A gunman is accused of attempting to storm into the same hotel's ballroom during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner as President Ronald Reagan was nearly shot in the chest in 1981, nearly killing him. The suspect was subdued after firing six shots at Reagan, but was not seriously injured. The incident, which occurred at the same time as the shooting of Reagan, has been compared to the recent events at the Washington Hilton Hotel. The Hilton has hosted hundreds of large events attended by presidents and other dignitaries since it opened in the 1960s and is considered a significant venue for presidential speeches and events. The Secret Service increased security measures in response to the shooting, including deployment of checkpoints and metal detectors to screen visitors to the White house and public events. However, former agents say securing the Hilton highlights the tension between protecting politicians and their public access to them.