The Birth 1981 -

Just 69 days into his term, on March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton. The president was critically wounded, suffering a collapsed lung. His cool-headed response ("I forgot to duck") and his recovery cemented his image as the "Teflon President." The birth of the modern 24/7 media circus around presidential trauma began here.

Famous people born in 1981 include: (Dec 2), Justin Timberlake (Jan 31), Beyoncé Knowles (Sep 4), Paris Hilton (Feb 17), Serena Williams (Sep 26), Elon Musk (June 28) — a list that defines 21st-century pop culture and tech. The Birth 1981