Wow... did he say when this conversation took place?
I believe it was seven or eight years ago - he was twelve at the time, looked to be nineteen or twenty years old now.
Found the transcript:
ROSTIK DENENBURG, HAD CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH REAGAN: Good morning.
HEMMER: How did you recognize the president that day?
DENENBURG: My grandfather and I actually recognized him at the same time. We saw him walking through the park in L.A., and we came up and we greeted him. We shook his hand.
HEMMER: What did you say to him?
DENENBURG: We thanked him for what he did, for the Soviet Union. Myself and my grandfather are both immigrants from the Soviet Union, and he was one of the key figures responsible for destroying communism and the Cold War, and making it possible for us to immigrate to the United States.
HEMMER: What did he say to you and your grandfather?
DENENBURG: When we congratulated him, he said, "It's my job."
HEMMER: Now, Rostik, did you recognize him first or did your grandfather do that?
DENENBURG: I'd like to say it was simultaneous, but my grandfather did first, because he's seen him many more times, obviously.
HEMMER: Sure. How did the Secret Service react? I can't imagine they were too far away from that location.
DENENBURG: They were right by Mr. Reagan. And, in fact, they inspected the camera right before we shot the picture to make sure it was a camera.
HEMMER: Wow! Where's that photo today, Rostik?
DENENBURG: The photo's hanging on my wall, actually.
HEMMER: There for safekeeping. How did your family view Ronald Reagan at that point?
DENENBURG: As a hero, a great man and a great American.
HEMMER: And how did the news affect you this weekend, Rostik?
DENENBURG: It was definitely a very sad occurrence. However, we must celebrate this man's long life, and we must celebrate the things he did for the world, for the United States and for the Soviet Union.
HEMMER: Rostik, thanks for sharing. Rostik Denenburg from Detroit, Michigan, now a medical student at the University of Toledo in northwestern, Ohio, taking us back to 1977, and we remember that picture today seven years later. Thank you, Rostik.
DENENBURG: Thank you.