Ronald Reagan carried a gun with him at all times and stashed it in his briefcase whilst he was away on official business. An American author has claimed that the former president never left the White House without a .38 caliber pistol by his side. He even took it on Air Force One in case a disturbance broke out in mid-air said Brad Meltzer, who writes political thrillers.
Meltzer did not specify when the President started carrying the firearm, though it could well have been after the attempt on his life.
On March 30, 1981, Reagan and three others were shot by would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. Reagan was the first serving president to survive an assassination attempt .
In an article in the New York Daily News, Meltzer said that on a tour of the Secret Service headquarters whilst researching his latest book, he came across the actual car door from the limousine where Reagan was shot.
Armed: Author Brad Meltzer says Reagan took the gun even on board Air Force One. Above, stock image of a .38mm handgun
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3123604/The-president-s-pistol-New-book-claims-Ronald-Reagan-carried-handgun-briefcase-times-administration.html#ixzz3d82CG6JZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook