CBS/ABC Networks - "Reagan Assassination Attempt Coverage" (Part 1, 1981)

Here is some news coverage from the CBS and ABC networks, recorded on the day of the President Reagan assassination attempt - 30 years ago today. Includes:

CBS News Anchor Dan Rather describing Reagan shooter John W. Hinckley, Jr.'s life story (already in progress)

Clip from outside George Washington University Hospital to where Reagan and Press Secretary James Brady were rushed (Presidential assistant Lyn Nofziger standing outside, interviewed by CBS News reporter Jim McManus; Nofziger describing Reagan and Brady's condition)

Rather speaks with Dr. Keith Reemtsma of New York's Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in the studio about the procedure for treating shooting victims in hospitals.

ABC News Anchors Frank Reynolds and Ted Koppel discussing the shooting; Koppel explaining that earlier reports of Brady's death were untrue and where that erroneous story came from (attributable to a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and a White House aide), and noting that Brady is in "very serious condition"; Koppel also explains that two other people (a Secret Service agent whose condition was described as "good" and a Washington, DC police officer) were also shot.

Koppel then describes the chain of events leading up to the shooting (Reagan was coming out of a speech at an AFL-CIO meeting), and the immediate aftermath.

Reynolds then explains that some White House sources claimed Reagan had not been shot, and says he "misread" first reports that the President had been hit; he then reports on world reaction to Reagan shooting (including from Moscow, UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, Spanish King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister [though not named by Reynolds, he was Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo who served from Feb. 25, 1981 to Dec. 1, 1982], and West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt)

Koppel then notes that, "It's amazing how some of the major news of the day can be pushed to the back burner when something like this happens"; and introduces a video clip showing DC deputy police chief John Connor briefing reporters on the shooting (Koppel makes it a point of saying that Connor was not a direct eyewitness to the shooting; tape of Connor's briefing cuts off in the middle)

Reynolds then gives an update at 6:27pm ET, reporting that Reagan is still in surgery and "will be coming out shortly," and notes his prognosis as "favorable," then quotes Senator Baker as being told by Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt that the doctors advised Reagan was in "very, very good condition."

Koppel then reports on the condition of DC police officer Thomas K. Delahanty who was also wounded in the attack; his condition is listed as serious.

Reynolds briefly updates on the condition of Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, which is described as good. He then gives an explanation of how normally at this time the network news is just getting started which, because of this shooting and the attention being given it, is not the case; he begins to introduce London correspondent Peter Jennings who is set to report on the other world events of the day (tape cuts out before Jennings' report begins)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Monday, March 30th 1981.

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