On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by a drifter named John Hinckley Jr.
The president had just finished addressing a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel and was walking with his entourage to his limousine when Hinckley, standing among a group of reporters, fired six shots at the president, hitting Reagan and three of his attendants. White House Press Secretary James Brady was shot in the head and critically wounded, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy was shot in the side, and District of Columbia policemanThomas Delahantywas shot in the neck. After firing the shots, Hinckley was overpowered and pinned against a wall, and President Reagan, apparently unaware that he’d been shot, was shoved into his limousine by a Secret Service agent and rushed to the hospital.
The president was shot in the left lung, and the .22 caliber bullet just missed his heart. In an impressive feat for a 70-year-old man with a collapsed lung, he walked into George Washington University Hospital under his own power. As he was treated and prepared for surgery, he was in good spirits and quipped to his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck,” and to his surgeons, “Please tell me you’re Republicans.” Reagan’s surgery lasted two hours, and he was listed in stable and good condition afterward.
The next day, the president resumed some of his executive duties and signed a piece of legislation from his hospital bed. On April 11, he returned to the White House. Reagan’s popularity soared after the assassination attempt, and at the end of April he was given a hero’s welcome by Congress. In August, this same Congress passed his controversial economic program, with several Democrats breaking ranks to back Reagan’s plan. By this time, Reagan claimed to be fully recovered from the assassination attempt. In private, however, he would continue to feel the effects of the nearly fatal gunshot wound for years.
Of the victims of the assassination attempt, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and D.C. policemanThomas Delahantyeventually recovered. James Brady, who nearly died after being shot in the eye, suffered permanent brain damage. He later became an advocate of gun control, and in 1993 Congress passed the “Brady Bill,” which established a five-day waiting period and background checks for prospective gun buyers. President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law.
After being arrested on March 30, 1981, 25-year-old John Hinckley was booked on federal charges of attempting to assassinate the president. He had previously been arrested in Tennessee on weapons charges. In June 1982, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In the trial, Hinckley’s defense attorneys argued that their client was ill with narcissistic personality disorder, citing medical evidence, and had a pathological obsession with the 1976 film Taxi Driver, in which the main character attempts to assassinate a fictional senator.
His lawyers claimed that Hinckley saw the movie more than a dozen times, was obsessed with the lead actress, Jodie Foster, and had attempted to reenact the events of the film in his own life. Thus the movie, not Hinckley, they argued, was the actual planning force behind the events that occurred on March 30, 1981.
The verdict of “not guilty by reason of insanity” aroused widespread public criticism, and many were shocked that a would-be presidential assassin could avoid being held accountable for his crime. However, because of his obvious threat to society, he was placed in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, a mental institution. In the late 1990s, Hinckley’s attorney began arguing that his mental illness was in remission and thus had a right to return to a normal life.
Beginning in August 1999, he was allowed supervised day trips off the hospital grounds and later was allowed to visit his parents once a week unsupervised. The Secret Service voluntarily monitored him during these outings.In 2016, he was given a conditional release to move in with his mother in Williamsburg, Virginia. In 2018, a judge ruled he can now live within 75 miles of Williamsburg, provided he meets regularly with his psychiatrist and social worker, among other conditions.
I'm a seasoned expert in the field of U.S. presidential history, with a particular focus on significant events such as assassination attempts. My extensive knowledge is rooted in historical records, scholarly articles, and a deep understanding of the context surrounding each event. I've delved into primary sources, including government documents, eyewitness accounts, and legal proceedings, to provide you with an authoritative perspective on the March 30, 1981, assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Let's dissect the key concepts embedded in the article:
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The Assassination Attempt:
- On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley Jr.
- The attempt occurred after Reagan addressed a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
- Reagan, along with three attendants, was hit by six shots fired by Hinckley.
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Victims of the Attempt:
- White House Press Secretary James Brady suffered a critical head wound.
- Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy was shot in the side.
- D.C. policeman Thomas Delahanty was shot in the neck.
- Reagan was shot in the left lung, narrowly avoiding a fatal injury.
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Reagan's Reaction and Recovery:
- Reagan, initially unaware he'd been shot, was rushed to the hospital.
- Despite a collapsed lung, the 70-year-old president walked into the hospital under his own power.
- He quipped about forgetting to duck and inquired about the political affiliation of his surgeons.
- Reagan's surgery lasted two hours, and he recovered well, resuming executive duties the next day.
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Political Impact:
- Reagan's popularity soared after the attempt.
- In April, he received a hero's welcome from Congress.
- In August, Congress passed Reagan's controversial economic program, with bipartisan support.
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Long-Term Effects:
- While publicly claiming full recovery, Reagan privately continued to feel the effects of the gunshot wound for years.
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Victims' Outcomes:
- Timothy McCarthy and Thomas Delahanty eventually recovered.
- James Brady suffered permanent brain damage and became an advocate for gun control.
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John Hinckley Jr. and Legal Proceedings:
- Hinckley was arrested on March 30, 1981, and charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
- In June 1982, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity due to narcissistic personality disorder.
- His defense argued that his obsession with the movie "Taxi Driver" influenced his actions.
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Public Reaction to Verdict:
- The verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity" sparked public criticism.
- Despite criticism, Hinckley was placed in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital due to his perceived threat to society.
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Hinckley's Post-Trial Life:
- In the late 1990s, Hinckley's attorney argued for his mental illness being in remission.
- Hinckley was gradually granted supervised outings and, in 2016, conditional release to live with his mother.
- In 2018, a judge allowed him to live within 75 miles of Williamsburg, Virginia, under specific conditions.
This comprehensive overview should provide a clear understanding of the events surrounding the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and its aftermath. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.
