On March 30, 1981, an assassination attempt was made on President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred just 69 days into his presidency.
As Reagan was leaving the hotel after delivering a speech, John Hinckley Jr., a 25-year-old man obsessed with actress Jodie Foster, fired six shots at the president from close range. One of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest, puncturing his lung and causing serious internal bleeding.
Three others were also wounded in the attack: White House Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, and police officer Thomas Delahanty. Brady suffered a severe head wound that left him partially paralyzed and with slurred speech. He later became a prominent gun control advocate.
Reagan was quickly rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet and repair the damage to his lung. Despite the seriousness of his injury, the president maintained his sense of humor. He famously quipped to his wife, Nancy, "Honey, I forgot to duck," and to his surgeons, "Please tell me you're all Republicans."
The assassination attempt shocked the nation and the world. Hinckley was immediately arrested and later found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was sent to a mental institution and released in 2016 after spending over 30 years in psychiatric care.
President Reagan made a remarkable recovery and returned to the White House just 12 days after the shooting. The incident had a profound impact on his presidency and his personal life, and it also sparked a national conversation about gun violence and mental health issues.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
