While researching presidential history for his latest political thriller, best-selling author Brad Meltzer learned an interesting fact about President Ronald Reagan: he almost always carried a .38 revolver when he left the White House.
While Metzler was on a tour of the Secret Service headquarters museum, agents pointed out the door from the limo that Reagan was using when John Hinckley attempted to assassinate him. During the discussion of the assassination attempt, agents pointed out that Reagan regularly carried a .38 when he traveled, usually in his briefcase. This included travel on Air Force One.
The revelation led the author of "The Presidents Shadow" among many titles, to look into what other Presidents carried in their pockets. None of the other recent Presidents carried a gun or anything more interesting than a wallet or cell phone, leading Metzler to comment, "Whatever you think of Reagan, you have to admit, he had a black belt in badassery."
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