Infamous Assassinations — Season 1, Episode 16: The Attempt on Ronald Reagan

Episode synopsis

Washington, 1981 On 30th March 1981, as US President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel, 25-year-old John Hinckley III fired six shots from a .22 revolver. One of the bullets missed Reagan''s heart by three inches. His famous quote to his wife was, "Honey, I forgot to duck". One of his top aides was not so fortunate.

About Infamous Assassinations

This brand-new and exclusive series takes a closer look at some of the world's most talked-about assassinations and near misses. Always a fascinating and macabre subject, assassinations can damage a nation's confidence, create wars and shock the world. Throughout this series some of the 20th century's most outrageous attempts can, thanks to rare archive footage and reconstructions, be seen first hand and viewers are brought closer to the events than ever before. From the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Mahatma Ghandi, to attacks on royalty, politicians and media celebrities, this series uncovers the real reasons behind these events and how they unfolded.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Assassination of Ernst Roehm
• E2The attempt on Princess Anne
• E3The Assassination of John Lennon
• E4The Assassination of Lord Louis Mountbatten
• E5The Assassination of Trotsky
• E6The Assassination of Pope John Paul II
• E7The Assassination of Sikorski
• E8The Assassination of President McKinley
• E9The Assassination of Heydrich
• E10The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
• E11The Assassination of Zia Al Huq
• E12The Assassination of Verwoerd