passing, as well as daughter Margaret after her 2008 death. 

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Before his 1973 death, Lyndon B. Johnson suffered from two previous heart attacks. The first, in 1955, saw him give up smoking until after he left office in 1969. He had a second one in 1972, which left him extremely ill. Johnson had neglected his health massively, which concerned doctors.

    Less than a month after Harry Truman’s passing, Johnson was in his bedroom when he suffered a third heart attack on the 22nd January 1973. He managed to grab his beside telephone and call the Secret Service outpost, telling them to ‘send Mike immediately.’ This referred to Agent Mike Howard. They rushed to his room and found him not breathing. Lady Bird Johnson was in a meeting and failed to reach him in time. A plane took him to hospital but Johnson was declared dead on arrival. He was 64. 

    After lying in repose at his presidential library, Johnson then lay in state at the Rotunda. After a state funeral, he was buried at the Johnson Family Cemetery in Texas. His wife Lady Bird died in 2007 and was buried with him.

    Richard Nixon

    The death of Pat Nixon in 1993 was hard for her husband Richard. He was absolutely devastated. At her funeral, Nixon was inconsolable and frequently burst into sobs. This was a shocking scene from a usually aloof and unemotional man. He would later complain to his housekeeper about the house being empty. 

    April the next year and Nixon suddenly suffered a stroke in his New York home. He managed to alert his housekeeper with ‘help.’ Nixon was rushed to hospital, alive but very unwell. He would slip into a coma before dying on the 22nd April 1994 at the age of 81, with daughters Tricia and Julie by his side. 

    Nixon did not have a state funeral, per his own request, but thousands lined up to see him lay in repose at his presidential library. His funeral was attended by Bill Clinton, the other living Presidents and First Ladies, and other dignitaries. He’s buried in his presidential library in Yorba Linda, California, along with Pat. 

    Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan enjoyed his early post-presidency with speaking engagements and political activities. This was shattered by a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 1994. Some believed that Reagan was suffering from the disease during his presidency, though doctors disagree. The decline was quick. He was unable to attend eldest daughter Maureen’s funeral in 2001.

    Reagan died of pneumonia at the age of 93 at home in Los Angeles, his family by his side. He is said to have spent his final moments gazing at his beloved wife Nancy. 

    Regan lay in state in the Capitol, where over one hundred thousand queued to see him. His state funeral was a very large one and dignitaries from around the world attended. Against medical advice, close friend and political ally Margaret Thatcher flew to DC for the funeral. She would later fly with the Reagans to California for the burial. Celebrities attended both the state funeral and the burial. Reagan was buried at his presidential library in Simi Valley, California. Nancy was buried beside him following her death in 2016. 

    Gerald Ford

    Gerald Ford continued to talk politics well into his lengthy retirement. Whilst he refused to talk badly of sitting presidents, that courtesy did not extend to members of their administration. After several spells of illness across the years, poor health finally caught up to him in 2006.

    2006 saw multiple health issues for Ford and he was extremely ill by the end of the year. Ford would eventually die at home on the 26th December 2006, at the age of 93, due to heart issues. His last words are unknown.

    Ford lay in state before his DC funeral. He requested his beloved Eagle Scouts be involved and asked for the University of Michigan Fight Song, that of his alma mater, to be played. Ford would be buried at his presidential museum in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

    George H. W. Bush

    In 2000, George H. W. Bush would see his son George W. Bush become President. During his retirement, Bush also became close friends with Bill Clinton and enjoyed skydiving. His poor health meant that he could not attend Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. He’d been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s in 2012. 

    Bush’s wife of many years, Barbara, died in April 2018. He was hospitalised a day after her funeral but was released quickly. His health took a turn for the worse again in November and it was clear that he was dying. Bush’s last words were to his son George, replying with ‘I love you too.’ 

    Bush lay in state in the Capitol before his state funeral. It was a well-attended funeral with many dignitaries. A smaller funeral was held in Texas later. Bush was buried at his presidential library at Texas A&M University. Barbara was already buried there. 

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