The Day Ronald Reagan Was Shot

October 2, 2024 | Jesse Singer

The Day Ronald Reagan Was Shot


March 30, 1981

On that day in Washington DC John Hinckley Jr shot, and wounded President Ronald Reagan. Why did he do it? What led up to it and what happened after?

Erotomania

For the purposes of this historical discussion, we have to start with erotomania—a recognized condition in which an individual is under the delusion that another individual is infatuated with them.

John Hinckley in front of The White HouseUnknown Author, Getty Images

Taxi Driver

Another important part of this story is Martin Scorsese's 1976 film, Taxi Driver, starring Robert De Niro and, most importantly, a young Jodi Foster. For those who may not have seen the film, De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a taxi driver loner who becomes obsessed with saving Iris Steensma, a 12-year-old street worker played by Jodi Foster. But why is this film such an important part of the story?

Robert De Niro  as Travis Bickle and Jodie Foster as IrisColumbia, Taxi Driver (1976)

Taxi Driver

Because John Hinckley Jr was obsessed with this film. He saw it multiple times, connecting strongly to the Bickle character and developing an obsession with Jodi Foster—an obsession that went beyond what you might have ever imagined.

Jodie Foster as IrisColumbia, Taxi Driver (1976)

Yale University

In 1980, after reading an article in People magazine about how Foster (now a teenager) was taking classes at Yale University, Hinckley actually enrolled in a writing course at the institution just to be near her. But being near her wasn't enough.

John Hinckley portraitBettmann, Getty Images

Write And Call

Not only did her write her lots of letters and leave her notes, Hinckley even called Foster on a couple occasions in late 1980. She told him she wasn't interested, but that didn't stop him.

Jodie Foster (1989)Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Gonna Be Somebody

Hinckley convinced himself that if he could lift his profile and become an equal to Foster that she would fall for him. So, he went back to his favorite movie for inspiration.

John Hinckley, Jr. in a carBettmann, Getty Images

What Would Bickle Do?

In Taxi Driver, Travis Bickle attempts to assassinate a US Senator. Hinckley took that as motivation and decided to do one better. To become a national figure that Foster would want to be with, he was going to assassinate the presidentJimmy Carter.

Robert De Niro  as Travis BickleColumbia, Taxi Driver (1976)

Very Close To Jimmy Carter

With his eyes set on Carter, Hinckley began to follow the President and surprisingly it wasn't that hard to get close to him. At one event, Hinckley was within 12 inches of the leader of the free world.

Jimmy Carter, official portrait in suitDepartment of Defense, Wikimedia Commons

Arrested

In October of 1980, Hinckley was arrested in the Nashville International Airport for illegal possession of a firearm.

Nashville International AirportCorey Seeman, Flickr

Two And Two Not Put Together

Although Nashville had been a recent stop for Carter on his campaign trail, the FBI didn't connect the two things together and thus, the Secret Service was never notified.

President Jimmy Carter at airportThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

Psychiatric Care

After the arrest, Hinckley's parents placed him under psychiatric care for a short time.

John W., Hinckley police officer and woman delivering flowersLyn Alweis, Getty Images

Focus On Regan

It was around this time that Hinckley adjusted his attention from Carter to Ronald Reagan.

Official Portrait Of President Reagan 1981Michael Evans, Wikimedia Commons

More Notes

In March of 1981, Hinckley wrote a few more notes to Jodi Foster at Yale. She gave them to the dean, who gave them to the university police, but they were unable to track Hinckley down

Actress Jodie Foster at Yale UniversityBettmann, Getty Images

January 20, 1981

Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the next President of the United States of America.

First inauguration of Ronald ReaganWhite House Photographic Collection, Wikimedia Commons

March 21, 1981

Nine days before the assassination attempt, Ronald Reagan went to a fundraising event at Ford's Theatre. Reagan wrote about that day in his autobiography: "I looked up at the presidential box above the stage where Abe Lincoln had been sitting the night he was shot and felt a curious sensation ... I thought that even with all the Secret Service protection we now had, it was probably still possible for someone who had enough determination to get close enough to the president to shoot him".

