Online at the Reagan Library – Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Assassination Attempt on President Reagan’s Life

“Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less & less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed…Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.” – Ronald Reagan, personal diary entry March 30, 1981

2021 marks the 40^th anniversary of the inauguration of Ronald Reagan as America’s 40^th president.  It’s a year of re-examining his legacy, re-telling one of America’s greatest stories, re-living a remarkable run as President, and introducing an icon to a new generation.  This is 40 at 40; the 40^th anniversary of our 40^th President’s inaugural year.

As part of the year-long commemoration, the Reagan Foundation will be holding a series of virtual events that look at, and discuss, one of these historic anniversary dates.  The first virtual event in this series commemorates the 40^th anniversary of that fateful day – March 30, 1981 – when President Reagan and three others were shot.  During this virtual event you will hear from the people who were there that day, including:

• Former United States Secret Service Agent Ray Shaddick, the agent who helped shove President Reagan into the car, before closing the door behind him
• Former United States Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy, who was struck by one of the bullets aimed at President Reagan
• Former White House Advance Staff Rick Ahearn, who helped to save White House Press Secretary James Brady’s life with his quick actions that day
• Former White House Speechwriter Mari (Maseng) Will, who drafted the speech the President delivered that day and was walking in front of the President when the shots rang out
• The conversation will be moderated by Del Quentin Wilber, author of “Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan” and current Enterprise and Investigative Reporter at the LA Times’ Washington Bureau

Please join us virtually on March 30, 2021 as we commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the assassination attempt on President Reagan’s life.  This event will be streamed on our YouTube channel (YouTube.com/ReaganFoundation). To register for the event, please click here.