reagan assassination attempt

The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the United States Presidency of Ronald W. Reagan. While leaving the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, President Reagan, Press Secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delanty were shot by John Hinckley, Jr.. Reagan was whisked by the Secret Service agents in the presidential limousine to nearby George Washington University Hospital, where an emergency surgery was performed. Shortly before surgery to remove the bullet, which barely missed his heart, he remarked to his surgeons, "I hope you're all Republicans." http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa120197b.htm To his wife Nancy he jokingly commented, "Honey, I forgot to duck." Apparently he was quoting a remark made by boxer Jack Dempsey in 1926 explaining his loss of his heavyweight championship. After Dempsey lost to Gene Tunney, his wife Estelle Taylor asked him "What happened?" His reply was "Honey, I forgot to duck." A former actor-turned politician, Reagan often quoted such witticisms. The attack seriously wounded Press Secretary Brady, who sustained a very serious head wound and was permanently disabled. Brady and his wife, Sara, became leading advocates of gun control and other actions to reduce the amount of gun violence in the United States. They later became active in the lobbying organization that would eventually be renamed the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and they founded the not-for-profit Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on June 21. The defense psychiatric reports had found him to be insane while the prosecution reports declared him legally sane. Hinckley was confined at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Reagan Assassination Attempt

See also