President Ronald Reagan at Ford's TheatreWhite House Photographic Collection, Wikimedia Commons

Change Of Plans

On March 28th, 1981 Hinckley arrived in Washington D.C. with a plan to stay the night and then head off the next day to New Haven to make another attempt at wooing Jodi Foster. However, when he noticed President Reagan's schedule published in The Washington Star he made the decision to stay in the city and make his move on the President.

President Ronald Reagan in Washington DC.mark reinstein, Shutterstock

March 30, 1981

On Reagan's schedule that day was a luncheon speech to representatives of the AFL–CIO at the Washington Hilton.

Washington HiltonAgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Safest Venue

The Washington Hilton had been used for presidential events hundreds of times in the past and the Secret Service considered it the safest venue in the city because of its enclosed "President's Walk" passageway.

President Ronald W. Reagan waves to the crowd upon his arrivalThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

1:45 PM

At around 1:45 pm, Reagan was escorted through the passageway at the Hilton to perform his luncheon duties.

President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan at Capital Hilton HotelThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

2:27 PM

Reagan exited the hotel via the passageway at 2:27 pm and headed for his nearby limousine. There were reporters waiting for him, as well as a crowd of people (including John Hinckley Jr).

Photograph of President Reagan waving to crowds at Hilton WashingtonNational Archives and Records Administration, Picryl

Bulletproof Vest

Often, the Secret Service would require President Reagan to wear a bulletproof vest for events, but in this case—since it was such a secure location and the only time the President would be at all exposed would be during the 30-foot walk to the limo—they didn't bother with a vest.

President Ronald Reaganmark reinstein, Shutterstock

Unscreened Crowd

The Secret Service had done their due diligence by screening the people inside the hotel. However, allowing a group of unscreened people to be that close to the President upon his exit from the building...that was a big mistake.

President-elect Ronald W. Reagan and his wifeThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

Three Layers Of Protection

The basic protocols of the layers of presidential protection included local law enforcement doing quick checks of people, followed by weapons checked by Secret Service agents. Hinckley managed to get past both those layers. The third layer were the agents right around the President.

President Ronald W. Reagan and his wife, Nancy, wave to the publicThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

"Mr President—"

Hundreds of people were clapping for the President, and the press—standing about 20 feet away—were yelling questions at him when Reagan just happened to pass right in front of Hinckley. As a reporter for The Associated Press shouted "Mr President—", Hinckley pulled out his gun and crouched down.

US President Ronald Reagan wavingThomas Hawk, Flickr

Six Shots Rang Out

He managed to get six shots off with his Röhm RG-14 .22 LR blue steel revolver in less than two seconds.

Chaos Outside The Washington Hilton Hotel After The Assassination Attempt On President ReaganDirck Halstead, Getty Images

Missed

All six shots missed the President.

US President Ronald ReaganKeystone, Getty Images

Shot One

The first shot hit White House press secretary James Brady in the head and shattered his brain cavity.

assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganConsolidated News Pictures, Getty Images

Shot Two

The second one hit DC police officer Thomas Delahanty in the back of the neck.

assassination attempt on US President Ronald Reaganmark reinstein, Shutterstock

Shot Three And Jerry Parr

As the shots rang out, Special Agent in Charge Jerry Parr moved fast to grab the president and push him into the limousine. He did this as the third shot was fired—missing the President and hitting a window across the street. Had Parr not moved as quickly as he did, there is a strong likelihood that Reagan would have been hit in the head.

Assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganHistorical, Getty Images

Shot Four And Tim McCarthy

With Parr taking care of the President, Special Agent Tim McCarthy turned towards the sound of the gunshots and made himself a human shield between the gunman and the President. The fourth shot hit McCarthy in the abdomen.

