Question

The "Twenty Year Curse" refers to the fact that every U.S. president between 1840 and 1960 who was elected in a year divisible by 20 died in office. It's also called "Tippecanoe's Curse," because the first president to succumb to it was nicknamed "Tippecanoe." Name that president!

1) George Washington
2) Thomas Jefferson
3) Abraham Lincoln
4) William Henry Harrison

Answer 1

William Henry Harrison was the president first affected by the "Twenty Year Curse" and also known as "Tippecanoe." He died in office just one month after being inaugurated in 1840, which started the pattern of presidents elected in years divisible by 20 dying in office through 1960.

Step-by-step explanation:

The president who was first affected by the "Twenty Year Curse" and was nicknamed "Tippecanoe" was William Henry Harrison. He was the ninth President of the United States, elected in 1840. Unfortunately, Harrison's presidency was short-lived; he died of pneumonia just a month after his inauguration, an event reportedly triggered by his lengthy inaugural address given in cold and wet conditions without suitable protection.

In the context of the 'curse', a series of U.S. Presidents elected in years divisible by twenty passed away in office, including notable figures like Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. This pattern was observed between the years 1840 and 1960.

Regarding the 22nd Amendment, it was ratified to limit the presidency to two terms following Franklin Delano Roosevelt's four-term presidency, which ended with his death in 1945 during his fourth term. This amendment could be viewed as a response to what some saw as a break from the tradition set by George Washington who voluntarily stepped down after two terms, establishing an informal precedent followed until Roosevelt.

Answer: 4) William Henry Harrison