The 'crazy' gunman once assassinated Ronald Reagan
March 30, 1981, when John Hinckley Jr.
Hinckley is the son of a director of a wealthy Texas oil company.
Hinckley moved to New Haven, Connecticut to follow up with Foster as she began studying at Yale University.
At that time, Jimmy Carter was President who was running for re-election.
After Ronald Reagan defeated Carter in the 1980 election, Hinckley turned his attention to the new president.
"By trading my freedom and possibly my life, I hope to change your thinking about me," Hinckley wrote.
Hinckley studied Reagan's schedule printed in the newspaper and targeted his appearance at the Hilton Hotel in Washington on March 30, 1981, where he gave a speech to union leaders.
After the event ended, Reagan left the hotel with press secretary Jim Brady, agents and police.
As a result, the third shot deviated, creating the opportunity for agents to protect the president.
"If Tim wasn't there, I'm sure the president or I would get hit. The only thing between the President and that guy is McCarthy's huge body," says Parr.
Parr initially ordered a limousine back to the White House, but when Reagan coughed up blood, Parr asked the driver to take them to nearby George Washington University Hospital.
President Reagan was not hit directly by the bullet, but a bouncing bullet was lodged in his chest and into his lungs, leaving him in critical condition.
The limousine arrived at the hospital less than 4 minutes after leaving the hotel.
The President's doctor, Daniel Ruge, was near Reagan at the time of the shooting and arrived at the hospital in another car.
The group of doctors led by Joseph Giordano cut off Reagan's $ 1 thousand custom-made suit.
Reagan just turned 70 and was the oldest president in American history up to that time.
When First Lady Nancy arrived in the emergency room, Reagan told her, "Darling, I forgot to dodge," borrowing boxer Jack Dempsey's words to his wife the night he was defeated by Gene Tunney.
Head of Thoracic Surgery Benjamin L. Aaron performed a 105-minute thoracotomy.
Reagan returned to the White House 11 days later but doctors advised him not to work in the Oval Office for a week.
Press Secretary Brady suffered severe brain damage and partial paralysis, loss of control of his left arm, weakness in his left leg, and impaired memory and speech ability.
Thomas Delahanty suffered permanent nerve damage in his left arm and was forced to leave the police force.
Hinckley was found guilty of mental illness on June 21, 1982.
The judge determined actress Jodie Foster was completely innocent in this case.
To recover from the failed assassination, Reagan installed a gym at the White House and regularly practiced here.
Agent Parr, who decided to send the President to the hospital instead of the White House, was hailed as a hero.
Comments
Post a Comment