In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

The date was March 30, 1981. President Ronald Reagan walked out of the Washington Hilton at 2:27 p.m. when shots rang out. Reagan was hit, along with White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, and District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty. All survived, though Brady was partially paralyzed.