Reagan Recovering at George Washington Hospital

John Hinckley used devastator-type bullets in his assassination attempt, firing six shots in three seconds.  One of those bullets lodged within an inch of the President's heart. 

Not realizing how seriously he was injured, Reagan walked into the emergency pavilion at George Washington University Hospital - then collapsed.  (Today, that spot is marked by an overhang which reads "Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine.)

The day after the assassination attempt, President Reagan told his daughter, Maureen, that the shooting had ruined one of his best suits. Known for his sense of humor, he also told his wife, Nancy:  "Honey, I forgot to duck."

Credits

U.S. National Archives.