Tim McCarthyUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Shot Five

The fifth shot hit the bullet-resistant glass of the rear door that Parr and Reagan were passing behind.

assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganHulton Archive, Getty Images

Shot Six

The final shot hit the armored limo and ricocheted off through the space between the open rear door and the frame of the limousine. It struck Reagan in his left underarm and lodged in his lung—less than an inch from the President's heart.

assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganBettmann, Getty Images

Hinckley Taken Down

Secret Service agent Dennis McCarthy dove on Hinckley. Two Labor officials from Ohio also got on Hinckley and began punching him. McCarthy had to physically "strike two citizens" to get them off Hinckley (probably the Labor officials).

Police Crowd Around John Hinckley Jr.Michael Evans, Wikimedia Commons

"Rawhide Is OK...We're Going To Crown"

At first glance and upon the agents' initial inspection of the President in the limousine, it appeared that the President (codename: Rawhide) hadn't been shot and was ok. Lead agent Parr radioed that "Rawhide is OK...we're going to Crown" (the White House).

Lead agent ParrCNN, Stalker: The Reagan Shooting (2013)

Blood

Reagan was in major pain, though, and coughed up blood.

Richard Crenna as Ronald ReaganShowtime, The Day Reagan Was Shot ( 2001)

Change Of Plans

Upon seeing this, agent Parr thought that a broken rib had possibly punctured Reagan's lung and he made the call to go to George Washington University Hospital instead of the White House. It was another decision that probably saved the President's life.

First Lady Nancy Reagan at George Washington HospitalDiana Walker, Getty Images

Four Minutes

The entire trip from the hotel to the hospital took less than four minutes.

Assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganCNN, Stalker: The Reagan Shooting (2013)

Emergency

Reagan walked into the hospital unassisted, smiling at people outside. But once inside, he collapsed to a knee and was taken to the emergency department.

Richard Crenna as Ronald ReaganShowtime, The Day Reagan Was Shot ( 2001)

He Was Shot

While in the emergency room, the doctors treated his low systolic blood pressure and gave him fluids and chest tubes. It was there that they found the entrance wound of the bullet. This surprised agent Parr, who had assumed he'd broken the President's ribs when pushing him into the limousine.

assassination attempt on US President Ronald ReaganCNN, Stalker: The Reagan Shooting (2013)

Surgery

30 minutes after arriving at the emergency department, Reagan was headed for surgery. Surgery was long and the President lost a lot of blood, but doctors were able to remove the bullet.

President Reagan With Nancy Four Days After The ShootingReagan Library, Wikimedia Commons

Full Recovery

It took some time (less than many doctors would have predicted, though), but Reagan made a full recovery and went on to serve his term as President and win re-election to a second term as well.

President Reagan Looking At  Get Well Soon Mr. President   photoRonald Reagan Presidential Library, Wikimedia Commons

Never Again

After the shooting, Reagan never again got out of a limousine onto a public sidewalk or walked across an airport tarmac for the rest of his presidency.

President Ronald W. Reagan and his wife at InaugurationThe U.S. National Archives, Picryl

Hinckley Verdict

John Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on June 21, 1982.

John Hinckley Jr. at courtmark reinstein, Shutterstock

Confinement 

Hinckley was sent to St Elizabeths Hospital—a psychiatric hospital in Washington, DC—where he remained until 2006, when he began a program that allowed him some time at his mother's house.

The Center Building at St. Elizabeths, 2006Tom, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Hinckley Released

In 2016, Hinckley was allowed to leave the hospital for good to live with his mother full-time.

John Hinckley Jr. sits for a portrait with his guitar in Williamsburg, VirginiaRYAN M. KELLY, Getty Images

No Regrets

After his release, Hinckley showed no regret for what he had done—and called the shooting, "the greatest love offering in the history of the world".

John Hinckley Jr. poses for a portrait in a park next to the Williamsburg Regional LibraryThe Washington Post, Getty Images

 

  


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