Presidents Who Died in Office

You Don't Have to Be Old to Die

Harrison served in the War of 1812.

Eighteen percent of our presidents have died in office. We've had 45 presidents; eight of them died while serving. 8/45 = 18%. (Joe Biden is the 46th president, and I will include him in these calculations when he leaves office.)

Here's a list:

1 1841: William Henry Harrison. Died at 68.

2 1850: Zachary Taylor. Died at 65.

3 1865: Abraham Lincoln. Died at 56.

4 1881: James A. Garfield. Died at 49.

5 1901: William McKinley. Died at 58.

6 1923: Warren G. Harding. Died at 57.

7 1945: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Died at 63.

8 1963: John F. Kennedy. Died at 46.

(For more information on this group, click here.)

Kennedy was the youngest. Harrison was the oldest, but he also holds the record for the shortest time in office: 31 days. Average age at death for the group was 57.8.

Death in office is not a rare phenomenon. All of these presidents were succeeded by their vice presidents.

The United States has a very good succession process.

My conclusion is that we should elect the best candidate available, and not worry about when he or she is going to die.

See also Is Biden Our Konrad Adenauer?