Reagan also cast his support behind the two most controversial pieces of gun control legislation of the past 30 years. His support of the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 may have directly led to the ban winning the approval of Congress.

Congress passed the ban by a vote of 216-214. In addition to Klug voting for the ban after Reagan’s last-minute plea, Rep. Dick Swett, D-New Hampshire., also credited Reagan’s support of the bill for helping him decide to cast a favorable vote.