1. The Lincoln–Kennedy Parallels
Probably the most famous presidential coincidence of all time is the strange set of parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Both were elected to Congress 100 years apart (Lincoln in 1846, Kennedy in 1946) and then to the presidency 100 years apart (Lincoln in 1860, Kennedy in 1960). Both were assassinated on a Friday, in the presence of their wives. And to top it off, both successors were Southerners named Johnson.
Historians don’t really buy into mystical explanations here, but the pattern is undeniably eerie. People have been pointing out even more little “matches,” like how Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy and Kennedy had one named Lincoln—though that one isn’t actually accurate. Still, the real parallels are striking enough to keep fueling conversations. It’s one of those coincidences that sticks in your brain and makes you wonder if history sometimes rhymes a little too neatly.
2. Adams and Jefferson Dying on the Same Day
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were fierce rivals, then close friends, and both were instrumental in writing and pushing for the Declaration of Independence. The strange twist? They both died on the exact same day—July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration was adopted. Adams’s last words were reportedly “Thomas Jefferson survives,” not knowing Jefferson had already passed hours earlier.
The timing is uncanny, and historians still marvel at how poetic it seems. The two men represented very different visions of America, yet their lives ended in sync on the nation’s birthday. It’s almost as if history tied their fates together for dramatic effect. Whether you believe it’s coincidence or symbolism, it’s one of the most chilling historical alignments in presidential history.
3. The Curse of Tecumseh
Starting with William Henry Harrison in 1840, every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office until Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981. This became known as the “Curse of Tecumseh” or “the zero-year curse.” Harrison, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all fit the pattern. Reagan and George W. Bush, both elected in zero years, seemed to finally break it.
Historians debate whether this was just random chance or a pattern worth noting. The fact that it held for over 140 years is what makes it so compelling. People connected it to a supposed curse placed after Harrison’s war against Tecumseh’s forces. Even if the curse explanation is more legend than fact, the numbers alone make you raise an eyebrow.
4. Presidents Who Died on July 4
It wasn’t just Adams and Jefferson. James Monroe, the fifth president, also died on July 4—five years after them in 1831. That means three of the first five U.S. presidents died on Independence Day. Statistically, that’s pretty wild.
Some historians chalk this up to coincidence, while others point to the possibility of psychological factors. The Fourth of July was deeply meaningful for these founding-era leaders, and some argue that the stress or anticipation might have influenced their final days. Either way, it adds a strange layer of symbolism to America’s early history. It’s almost as if the day was too powerful to escape.
5. Jefferson and Adams Outliving the Revolution’s 50th Anniversary
It’s not just that Jefferson and Adams died on the Fourth of July—it’s that they died on the exact 50th anniversary of the Declaration. That’s almost cinematic in its timing. Both men had been ill for months, but they managed to hold on until July 4, 1826. Jefferson reportedly even asked if it was yet the Fourth before passing.
The symbolism is so strong that it feels scripted, but it wasn’t. Americans at the time saw it as divine providence, almost like a blessing on the young nation. Even today, it’s hard not to feel the weight of that timing. It remains one of the most talked-about presidential coincidences.
6. Founders and Early Presidents Living to Advanced Ages
Several of the early presidents lived to what was considered old age for the 18th and early 19th centuries. John Adams lived to 90, Thomas Jefferson to 83, and James Madison to 85. For a time when the average life expectancy hovered around 40, this was remarkable. It suggested to many that the founders were “chosen” or favored in some way.
Of course, historians note that wealth and status often meant better access to food, medical care, and relative safety. Still, the fact that so many early leaders defied the odds adds to the mystique. These long lives meant they witnessed far more of the nation’s growth than most of their contemporaries. It almost feels like history wanted them to stick around and see how things played out.
7. Lincoln Dreaming of His Death
A few days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln told his wife and close friends about a disturbing dream. He said he saw mourners in the White House and a coffin guarded by soldiers. When he asked who had died, he was told it was the president. Then, of course, he was killed at Ford’s Theatre shortly afterward.
Historians acknowledge the story, though it’s hard to separate fact from embellishment since it was recalled after his death. Still, it lines up with other accounts of Lincoln being unusually preoccupied with death and destiny. Whether you see it as prophetic or just coincidence, it adds to the sense of tragic inevitability around his assassination. Few presidential anecdotes send a chill down the spine like this one.
8. Roosevelt and Roosevelt in the White House
The U.S. has only had two presidents with the same last name who weren’t father and son: Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The two were distant cousins, and Franklin even married Theodore’s niece, Eleanor Roosevelt. That made the Roosevelt family a political dynasty in an unusual way.
It’s a quirky coincidence because their presidencies defined two very different eras, yet their family name tied them together. Theodore pushed progressivism and conservation at the turn of the 20th century, while Franklin steered the country through the Great Depression and World War II. The Roosevelt name, almost by chance, came to stand for bold leadership in tough times. That overlap wasn’t planned, but history seems to love patterns.
9. Presidents Who Lost Children in the White House
It’s rare, but a handful of presidents have had to endure the tragedy of losing children while in office. Abraham Lincoln’s son Willie died in 1862 at the White House, and Calvin Coolidge’s teenage son died in 1924 after a blister turned septic. Franklin Pierce also lost his last surviving son just before taking office.
These tragedies humanize presidents in a way that history books sometimes gloss over. But the coincidence of multiple presidents suffering such loss while leading the nation is haunting. It reminds us that the pressures of the presidency don’t shield anyone from personal grief. These stories stick with us because they’re both relatable and devastating.
10. Harrison’s Long Speech and Early Death
William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural address in history—almost two hours long. He also did it on a cold, wet day without wearing a coat or hat. Just a month later, he was dead, the shortest presidency in U.S. history. People have always connected his death to that reckless speech.
Historians now think he actually died of typhoid, not pneumonia from the weather, but the coincidence is too good to ignore. His eagerness to project toughness may have symbolically cost him his life. It’s become a cautionary tale about overdoing it on Day One. The irony of the longest speech leading to the shortest presidency makes it unforgettable.
11. Truman and the Coin Toss
When Harry S. Truman ran for the U.S. Senate in 1934, he won the Democratic primary in Missouri by a razor-thin margin. One of his precinct victories actually came down to a coin toss. Without that lucky flip, he might never have advanced to the general election. And without that, no Truman presidency.
It’s a reminder of how fragile and coincidental history can be. A literal coin toss helped decide the man who would later authorize the use of the atomic bomb and reshape postwar geopolitics. That’s an enormous ripple effect from something so small. It makes you wonder how often history turns on chance.
12. Reagan’s Near Miss with the Zero-Year Curse
When John Hinckley Jr. shot Ronald Reagan in 1981, many people immediately thought of the “curse of Tecumseh.” Reagan had been elected in a zero year, and his survival broke the deadly streak. Surgeons later said the bullet missed his heart by less than an inch. In other words, he came astonishingly close to fulfilling the pattern.
Historians can’t help but see the coincidence as the final chapter of the curse narrative. Reagan’s recovery seemed to put an end to the superstition once and for all. Still, the fact that he almost died made the whole legend feel very real for a moment. It’s the kind of coincidence that makes even skeptics pause.
This post 12 Coincidences Between U.S. Presidents That Historians Still Can’t Explain was first published on American Charm.
