Yes, this is called the Zero Factor and is said to stem from a curse by the Native American chief Tecumseh who was killed by troops under the command of William Henry Harrison in 1813. Elected President in 1840, Harrison died of pneumonia a month after taking the Oath of Office.

Specifically:

• 1840: William Henry Harrison died from pneumonia a month after taking the oath of office.
• 1860: Abraham Lincoln assassinated in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.
• 1880: James Garfield assassinated in 1882 by Charles J. Guiteau, leading to Secret Service being assigned the task of protecting the First Family.
• 1900: William McKinley assassinated in 1901 by Leon Czolgosz
• 1920: Warren Harding died under mysterious circumstances in 1921 (said to have been poisoned by his wife).
• 1940: Franklin Roosevelt dies from a cerebral hemmorhage in 1945 (natural causes or to keep him from seeking a fifth term?)
• 1960: John Kennedy assassinated in 1963, supposedly by Lee Harvey Oswald.
• 1980: Ronald Reagan, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr, supposedly to gain the attention (and affections) of Ms. Jodie Foster. During the attempt, William Brady is severely injured; this eventually leads to California Senator Dianne Feinstein and others to introduce a bill in the Senate that would eventually become known as Brady's Law, one of the first successful attempts at gun control. (Through luck, I happened to be in the Gallery at the time. I was impressed.)

The Zero Factor has been a source of much speculation. In recent times, only two men are reported to have taken it seriously to respond to questioning about it: JFK and Ronald Reagan. A book of the same title was published ~1980. I'm sure you can find a copy in the paranormal section of most used book stores.

Some believe that the curse of Tecumseh has been broken; other believed it would remain until the White Man had attoned for the crimes committed against the native american peoples.

Me? I'm waiting for an "X-Files" episode to cover the topic later this season... ;-)

Wait, what about Harding or whoever in 1920?

And FDR didn't die during his term from 1940, either.

Please Note I'm a Canadian. I get points just for knowing Harding's name, even if I didnt' know what happened to him. And I'm still right about FDR =)

Philosophy can be made out of anything. Or less -- Jerry A. Fodor

Roosevelt didn't die during his 1940 term, but he did die in office. Harding died in 1923 and was succeeded by the vice president, Calvin Coolidge.

Harding counts from the 1920 election. He died 1923. There is a rumor that his wife poisoned him. And if I remember, he stood a good chance of being impeached due to the teapot scandal of the time.

FDR did die in office, just not the 1940-44 term having died April 12, 1945

• Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846, JFK in 1946.
• Lincoln was elected President in 1860, JFK in 1960
• The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain 7 letters
• Both were concered with civil rights
• Both wives lost children while living in the White House
• Both presidents were shot on a Friday
• Both were shot in the head
• Licoln's secretary was named Kennedy, Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln
• Both were assassinated by southerners
• Both were succeeded by southerners named Johnson
• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. Lydon Johnson, who succeeded Kennendy, was born in 1908
• John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy (?), was born in 1939
• Both assassins are know by three names - both contain 15 letters
• Lincoln was shot in a theatre called "Ford" - Kennedy was shot in a car called "Ford"
• Booth ran from a theatre and was caught in a warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theatre.
• Booth and Oswald werer assassinated before their trials.
• A week before he was shot, Lincoln was in Monroe, Maryland. A week before he was shot, Kennendy was in Marilyn Monroe!