Reagan assumed the role of unofficial " protector " for her husband after the attempted assassination of him in 1981 . On March 30 of that year , President Reagan and three others were shot by troubled 25-year old John Hinckley , Jr as they left the Washington Hilton hotel . Nancy was alerted and arrived at George Washington University Hospital , where the President was hospitalized . She recalled having seen " emergency rooms before , but I had never seen one like this – with my husband in it . " She was escorted into a waiting room , and when granted access to see her husband , he quipped to her , " Honey , I forgot to duck " , borrowing the defeated boxer Jack Dempsey 's jest to his wife
attempted assassination of him
Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan
Nancy Reagan