One Sentence Summary
Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O’Reilly is a thorough and insightful exploration of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and its lasting impact.
Book Genre
Non-fiction, historical / biographical.
Main Topic of the Book
Killing Reagan focuses on the assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan and its aftermath, as well as the larger legacy of Reagan’s presidency.
Key Ideas
- The revealing of John Hinckley’s motives – O’Reilly’s investigation delves into the possible motives of Reagan’s would-be assassin John Hinckley and his troubling past.
- The full extent of the attack – O’Reilly offers a detailed account of the attack, describing in vivid detail the magnitude of the violence and the lasting impacts it had on the nation.
- The legacy of Reagan’s presidency – O’Reilly takes an in-depth look at the legacy of Reagan’s presidency, from his famous Cold War foreign policy to his less discussed domestic efforts.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part I – The author provides a brief overview of Ronald Reagan’s life and career and the events that led up to the assassination attempt on his life.
- Part II – The author delves into Hinckley’s background and examines the possible motives of the would-be assassin.
- Part III – O’Reilly offers a detailed recount of the assassination attempt and its aftermath.
- Part IV – O’Reilly examines the legacy of Reagan’s presidency and its significance in American history.
Key Takeaways
- O’Reilly provides a candid and insightful perspective on the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan including an analysis of Hinckley’s motives.
- He draws on firsthand accounts of the attack to provide a vivid description of the events that took place.
- He also offers an in-depth look at the legacy of Reagan’s presidency from his Cold War foreign policy to his domestic efforts.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Bill O’Reilly is a journalist and former news anchor with an extensive career at CBS and ABC. He is the author of many other successful and popular books, and has written numerous articles on politics and history.
Target Audience
The target audience for this book is adults interested in U.S. history and politics, as well as those interested in exploring the assassination attempt on President Reagan.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Killing Reagan was published by Henry Holt and Co. in September 2015.