The Washington times., 1908-06-28
CAREER of Cleveland Longer
Than That of Most Presidents
Third Time in History That Country Has Been With
out Living Ex-Presi dent-Lived to Greater
Age in Early Days.

Since Washington died in the years OF
the Presidency Of John Adams, his sue
cessoT, and since the passing Of Andrew
Johnson in the later Of the two terms of
Grant. now for the first time In the
history Of the nation, barring those two
intervals, is the United States left with
out a living ex-President.
In the present case Grover Cleveland
had been the only citizen who. after
serving his country in its highest office,
mad Survived 20 return to private life.
Retiring from the White House in his
sixtieth year, he enjoyed for nearly
dozen years the rewards OF man who
had twice been the leader Of a people.
When lie died, last Wednesday, he had
lived slightly past the average age, at
'IeSth, OF all the Presidents. Counting
years only and ignoring extra months,
the records show that the twenty-four
men who have passed TO rest after serv-
inc the Chief Executive died az the
average age of sixty-nine years and a
fracIC1 more. or barely under three
score ana ten.
When Rutherford B. Hayes died az his
home in Fremont, Ohio, on January H.
1882. there was an interval Of a month
and a half before Benjamin Harrison
became eX-President and Mr. Cleveland
was yet TO see active service as Presi-
dent again.
Majority Died Under 10.
Thirteen American Presidents expired
before they attained the age reached by
Grover Cleveland James Buchanan.
who died in 1855. in his seventy-eighth
year. was the last previous President 10
have exceeded seventy years. which was
the age OF Hayes. OF the rrst six Presi-
dents no fewer than four reached the
eigaty'-year mark.
The elder Adams. jefferson, Madison,
and J. q. Adams were these four octOge-
narians or better. Indeed. John Adams.
who died al the age OF ninety years,
was the oldes. OF AL Since the death
Of the younger Adams. at eighty years.
none has reached fourscore years. Eight
otEers. however, passed the seventeen
milestone OF their life's journey.
As n 70 show that men were stronger
IN the days Of powdered wigs, OF snuff,
OF duels and such like and during the
early years OF transition 10 long tight
trousers. blue swallOW-tail coat and
brass bdttons. 1t appears that the firsS
ten Presidents died at the average age
OF seventy-seven years and six months,
while the fourteen that followed them
lived only 10 an average age OF sixty
three years and six months Thus. the
lives are lived much faster in our mile
a-rninute days.
Washington Died Early.
Viewing Stuarts portrait Of Wash
tngton. with its characteristics lips ana
stern, unbending attitude OF the pro
81 Uars,a-, -,
holder is perhaps accustomed to think
Of our first President as a vsnera bic
mar. an old man. in spite OF his erect
carriage and steady eye. To US all old
and young. ne is likely TO seem as old
as does the teacher 10 the boy Just
learning as FIRST reader. In reality. at
sixty-seven years, Washington died a
younger man than any other until
James K Polk.
The eleventh President passed away
a few short weeks after leaving the
White House. an old man at fifty-three
years- Since Folks death. eight others
have gone before reaching the sixty
seven years attained by Washington.
One other. Benjamin Harrison. died At
just that age. Arthur and Lincoln were
both fifty-six years Old when death
claimed them These are the only in
stances OF double coincidence Of years
in the ages Of the Presidents.
Two Died Together.
Statistics Of the deaths OF the Chief
Executives show three condolences. one
Of these is unique and famous in Anneri-
can history On July 1. 1926. the fiftieth
anniversary OF the Declaration OF In
dependence. there died, at about the
same hour. two former Presidents who
had stood as leaders in preparing and
causing the adoption OF that declara-
ton, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
In two other instances were the deaths
Of two former leaders recorded on the
rolls Of a single year.
In 1852, John Tyler and Martin Van
Buren, were laid to rest, old political
foes as bitter. perhaps. as Adams and
Jefferson had been. Again. in 1901. Ben
jamin Harrison closed a brief retire
nent and William McKinlev was shot
down by fanatic. The decade begin
ming 1860 saw the deaths OF five Presi-
denis in all. After Van Buren, and
Tyler there were Pierce. Lincoln. and
Buchanan
That Americans are a restless. people
is fairly shown by the fact that only
eleven OF the twenty-fOur Chiefs OF this
nation dle0 within the borders Of the
States in which they were born. Four
however. died in washington. Three
passed away within the limits Of the
towns which had been their birthplaces
-Four sons OF Virginia breathed their
last within that States border. Two
Presidents died n New York CITY. two [
IN the, city Of Buffalo and two more /
within New York. not all, however, be- I
ing New Workers Next 70 Virginia. IN /
memorials 10 native Presidents would I
probably come Tennessee, whose soil (
the ashes Of JAG kson, Polk and
Johnson.
The Fourth Of July is a marked date
for one more event in the list. Not
only did adams and Jefferson die on /
that date, but five years later. on July
T. ISL James Monroe followed them /
seven presidents have died in the /
mont NJ INV r-bffa e.