The Gipper Goes Down

On March 30, 1981, Ronald Wilson Reagan had been President of the United States for 70 days. Elected by a landslide over Jimmy Carter in 1980, the 70-year-old Reagan had already had a big success when the Americans held hostage in Iran were released minutes after his inauguration. Reagan, a former actor and Governor of California, was looking to become a much-loved American leader and to have a profound impact on America. He did have that impact, but probably not in the way he'd expected. On that day, Reagan left the Hilton Hotel after an appearance there, with his Press Secretary, James Brady, in tow. A young, Jodie Foster-obsessed man called John Hinckley Jnr, fired six shots from a revolver at the President. Brady was critically wounded, a secret service man was killed, and Reagan was rushed to hospital unconcious. He was pronounced Dead on Arrival, assassinated by a disturbed young man. The 'curse of 00' had struck again - every US President elected in a year ending in 00 had died in office, from Lincoln to Reagan.

Vice President George Bush was summoned, informed what had happened and immediately took the oath of office. His first action as President was to launch a full investigation into the Reagan assassination. No conspiracy was revealed and Bush attracted criticism for politicising the death of his predecessor.

Next on the agenda was choosing a new Vice President. Bush chose the Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, a former White House Chief of Staff and four-star general. Haig was confirmed by both Houses of Congress in record time, and the Senate confirmed his replacement at the State Department, National Security Advisor Richard V. Allen. Reagan was dead and the brief Reagan era a memory as President Bush and Vice President Haig got on with the job.