Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan

At 2:27 PM, as Reagan exited the Washington Hilton after addressing the AFL-CIO conference, John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots from a .22-caliber revolver in 1.7 seconds. The sixth bullet ricocheted off the presidential limousine and struck Reagan under his left arm, lodging near his heart and causing severe internal bleeding.

The 25-year-old Hinckley had developed an obsessive fixation on actress Jodie Foster after watching Taxi Driver multiple times, identifying with the film’s would-be assassin character. He believed killing Reagan would demonstrate his love for Foster and earn her attention, writing her letters explaining his intentions before the attack.

Three other victims were wounded: Press Secretary James Brady suffered permanent brain damage from a head shot, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy was shot in the chest while shielding Reagan, and District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty was struck in the back. Brady’s injuries led to his advocacy for gun control legislation.

Reagan remained conscious during transport to George Washington University Hospital, joking with medical staff while secretly losing nearly half his blood volume. Surgeons removed the flattened bullet from within an inch of his heart after a two-hour operation. His recovery impressed the nation and enhanced his political standing.

Hinckley’s trial in 1982 centered on the insanity defense, with psychiatrists testifying about his deteriorating mental state, narcissistic personality disorder, and delusional thinking. The jury’s verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity sparked public outrage and prompted the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984, which shifted the burden of proof to defendants.

Hinckley was confined to St. Elizabeths Hospital for over three decades before receiving conditional release in 2016. The assassination attempt highlighted presidential security vulnerabilities and established new protective protocols, including closer screening of potential threats and improved medical emergency procedures.