Reagan Undergoes Physical, Reports ‘100% Recovery’

WASHINGTON — President Reagan went to the hospital today for a “normal and routine” physical exam and emerged less than an hour later declaring he had made a “complete recovery” from major cancer surgery.

Reagan entered the Bethesda Naval Hospital about 1:15 p.m. for his first physical checkup since July 13 when surgeons removed a cancerous growth from his colon.

Responding to reporters’ shouted questions when he came out of the hospital 51 minutes later, Reagan said, “100% complete recovery.”

The 74-year-old chief executive appeared to be limping as he headed for his Marine helicopter but fended off a question by saying, “I’ve had a limp since 1949 when I broke my leg.”