Secrets & Scandals Of America’s First Ladies

Suspected of Murder

Refusing to have a dead man embalmed was such an unorthodox demand that it immediately raised eyebrows. Rumors quickly circulated that Margaret poisoned her husband. They thought that maybe she wanted to prevent anyone from discovering what she did. Finally, in 1991 historians convinced president Taylor’s descendants to exhume his remains so they could extract some genetic material and test this theory; they wanted to finally put the rumors to rest. They determined Taylor was not poisoned. Margaret couldn’t do such a thing anyway, as she loved her husband dearly. While President Taylor was away at war, she prayed for him regularly and swore to God to give up the pleasures of society until he returned home safely.