Yes, we can.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well, I read in the paper today there's a 1 in 5 chance of any sitting U.S. President dying in office. I have no idea what that stat is based on. It was printed in the L.A. Weekly.

But John McCain, if elected, would be the oldest serving president in U.S. History.


That combined with the absolute loathing I hold for his V.P. choice leaves me concerned about the Vice Presidency more than I ever have been for any other election.

(William Henry Harrison + Zachary Taylor + Abraham Lincoln + James Garfield + William McKinley + Warren Harding + Franklin Roosevelt +John Kennedy) divided by 43 presidents = ~ 18% or 1 in ~5.5

However, those are just the ones that died. I think you would have to add Nixon to that list since he did not finish his term. That brings us to 20% or exactly 1 in 5.

Of course I think it might be more accurate to count the number of terms rather than the number of presidents. We are currently in the 55th term. So that gives us ~ 16% or 1 in 6.25 chance of a VP becoming president on any given term.