The Hospital Bed President: 5 Untold Stories Of Ronald Reagan’s Near-Death Moments And Constitutional Crises

Ronald Reagan's time in a hospital bed represents some of the most dramatic and pivotal moments of his presidency, transforming him from a political leader into a symbol of American resilience. While the images of the President waving from his hospital window are iconic, the true stories—the near-death medical realities, the constitutional crises, and the famous one-liners—remain a source of deep historical and political fascination even today, December 10, 2025.

The President's health became a central public concern on two major occasions: the immediate aftermath of the 1981 assassination attempt and the significant colon cancer surgery in 1985. These events not only tested the capabilities of the nation's top medical teams but also challenged the very framework of presidential succession, creating precedents that endure in U.S. governance.

President Ronald Reagan: A Brief Biography & Key Medical Events

• Full Name: Ronald Wilson Reagan
• Born: February 6, 1911, Tampico, Illinois
• Died: June 5, 2004, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California (Aged 93)
• Wife: Nancy Davis Reagan (m. 1952–2004)
• Children: Maureen, Michael, Patti, Ron
• 40th President of the United States: 1981–1989
• Governor of California: 1967–1975
• Major Health Events During Presidency:
  • March 30, 1981: Assassination Attempt and Emergency Surgery (George Washington University Hospital).
  • July 13, 1985: Colectomy for Colon Cancer (Bethesda Naval Hospital).
  • 1987: Minor surgery for basal cell carcinoma on his nose.
  • 1994: Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (announced after leaving office).

The 1981 Assassination Attempt: A Near-Death Ordeal at GWU Hospital

The attempted assassination of President Reagan on March 30, 1981, by John Hinckley Jr., was a moment of national terror that instantly shifted to a medical drama. Reagan was rushed to George Washington University Hospital (GWU Hospital), where the true severity of his injury—a bullet lodged near his heart—was only revealed upon arrival.

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The President, ever the performer, famously walked into the emergency room before collapsing, demonstrating remarkable composure despite internal bleeding. His quick wit, even in the face of death, provided immediate reassurance to a nervous nation. As his wife, Nancy Reagan, arrived, he reportedly quipped, "Honey, I forgot to duck." To the surgical team preparing him for an emergency thoracotomy, he offered another classic line: "Please tell me you’re all Republicans."

The Heroic Medical Team and the Bullet’s Location

The situation was dire. The bullet had ricocheted off the presidential limousine's armor, entered his left side, and lodged dangerously close to his heart, causing a pneumothorax and massive blood loss. The trauma team, led by Dr. Joseph Giordano, and the thoracic and cardiac surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Aaron, were instrumental in saving his life. Dr. Aaron was the surgeon who successfully located and removed the .22-caliber bullet from the President's lung.

The President's recovery in the hospital bed was marked by his trademark optimism and humor. He joked to his daughter, Maureen Reagan, that the assassination attempt "ruined one of my best suits." This public display of resilience was a massive morale boost for the country, solidifying his image as the "Teflon President" who could survive any crisis.

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The Constitutional Precedent: The 1985 Colon Cancer Surgery

Four years later, in July 1985, President Reagan again found himself in a hospital bed, this time at the Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), for a scheduled surgery that would make constitutional history. What began as a routine colonoscopy revealed a large, cancerous polyp that required a colectomy—the surgical removal of a section of the large intestine.

The surgical team for this procedure was civilian-led, including Dr. Dale W. Oller and Dr. Lee Smith, with assistance from military physicians like Assistant White House Physician Dr. John Hutton. The operation involved removing two feet of the President's right colon.

The First Intentional Invocation of the 25th Amendment

The 1985 surgery created a unique and crucial constitutional moment. Due to the general anesthesia required for the operation, Reagan's aides advised him to temporarily transfer power. He did so by sending letters to the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, explicitly invoking Section 3 of the 25th Amendment.

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This marked the first time in U.S. history that a President had intentionally and formally transferred power to the Vice President—George H.W. Bush—due to a temporary medical inability. Though Reagan's letter included a disclaimer that he was not formally invoking the Amendment, the procedure he followed was precisely that outlined in Section 3. Vice President Bush served as Acting President for approximately eight hours before Reagan signed a second letter to resume his duties, setting a vital precedent for presidential disability and succession.

Beyond the Major Crises: Other Presidential Health Scares and Procedures

While the 1981 shooting and the 1985 cancer surgery are the most famous "Ronald Reagan in hospital bed" moments, his presidency included other, less dramatic but medically significant events that required hospital visits and procedures, further demonstrating the intense scrutiny of a President's health.

• Skin Cancer (Carcinoma): Reagan underwent several minor procedures to remove cancerous lesions, including basal cell carcinoma from his nose and other small spots, which were typically performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
• Prostate Stones: Even before his presidency, Reagan had a history of urinary tract issues, undergoing surgery in 1966 to remove prostate stones.
• Durable Health Image: Despite these serious health challenges, Reagan's overall public image was one of robust health and vigor. His ability to quickly recover from the assassination attempt and the major abdominal surgery reinforced his public persona as the "Great Communicator" and a man of exceptional stamina, which helped to maintain public confidence during a period of high geopolitical tension with the Soviet Union.

The legacy of Ronald Reagan's time spent in a hospital bed is twofold: it is a testament to the skill of his medical teams—including figures like Dr. Benjamin Aaron and Dr. Dale W. Oller—and a permanent chapter in U.S. constitutional history. His resilience under fire and his willingness to formally address the issue of presidential disability ensured that his personal health crises became foundational moments for the American political system.