Washington Hilton (Hinckley Hilton)

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Completed in 1965, the Washington Hilton is best known for its distinctive double arcs and its association with the attempted assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. On that day, John Hinckley Jr. waited for Reagan to exit a special side door that was often used by Presidents and fired six shots, including one that punctured Reagan's lung. One of the largest hotels in the area, the Washington Hilton offers over one thousand rooms, and the hotel's 36,000 square foot ballroom is the largest without pillars in the city and can seat 2,670. In the past, the ballroom has held concerts for famous artists, most famously hosting Jimi Hendrix on March 10, 1968. The hotel is home to many presidential events including the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

Images

Double arch's of the Washington Hilton

Reagan waving to the crowd before being shot

The driveway was installed after the attempted assassination of Reagan

Plaque commemorating the attempted assassination outside the hotel

Font, Commemorative plaque, Rectangle, Public utility

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Washington Hilton sits on 6 acres of land in one of the highest places in Washington, D.C. The land belonged to land proprietor Andrew Holmead in the early 1700s and was later sold to Union Officer Thomas P Morgan then Edward C Dean. In the 1930s, plans were made to build a Masonic Temple and although the plans failed, the area is known as Temple Heights.

When the hotel opened in 1965 with its distinctive two arched wings, it was built with an impressive ballroom and a back hallway called "Presidents Walk" which enabled Presidents to enter from a side door and directly access the stage of the ballroom. On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan had finished giving a speech to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and was exiting Presidents Walk. There was a small distance between the door leading onto the street and the idling Presidential Limousine. Normally, President Reagan wore a bulletproof vest but this precaution was avoided as the distance was so short. However, while he was heading to the car, John Hinckley Jr fired six shots in 1.7 seconds. Hinckley had traveled to DC by bus from Colorada on March 28 with the intention to kill Reagan. Hinckley was about 15 feet from Reagan and when he fired his .25 caliber handgun, one bullet ricocheted off the Presidential limousine under Reagan's left armpit puncturing his lung. In addition, Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy, and policeman Thomas Delahanty were also hit.

After the shooting, a new stone, covered, driveway was installed that made it possible for the Presidential limousine to drive straight up to the doors leading to Presidents Walk.

Sources

Cohen, Brian. A Tour of the Historic Washington Hilton, The Gate with Brain Cohen. 2015. Accessed January 24th 2021. https://thegate.boardingarea.com/a-tour-of-the-historic-washington-hilton/.

DiLiegro, Allison. Washington DC Hilton Hotel: Stories of Jimi Hendrix Jams to President Reagan’s Assassination Attempt, Storied Hotels. Accessed January 24th 2021. https://storiedhotels.com/washington-dc-hotels/washington-dc-hilton-hotel-stories-of-jimi-hendrix-jams-to-president-reagans-assassination-attempt/.

Assassination Attempt, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. Accessed January 24th 2021. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/assassination-attempt.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

TripAdvisor

Reagan Library

Brain Cohen