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  1. On this day - 30 March

On this day - 30 March

Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.

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President Reagan shot in assassination attempt

Daily Express 30/03/1981

An assassination attempt was made on the life of President Reagan on March 30th 1981. He was shot at after leaving the Hilton Hotel in Washington where he had just given a speech at a trade union conference. Alongside the president, 3 others were shot and injured in the attack including James Brady who sustained permanent brain damage.

The shooter was found to be Robert Hinckley Jr who suffered from erotomania and had an obsession with actress Jodie Foster. He believed that assassinating the president would make him her equal, having been inspired by the film "Taxi Driver" in which she starred.

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MP Airey Neave assassinated

Daily Express 30/03/1979
Lt Col Airey Neave was a Conservative MP from 1953 until 1979. On March 30th 1979 Neave was fatally wounded as a result of a car bomb as he drove out of the Palace of Westminster. The bomb caused the traumatic amputation of both of his legs and he died in hospital later that day.

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