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Prior to the inauguration, 52 Americans had been held hostage in Iran for over a year (444 days), but within minutes of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. Reagan was notified of the release during his first presidential national security briefing. He announced the release during a luncheon held on Capitol Hill following his inauguration on Capitol Hill. On that same day, in his first official act as President and less than hour after being sworn-in, Reagan imposed a hiring freeze. In his statement about the freeze, he said that it would inevitably lead to reduction of a significant quantity in the federal work force and that only he himself would permit rare exemptions to the rule, when vital to maintaining services.
Reagan held his first cabinet meeting the following day. At the meeting he declared his priorities as being the reduction of the size of government, and controlling the federal budget. He also attended the swearing-in of 39 senior White House aides and in his address he told them to make their decisions based on what was good for Americans instead of what may land another position for them. On January 22nd, in a memo to federal government and agency heads, Reagan ordering a travel reduction by 15%, an outside professional services cut by 5%, and a furniture and other equipment purchase moratorium.
Reagan met with the families of the Iran hostages on January 25th, but did not permit television or radio coverage of the meeting. He promised them that when they were reunited with their returning family members, it would be a private moment, telling them, "You don't need any outsiders. This is a moment for you and them."
On January 29th, Reagan held his first presidential press conference, at which he spoke critically about the leaders of the Soviet Union, stating that they "reserve the right to commit any crime, to lie, to cheat". The next day, it was announced that Reagan has placed his assets into a blind trust. It was also revealed that Secretary of State Al Haig had sent a diplomatic letter warning the Soviet Union intervention in Poland could strain its relations with the US.
At the beginning of February, White House Chief of Staff James Baker announced that the Reagan administration had inherited the worst economy in 50 years, and that it would be the administration's number one priority. He also announced that Reagan address the issue in a televised speech later that week. Reagan was also attacked in the Soviet press of conducting a "lies and hypocrisy" campaign in which the Kremlin was falsely accused of supporting terrorist activities. Reagan also gave an interview to a number of publications in which he criticized the Carter administration for negotiating with Iran during the hostage crisis. At the same time, rumors leaked that Reagan was considering a budget cut of between 30 and 40 million dollars.
On February 5th Reagan had his first televised address, in which he told his audience that the nation was at risk for an "economic calamity" that could only be prevented with Congress adopting the administration's tax and spending cuts as well as regulatory reform. However the following day the senate approved a bill increasing federal borrowing by 985 billion dollars.
On February 10th, Reagan's Department of Justice outlined new policies contained in a legislative proposal that called for tighter bail laws, increased support for victims of crime, and federal jurisdiction being expanded over offenses traditionally handled by state authorities. The following day, a State Department spokesman announced that the Reagan administration was "deeply concerned" with news that Israel wanted to make new settlements by closing off land on the West Bank.
By late February, Reagan told reporters that the response to his economic program from the public was positive. The following week he was asked about the possible of sending American troops into El Salvador. He said that diplomacy would be the first resort.
On March 5, Reagan dealt with more budgetary issues as the House Budget Committee took issue with the President's estimate for how much money would be saved from the programs that Reagan wanted to have eliminated.
The next day Reagan announced his plans for a federal payroll reduction of 63,000 employees by the end of 1983. Later that week he signed a budget cut plan which affected 300 federal programs. The plan proposed to reduce government spending by 6.4 billion dollars in the first year and by 48.6 billion dollars in the following year.
On March 30th, just 69 days into the new administration, Reagan was wounded by John Hinckley Jr. in an assassination attempt that took place outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel. Also wounded were press secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy. Reagan was described as "close to death" upon arrival at George Washington University Hospital, but was stabilized in the emergency room, and underwent emergency exploratory surgery. He recovered from his wound and was released from hospital on April 11. Reagan became the first serving president to survive being shot in an assassination attempt. Public support for Reagan increased during his recovery as his public approval rating rose to 73%. Reagan said that he believed that God had spared his life so that he might go on to fulfill a greater purpose.
The day after his surgery, Reagan met with Vice President Bush, who described Reagan's condition as "very well." His condition worsened on April 3 when his temperature increased to 102 before returning to normal. He continued to experience temperature fluctuations.
Despite existing sympathy for Reagan as a result of the assassination attempt, on April 7, the House Budget Committee rejected Reagan's budget proposal in favor of an alternative proposed by Democrats that called for less spending on defense and more on social programs. Vice President Bush took the lead in the administration expressed intent to do battle with Congress on the issue.
On April 8th, Dr. Dennis O'Leary told the media that Reagan would likely return to the White House in two days and would fully recover "within four months." On April 10, Dr. O'Leary said that Reagan would be released from Washington University Hospital during the weekend. The prognosis for Press Secretary Brady was much worse, with a likelihood of permanent disabilities. Reagan was released from Washington University Hospital the following day on April 11.
On April 15 Reagan issued his first presidential pardons, for Mark Felt, the man who served as the informant known as "Deep Throat" that provided information to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. In 1980, Felt had been convicted of violating the civil rights of persons thought to be associated with members of the Weather Underground Organization, by ordering FBI agents to search their homes as part of an attempt to prevent bombings. He was ordered to pay a fine, but was pardoned by President Reagan.
During the latter part of his first 100 days, Reagan resumed his efforts to cut government spending. On April 16th he promised to protect whistle-blowers who reported instances of fraud and waste in the federal government. The following week, on April 23 Reagan ordered the aggressive collection of $25 billion to be collected from individuals who owed the government.
Although much of Reagan's activities were hampered by his injuries sustained in the assassination attempt, in the first 100 days of his administration he was able to establish his priorities in cutting the size of government and government spending. In spite of these intentions, the size of government debt and deficits would increase over the next eight years, as Reagan's greater legacy unfolded, that being bringing about the end of the Cold War.