Posted on 03/30/2015 3:01:18 AM PDT by SMGFan
Uploaded on Nov 20, 2011
ABC News live coverage of the president Ronald Reagan assassination attempt. March 30, 1981. Anchored by Frank Reynolds.
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It was a rough afternoon for me, too. I was fortunate enough to have attended Reagan’s inaugural. I remember thinking then, “My God, we’ve finally got a genuine conservative elected, and now it looks he won’t live to carry out his mandate.”
I remember where I ate that day. McDonald’s in Pasadena. I heard of the shooting on my drive back to work.
I was at the university studying for a media career and working at the radio station writing news.
I had already read some about the Kennedy Assasination so when someone ran in saying Reagan was shot, I picked up my 1981 version of a mobile device (a transistor radio with earplugs) and turned to the CBS station where a reporter (Lem Tucker) was describing the shooting over a phone then the radio batteries died.
I ran to my dorm room nearby and grabbed fresh ones seeing the video coming down over a TV set with Frank Reynolds describing it. ABC’s Washington bureau was close to the shooting and they got the videotape there quickly.
I heard these crazy stories about the JFK Assassination and I saw some insanity that day when the “African Studies” major came into the radio station shouting “yeah they got him”. The heart and soul of this guy militantly committed to finding “racism” under every bed (his crowd attacked one of my classes and the school newspaper) was as sick as ever that day.
Jr High, stayed after school for an event, the principal announced it over the PA. It wasn’t “real” until I got home and watched the news report.
I was in the 6th grade when JFK was killed - didn't have enough of a grasp on things to be very affected. Couldn't figure out why some kids were crying because some guy I only knew from TV was dead.
My girlfriend was rubbing sun tan lotion on my back at the beach. We both worked his campaign in 79 and went to the RNC in Dallas in 84.
I was working at a law firm I called a sweatshop. Didn’t find out about the Reagan shooting till I got home late that night.
I was in the sixth grade when Kennedy was killed, but I remember being very sad. Most likely it was because all the adults around me were upset. I remember my mother crying and my father just not saying anything - that was his normal reaction in times of trouble.
My parents were primarily Democrat voters and didn’t like President Reagan, so they weren’t all that upset. I believe if they were alive today, living under this regime, they might feel differently.
A similar thing happened a few years later for the Challenger explosion, except then I was an employee in the store, not a customer.
Freshman officer cadet.
Other civilian college brats were dancing on the quad at the news and gloating in the chow line.
I clearly remember Frank Reynolds having a meltdown on live TV, and another anchor had to come on and hold his hand at the desk.
Leftists wish us dead, and they will dance on our corpses when it happens.
When I arrived home and I will never forget this. Dan Rather saying James Brady was dead. Never like him after that. He was so focused on being first, he got it wrong. James Brady as we know was alive. The fact that James became a gun control advocate not withstanding.
Also I remember Alexander Haig, pronouncing that he was in charge. I believe VP Bush was out of town. I also remember that VP Bush refused to take executive power and rather, just minded the store until President Reagan was back on his feet.
President Reagan made several jokes at the hospital. He also walked into the hospital if I recall correctly.
Was at my college radio station and UPI teletype started going nuts with news updates and I think the DJ read some on air. Remember hearing that he quipped “I hope the doctors are Republicans” and, to Nancy “Honey I forgot to duck”. Gunman was John Wayne Hinckley right? Character on Greatest American Hero had that surname and they changed his name to Mr H.
He had a fascination with actress Jodie Foster didn’t he—later there was a punk band named Jodie Foster’s Army and they or someone else had a song:”John, John Hinckey Jr,
what has Jodie done to you?” Another song started:”First
Lincoln/ Then Kennedy/ But Reagan/ Got away!”
Haig said “I am in charge, here, at the White House” leading some to wonder if he thought he was President now; no, he meant he was in charge of operations at the WH only for time being. Punk band Dead Kennedys did an updated version of their song California Uber Alles called We’ve Got a Bigger Problem now: “you close your eyes, can’t happen here/ Alexander Haig is near!” When Haig spoke at my college I did a promo for the event for my college radio station that began with “Alexander Haig is near!”
I remember where I was that day.
Do you remember the second term Republican convention when Reagan was giving a speech? Someone in the audience popped a balloon and “POW”! Reagan never broke stride. He simply said..”Missed me” and continued with his speech.
I remember it very well.
The ABC news room was in hysterics, and when it was reported the handgun had been bought in DALLAS, Frank Reynolds threw his hands in the air and yelled..”AGH! DALLAS”!
The next morning on GMA, actress LEE GRANT was on screaming about handgun control. She said..”The NRA is a RIFLE organization! They should give up their handguns, and they can keep their rifles!”
Five years later rifles were on the “to be banned” list.
In history class.
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