CBS/ABC/NBC Networks - "Reagan Assassination Attempt Coverage" (Part 2, 1981)

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

Tape comes in as CBS Anchor Dan Rather talks of a "partial collapse," and then turns to Columbia-Presbyterian's Dr. Keith Reemtsma who gives a brief medical explanation.

Rather then informs of an update from White House Correspondent Lesley Stahl, quoting an unnamed doctor at the George Washington University Hospital as saying that the bullet that struck President Reagan missed his heart by one inch, but several arteries were struck leading part of the chest cavity to fill with blood. Rather also cites correspondent Phil Jones' quoting sources on Capitol Hill as saying Reagan had a prior blood transfusion; and then mentions that First Lady Nancy Reagan was advised her husband's vital signs were stable and his condition was good. Rather tells viewers he's awaiting official word on the President's condition and when he will come out of surgery and "hopefully out of danger." He quotes Presidential assistant Lyn Nofziger as saying we should be expecting "within the hour" a briefing from a hospital physician.

Rather then introduces a rerun of the tape of the shooting, with pertinent commentary of the trajectory of events, culminating in the subduing of would-be assassin John W. Hinckley, Jr., and the ultimate tending to Presidential Press Secretary James Brady and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy (whose condition is listed by Rather as "serious but improving"). He also mentions DC police officer Thomas Delahanty who, he advises, is not in the video. Rather says at least six shots came from a .22-caliber long weapon. A still frame of Hinckley being subdued by Secret Service agents is then shown; Rather describes Hinckley as "blond, medium height . . . medium build," and says that still frame is the best picture they could get of him at that time, and then shows an earlier photo of Hinckley supplied by the Associated Press.

Rather describes the events that transpired as "those frightful and terrorizing seconds outside the Washington Hilton Hotel" where Reagan and the three others were shot. He mentions that it is common practice for Presidents to get out from the White House, and the protocol for such events, and that Reagan was at the Washington Hilton to speak before the AFL-CIO (tape cuts out of Rather's description midway to . . . )

Meanwhile, over at ABC, another tape of the whole incident is repeated, and comes in at the point where Hinckley is being taken to a police car; Anchor Frank Reynolds says "we can't really see" him ("It's not happening now, it happened at 2:30 this afternoon"). With co-anchor Ted Koppel with him in the studio, Reynolds shows the same photo of Hinckley that had been shown by Rather earlier in this tape (and dated as circa 1972 by Reynolds), then a college yearbook photo of Hinckley with longer hair; Reynolds mentions Hinckley went to Texas Tech. A more recent picture of Hinckley ("taken this year") is shown as Koppel comes in.

Reynolds introduces a report from ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA Channel 8 (by ??), but the tape cuts out before that report begins.

Next we cut to the middle of a report from NBC News White House Correspondent Judy Woodruff, which begins with the famous footage; features an interview with ABC News cameraman Hank Brown (not identified on this report) who caught the whole thing, and explains Hinckley had "penetrated the press line"; and another press person who thought Hinckley's presence was "unusual."

Cut to Woodruff at the White House; that coverage cuts out as she asks, "How did the gunman--"

Back at ABC, Reynolds shows the Reagan shooting footage in slow motion ("ABC News Slow Motion"), explaining what exactly went on; he mentions Hinckley's age as 25, and said "Earlier, we thought he was 22"; he then points to Secret Service agent McCarthy (whose condition he describes as "good") and press secretary Brady. Reynolds identifies the cameraman who caught the whole thing as Hank Brown. Another cameraman from NBC News is seen in the footage, as is a newspaper photographer. Reynolds notes that Hinckley "had somehow moved into an area that was reserved for the press, but he was not alone" and mentions that there were other non-press people there (cuts out midway through Reynolds' description)

After a brief shot with Koppel, next comes an interview with Bob Hope explaining that he was with Reagan in Peoria on the second last day of the Presidential campaign, and explained the raincoat Reagan wore was a flak jacket which he had on at the FBI's insistence. Hope says he only saw Reagan wear it two days, but not the next morning.

At the studio, Koppel notes that answers a question one viewer had about flak jackets. Reynolds asks if Hope was referring to the campaign, and Koppel says he is not sure, but in the end they agree it was during the campaign.

Reynolds next says we should be awaiting a briefing from a doctor at the hospital who performed surgery on the President. He says Reagan was at surgery since 4:00pm ET, and there's no word as to whether he came out. He reiterates Senator Baker's quoting Senator Laxalt on Reagan's condition, and recaps a former New York City medical examiner, Dr. DeMaho(?) (who Reynolds emphasizes "was not there"), who said "it's not unusual" for surgery of this nature to take so long (three hours, as of that airing).

Koppel then explains that such surgery is usually exploratory, and they want to make sure they don't miss anything; he then says "We're going to switch now--" as the tape cuts out.

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

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