Ronald Reagan

Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving two terms. Prior to that he was a successful movie actor. He was also a lifeguard in his youth, saving hundreds of lives.

Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981. He was shot in the chest by John Hinckley, Jr, and underwent emergency surgery to have the bullet removed. In the turmoil of the shooting, no one saw the bullet wound, and doctors thought he was disoriented from having his head banged on the roof of the car while being hustled away. It was only after his clothing was examined that a bullet hole was found in his jacket and doctors performed a thorough physical exam, finding a small nearly bloodless wound in his chest.

Reagan died in 2004, after several years of Alzheimer's.