Washington, Mar 30, 2011 - Today marks the 30th anniversary of a failed assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life. On March 30, 1981, President Reagan addressed a hotel ballroom full of delegates at an AFL-CIO convention. It is no secret Reagan’s Conservative principles politically countered the liberal stalwart union which campaigned fervently against Reagan just a few months prior. However, unbeknownst to many, Reagan was the first president to boast a lifetime membership to an AFL-CIO union from his days as President of the Screen Actors Guild.

One might assume a politician, stepping into a contentious room full of people who didn’t vote for him, may insert snide or somewhat insulting remarks to the audience. This was not Reagan. So much more than a politician, Reagan always told me, when debating the issues of the day: never attack the person, attack the policy. Sure, Reagan’s ideas to move America forward often countered the union bosses in the room. But he wasn’t concerned with the bosses; Reagan spoke directly to the workers. As the president for all Americans, he leaned on shared values in his address:

“As we work to solve our economic problems, let us tap that well of human spirit. We'll find more than strength of numbers and strength of resources, we'll find strength of individual determination. We may even find strength in mutual trust. For too many years now, we've trusted numbers and computers. We've trusted balance sheets, organization charts, policies, and systems. We've placed trust in rules, regulations in government, government dictates. Well, I think it's about time that we placed trust in ourselves.

“I'm here today because I salute what you've done for America. In your work you build. In your personal lives, you sustain the core of family and neighborhood. In your faith, you sustain our religious principles. And with your strong patriotism, you're the bulwark which supports an America second to none in the world. I believe the American people are with us in our cause. I'm confident in our ability to work together, to meet and surmount our problems, and to accomplish the goals that we all seek.

“Now, I know that we can't make things right overnight. But we will make them right. Our destiny is not our fate. It is our choice. And I'm asking you as I ask all Americans, in these months of decision, please join me as we take this new path. You and your forebears built this Nation. Now, please help us rebuild it, and together we'll make America great again.”

Moments later, the popping sounds of the gun were heard, the president was pushed into his limousine, and the rest is history. Just more than two months into his presidency, Reagan was an inch from death as the bullet scraped by his heart.

At the time of the shooting, I was in the West Wing with my good friend, White House political director and one of Reagan’s most trusted aides, Lyn Nofziger. Unfortunately, Press Secretary James Brady had been shot at the scene, which meant the media was running to any White House official they could find for answers. We knew as much as was being reported on network news. Lyn raced down to the hospital to coordinate the media on that end. True to form, as we frantically tried to gather information on what had just happened, the Gipper was cracking jokes with the surgeons in the operating room uttering the now famous line, “I hope you’re all Republicans.”

A month later, the president returned to his desk, the work ensued, and his agenda to revive America and liberate foreigners from communist oppression was stronger than ever. Working in the White House, I can tell you the shooting did not change our course of action. It may have stalled the immediate progress of our agenda, but if anything, Reagan’s survival only served to strengthen our cause. And we could see it in Reagan himself.

With the American people rallied behind his recovery, Reagan was stronger than ever. Revived after a brush with death, and renewed with the breath of life, it was morning in America.