Sadness In High Office

August 6, 2019 (Tuesday)
We have had 45 presidents and 49 vice presidents. Of these, 8 presidents and 7 vice presidents died in office (94 men – 15 deaths).
Let’s examine the history of vice presidents who have died in office. George Clinton died on April 20, 1812 and served with James Madison. Elbridge Gerry served with James Madison and he died on November 23, 1814. William King served with Franklin Pierce and he died on April 20, 1853, only six weeks into his term. Henry Wilson served with Ulysses Grant and he died on November 22, 1875. Thomas Hendricks served with Grover Cleveland and he died on November 23, 1885, after only 8 months in office. Garrett Hobart died on November 21, 1899, after serving with William McKinley for almost 3 years. James Sherman served with William Howard Taft 3 1/2 years and died on October 30, 1912. All of these men died of natural causes.
Now let’s take a look at the presidents who died in office: 5 died of natural causes and 4 were assassinated. The first was William Henry Harrison, who holds the record for the shortest term of office; he died on April 4, 1841 after only a month. Zachary Taylor died nine years later on July 9, 1850 after only little more than 2 years. Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865 and died the next day, six weeks into his second term. James Garfield was shot on July 2, 1881 and died ten weeks later on September 19, 1881 after 6 months in office. William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901 and died 8 days later on September 14, 3 months into his second term. Warren Harding died of illness (some say he was assassinated) on August 2, 1923, after 29 months. Franklin D. Roosevelt died of natural causes on April 12, 1945, 3 months into his fourth term as president. John F. Kennedy died instantly from gunshot wounds on November 22, 1963; biographers note he served 1000 days. He was 46 years old.

This list reminds us that death is no respecter of persons. It comes to rich and poor, young and old, male and female, powerful and powerless, strong and weak. At times it is expected; often it comes as a surprise. But it comes, nevertheless, to one and all. The Bible urges us to live our lives to the fullest, doing our very best for God and others, and it also tells us never to take life for granted. We make our plans, but sometimes we are unable to fulfill them. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1 King James Bible).

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
And time shall be nor more,
And the morning breaks upon that shore so fair,
When the saved of earth shall gather
Over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

Will you be there? Listen to this hymn .Click here.