Reagan shot at the Washington Hilton (1981)
March 1981What Happened
John Hinckley Jr. opened fire on President Ronald Reagan as he left the same Washington Hilton through a side entrance after a labor speech. Reagan was struck in the chest; press secretary James Brady, an officer, and an agent were also wounded. Hinckley fired six shots in under two seconds.
Outcome
Reagan survived emergency surgery; Brady was permanently disabled. The Secret Service redesigned presidential arrival and departure routes at hotels.
The attack drove the 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and reshaped how presidents enter civilian venues — including the underground arrival route still used at the Hilton today.
Why It's Relevant Today
Saturday's attack happened inside the same hotel where a U.S. president was last shot. The site choice highlights how durable the Hilton's role as Washington's de facto large-event venue has been — and now reopens questions Reagan's shooting was supposed to have settled.
