32 years ago today, Reagan was shot, inches from the heart. Kept his humor & optimism. Showed what he was made of. — Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) March 30, 2013

On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan was wounded in an assassination attempt outside the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Thirty-two years ago today, only 70 days into his Presidency, Ronald Reagan narrowly escaped assassination: pic.twitter.com/X7MVNu1QLY — Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) March 30, 2013

more dire than many thot mt“@BeschlossDC: 32 yrs ago today, only 70 days into his Presidency, Ronald Reagan narrowly escaped assassination. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

30 March 1981. US President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in Washington DC by John Hinckley. pic.twitter.com/nKto2YE5Uu — Prof.Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) March 30, 2013

Remember the Reagan shooting vividly (I was in 4th grade). TV told us Brady was dead. Pope shot a few months later. — Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) March 30, 2013

@baseballcrank I was working in a Radio Shack (junior in college) when Reagan was shot, we had TVs on and we were glued to them — Dave in Texas (@DaveinTexas) March 30, 2013

“@MilitaryChannel: President Reagan is shot #OnThisDay in 1981.” I was sitting in 8th grade history class and we had watched his speech — Kris (@drgnflydreams21) March 30, 2013

Del Quentin Wilber is the author of “Rawhide Down,” a bestselling account of the attempted assassination.

.@DelWilber's riveting page turner is the definitive read on the assassination attempt against Reagan. http://t.co/ijF1TdNt9V — Glen Asbury (@glenasbury) March 30, 2013

Wilber took to Twitter to share details about that terrifying day and how close we came to losing President Reagan just 70 days into his presidency.

The attempted assassination of Pres. Reagan occurred 32 years ago tomr. Life spared by an inch, a split second and a split-second decision. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 29, 2013

3/30/81, #Reagan had just addressed officials in East Room. Quoted Thomas Paine: "We have it in our power to begin the world over again." — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

He next had an Oval Office staff meeting with his Troika (who?). Reagan did not remove his suit jacket. Respected office too much. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

At 9:15 a.m. he had a call with German Chancellor. Serious concerns abt Polish labor unrest and poss Soviet military intervention. #coldwar — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

David Broder, respected @washingtonpost reporter, said Reagan's actions on 3/30/81 made him "politically untouchable from that point on." — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

I think my favorite detail from 3/30/81 was that a surgical intern held the president's beating heart in his hands. #reagan #tcot #history — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

For more information about the assassination attempt: http://t.co/dkxLyRfzFu or http://t.co/XQDzwvdRkL (docs, photos, interviews). — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

Jerry Parr, agent who saved Reagan's life, was inspired to join Secret Service after watching a movie as 9 yr old. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

Hinckley loaded his .22-cal Saturday Night Special with "Devastator" bullets, which explode on impact. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013

In Hinckley's suitcase, feds discovered this book: "Ted Bundy: The Killer Next Door." — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) March 30, 2013