Willie Lincoln
On February 20, 1862, 11-year-old Willie Lincoln passed away, causing a somber atmosphere in the White House for the rest of his father's presidency. It is believed that Willie contracted typhoid fever from the contaminated water supply in the mansion. He was dressed in his usual clothes and placed in a simple metal coffin in the East Room of the White House.
The weeks leading up to his death were extremely difficult for the president and first lady, who were devastated by the loss of their son. According to Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who worked as Mrs. Lincoln's seamstress and confidante, President Lincoln's grief affected him deeply, making him appear weak and vulnerable. Mrs. Lincoln was inconsolable, and at one point, the president had to remind her to control her grief, fearing it would drive her mad. He pointed towards St. Elizabeth's Hospital, an insane asylum, as a warning. Willie's body was temporarily placed in a marble vault in Oak Hill Cemetery until the Lincoln family returned to Illinois. Despite his responsibilities as president, Lincoln regularly visited his son's tomb until his own assassination on April 15, 1865. Eventually, the caskets of father and son were placed side by side on the presidential funeral train for their journey home.
President Zachary Taylor
President Zachary Taylor was bedridden in the White House for four days, suffering from severe cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. He passed away on July 9, 1850, just 16 months into his term. Historians have debated the exact cause of his death, with some suggesting cholera and others hinting at arsenic poisoning. In 1991, Taylor's remains were exhumed for testing, but no evidence of poisoning was found. Medical examiners noted his surprisingly good teeth for a man of his age, but ultimately concluded that gastroenteritis was the likely cause of his death.
William Henry Harrison
On March 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison became the first Whig president of the United States. Despite the bitter cold weather, Harrison refused to wear warm clothing during his Inaugural Address, which ended up being the longest in US history. Unfortunately, just 31 days later, Harrison passed away inside the White House. Initially, his physician, Dr. Thomas Miller, diagnosed him with pneumonia, but recent research suggests that Harrison's untimely death was actually caused by enteric fever. This fever was likely contracted from pathogens in the White House water supply, which was contaminated with deadly bacteria such as Salmonella typhi and S. paratyphi. Harrison exhibited symptoms of septic shock, including a weak pulse and cold extremities, before his death. Dr. Miller's treatment, which included opium and repeated enemas, only worsened Harrison's condition. The opium facilitated the spread of bacteria in his bloodstream, while the enemas may have caused ulcer perforation and sepsis.
Charles G. Ross
Charles G. Ross, who served as press secretary for President Harry Truman, was often criticized by the press corps for his lack of administrative experience. It was clear that Ross was not always fully informed about presidential activities and did not effectively coordinate news releases with government departments. Despite these shortcomings, Ross maintained his position in the White House due to his close friendship with the president. The two had been friends since childhood in Independence, Missouri, where they both graduated from high school in 1901. Ross became Truman's press secretary in 1945 and held the position until his sudden death five years later.
On December 5, 1950, after giving a press conference in the morning, Ross collapsed at his desk in the White House and died of a heart attack. President Truman praised his friend's dedication to duty and commitment to truth, saying, "We all knew that he was working far beyond his strength. But he would have it so. He fell at his post, a casualty of his fidelity to duty and his determination that our people should know the truth, and all the truth, in these critical times."
First Lady Ellen Wilson
During the first three months of her husband's presidency, First Lady Ellen Wilson hosted more than 40 White House receptions, musicals, and recitals. Despite criticism from the press about her fashion sense, her love for the arts led to the creation of the Rose Garden at the presidential mansion. Ellen kept her illness from her loved ones, suffering in private from Bright's disease. Dr. Cary Grayson moved into the White House on July 23, 1914, but left just 13 days later following Ellen's death. President Wilson was informed of her grave condition only 48 hours before she passed away. Ellen's dying wish for the alley clearance bill to pass was granted by Capitol Hill. She became the third presidential wife to die in the White House on August 6, 1914. Her remains were laid to rest in the East Room before a private funeral four days later. Her grave remained unmarked for a year, drawing attention to President Wilson's quick remarriage to Edith Bolling Galt in December 1915.
Madge Wallace
Madge Wallace, the mother-in-law of President Harry S. Truman, was known for her demeaning and bitter ways, which contributed to Truman's personal discontent. Despite Truman's success as the 33rd president of the United States, Wallace saw him as nothing more than a simple dirt farmer and failed haberdasher, unworthy of her daughter Bess. Her bitterness may have stemmed from a tragic event in 1903 when her husband, David Wallace, took his own life, leaving the family scarred with shame. Despite her constant belittling of Truman, he successfully led the nation through a time of world peril.
Historian Alan L. Berger described Wallace as a "confirmed anti-Semite" who criticized Truman's support for Israel and questioned his qualifications as president. Wallace, who only addressed Truman as "Mr. Truman," openly supported his opponents, such as Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Despite the mistreatment he endured from his mother-in-law, Truman spoke kindly of Mrs. Wallace upon her passing in her White House bedroom on December 5, 1952, saying, "She was a grand lady. When I hear these mother-in-law jokes I don’t laugh."
Letitia Tyler
Letitia Tyler was a prominent member of Washington's elite society. Unfortunately, in 1839, she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. Her husband, John Tyler, was soon chosen as the vice presidential candidate for William Henry Harrison. In April 1841, John became president after Harrison's sudden death, ending his days of caring for Letitia at their home in Williamsburg. Due to her physical limitations, Letitia was unable to attend her husband's swearing-in ceremony. Despite this, she continued to manage the family and public social affairs from her bedroom, where she spent most of her days with her Bible and prayer books. Letitia also directed charitable contributions to the poor of Washington from her personal wealth.
During the Tyler administration's political turmoil, Letitia suffered a second stroke. She wrote to her children, urging them to return to Washington, DC. On the night of her death on September 10, 1842, Letitia, holding a rose, turned towards the door, hoping to see her son who never arrived. Her casket lay in state in the East Room as city bells tolled in her honor, with crowds outside mourning the loss of a friend to the poor. Letitia Tyler became the first of three first ladies to die during their time in office.
