CBS NEWS SPECIAL REPORT: THE SHOOTING OF THE PRESIDENT (TV)
Summary
Live "CBS News Special Report" coverage of the shooting of President Ronald Reagan, allegedly by John W. Hinckley, Jr. The daytime drama "As The World Turns" is interrupted by a report that shots were fired at the President as he left the Washington Hilton Hotel after speaking at the AFL-CIO Building Trades Conference. Richard Roth shows a videotape of the shooting and, according to reports, Reagan has not been injured. Subsequent breaking reports cover the following topics: Reagan's journey to George Washington University Hospital; the wounding of White House Press Secretary James S. Brady, D.C. policeman Thomas K. Delahanty, and Secret Service Agent Timothy J. McCarthy; Nancy Reagan's wait at GWU Hospital; and the announcement that Reagan was shot, but that he is conscious. Also included are the following reports: Lyn Nofziger, assistant to the President, says Reagan walked into George Washington University Hospital; Bill Plante says James Brady will have surgery; White House Staff Director David Gergen says Reagan will have surgery; a videotape of the shooting is shown, including the arrest of the suspect, Hinckley; Robert Schakne says Reagan is conscious and that he has a bullet in his chest; Reagan is reportedly undergoing surgery; Secretary of State Alexander Haig announces, "As of now, I am in control here at the White House"; and slow-motion videotape of the shooting is screened. This segment concludes with the announcement that Timothy J. McCarthy and Thomas K. Delahanty have been wounded.
Further items include: background on the suspect, Hinckley; slow-motion videotape of the shooting with comments by Rather; Reagan's exploratory surgery; the Senate recess; improvements in Timothy J. McCarthy's condition; an announcement of the death of James Brady, confirmed by Rather; Pappas at the police station, where Hinckley is being questioned; a report that Reagan is out of surgery; the announcement from Deputy News Secretary Larry Speakes that Brady is alive; and McManus on Reagan's condition and jokes the president has made in the hospital. Following videotape of the shooting, Reagan is reported to be still in surgery. Also featured are the following: the erroneous report that Brady died is discussed; Dan Rather speaks with Dr. Keith Reemtsma, Chief of Surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; a videotape excerpt from Reagan's AFL-CIO speech is played; a police briefing states that Hinckley has been charged with an assassination attempt; Tom Fenton comments on the European reaction; Lyn Nofziger, assistant to the President, says Brady is alive; Walter Cronkite in Moscow notes reaction there; and Vice President George Bush returns to Washington, D.C.
Following that, there are reports of the following events: Vice President George Bush arrives at the airport in the capital; conditions of the wounded James S. Brady, Thomas K. Delahanty, and Timothy J. McCarthy are given; Dr. Keith Reemtsma discusses Reagan's operation; Pres. Reagan's eldest son, Michael, talks with the press; Phil Jones reviews Senate reaction to the shooting; Rep. James C. Wright, Jr. (D-Texas) describes Bush's reaction; and Dr. Dennis O'Leary of George Washington University Hospital briefs the press and says that Reagan's prognosis is "excellent."
Further reports include: Dr. Dennis O'Leary, Chief of Clinical Surgery at George Washington University Hospital, continues his briefing on Reagan's operation; James S. Brady's condition is discussed; Dan Rather and Dr. Keith Reemtsma, Chief of Surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, discuss O'Leary's briefing; videotape of the shooting is shown; Nancy Reagan's day is described; Secretary of State Alexander Haig's statement that he is "in control here at the White House" is discussed by history professor Henry Graff; Larry Speakes briefs the press; and an interview with Maureen Reagan, conducted prior to November 1980, is shown.
There is continued broadcast of Maureen Reagan's pre-election interview; comments by the President's brother Neil and eldest son, Michael; comments by James S. Brady's mother; Lem Tucker with a videotape of the shooting; a discussion of a previous arrest for suspect Hinckley; Senate reaction to the shooting; Rep. James C. Wright, Jr. (D-Texas), House Majority leader, describing the reaction of Vice President George Bush; Bruce Morton discussing who will be running the government; Maureen Reagan's reaction; and Dan Rather with a wrap-up.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 30, 1981 Monday 2:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 6:09:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T81:0600
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: News; Assassination attempts; Presidents - United States
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1981
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dan Rather … Reporter
- Jed Duvall … Reporter
- Richard Roth … Reporter
- Lem Tucker … Reporter
- Bill Plante … Reporter
- Robert Schakne … Reporter
- Lesley Stahl … Reporter
- Jim McManus … Reporter
- Ike Pappas … Reporter
- Tom Fenton … Reporter
- Walter Cronkite … Reporter
- Diane Sawyer … Reporter
- Phil Jones … Reporter
- Fred Graham … Reporter
- Robert Pierpoint … Reporter
- Bruce Morton … Reporter
- Jerry Bowen … Reporter
- Dennis O'Leary … Speaker
- James S. Brady
- George Bush
- Thomas K. Delahanty
- David Gergen
- Henry Graff
- Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
- John W. Hinckley, Jr.
- Timothy J. McCarthy
- Lyn Nofziger
- Maureen Reagan
- Michael Reagan
- Nancy Reagan
- Neil Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
- Keith Reemtsma
- Larry Speakes
- James C. Wright Jr.