roger adelman, government lawyer who prosecuted reagan’s 1981 assailant, dies at 74

by Gaetano Hickle 9 min read

He was 74. The cause was complications of congestive heart failure, said Daniel E. Toomey, a friend who worked with Mr. Adelman in the United States attorney's office in Washington.Sep 19, 2015

Was there an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in March 1981?

 · Gunman wounds Reagan, 3 others. Titusville Herald (Titusville, PA) – March 31, 1981. Washington — President Reagan was wounded in the chest Monday by a gunman who tried to assassinate him with a burst of .22-caliber bullets from a “Saturday night special.”. White House press secretary James S Brady was critically injured in the blaze of ...

What happened to Ronald Reagan?

Reagan Doctrine, 1985. The “Reagan Doctrine” was used to characterize the Reagan administration’s (1981-1988) policy of supporting anti-Communist insurgents wherever they might be. In his 1985 State of the Union address, President Ronald Reagan called upon Congress and the American people to stand up to the Soviet Union, what he had ...

Who is Ronald Reagan's personal attorney William French Smith?

 · In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever." 1. Lyn Nofziger--White House Press Secretary - Convicted on charges of illegal lobbying of White ...

How did the shooting of Ronald Reagan affect the gun control debate?

President Reagan considered regulatory relief, in which the Department of Labor was destined to play a major part, one of the cornerstones of the Economic Recovery Program. First he established a government-wide Task Force on Regulatory Relief to provide advice and oversight. The next step was a memorandum in January 1981 from the President to ...

How did Ronald Reagan die?

Reagan was seriously wounded by a .22 Long Rifle bullet that ricocheted off the side of the presidential limousine and hit him in the left underarm, breaking a rib, puncturing a lung, and causing serious internal bleeding. He was close to death upon arrival at George Washington University Hospital but was stabilized in the emergency room, then underwent emergency exploratory surgery. He recovered and was released from the hospital on April 11. No formal invocation of presidential succession took place, though Secretary of State Alexander Haig stated that he was "in control here" while Vice President George H. W. Bush returned to Washington from Fort Worth, Texas .

Who was the secret service agent that covered the Reagan assassination?

Secret Service Agent Robert Wanko can be seen unfolding the stock of an Uzi in case of further attack.

How long did Ronald Reagan's thoracotomy last?

The chief of thoracic surgery, Benjamin L. Aaron, decided to perform a thoracotomy lasting 105 minutes because the bleeding persisted. Ultimately, Reagan lost over half of his blood volume in the emergency department and during surgery, which removed the bullet. In the operating room, Reagan removed his oxygen mask to joke, "I hope you are all Republicans ". The doctors and nurses laughed, and Giordano, a Democrat, replied, "Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans". : 147 Reagan's post-operative course was complicated by fever, which was treated with antibiotics. His entering the operating room conscious and not in shock, and the surgery being routine, caused Reagan's doctors and others to predict that he would be able to leave the hospital in two weeks, return to work at the Oval Office in a month, and completely heal in six to eight weeks with no long-term effects.

How long did it take Reagan to leave the hospital?

Although Reagan came close to death, the team's quick action—and Parr's decision to drive to the hospital instead of the White House—likely saved the president's life, and within 30 minutes Reagan left the emergency department for surgery with normal blood pressure.

Did Reagan cut his lip?

When the agent checked him for gunshot wounds, however, Reagan coughed up bright, frothy blood. Although the president believed that he had cut his lip, Parr believed that the cracked rib had punctured Reagan's lung and ordered the motorcade to divert to nearby George Washington University Hospital , which the Secret Service periodically inspected for use. The limousine arrived there less than four minutes after leaving the hotel, while other agents took Hinckley to a DC jail, and Nancy Reagan ("Rainbow") left the White House for the hospital.

Who was the president who passed in front of Reagan?

As several hundred people applauded Reagan, the president unexpectedly passed right in front of Hinckley. Reporters standing behind a rope barricade 20 feet away asked questions. As Mike Putzel of the Associated Press shouted "Mr. President—", Hinckley, believing he would never get a better chance, assumed a crouch position : 81 and rapidly fired a Röhm RG 14 .22 LR blue steel revolver six times in 1.7 seconds, : 82 missing the president with all six shots.

Where did Reagan leave the hotel?

At 2:27 p.m., : 82 Reagan exited the hotel through "President's Walk" on Florida Avenue, where reporters waited. He left the T Street NW exit toward his waiting limousine as Hinckley waited within the crowd of admirers. The Secret Service had extensively screened those attending the president's speech, but greatly erred by allowing an unscreened group to stand within 15 ft (4.6 m) of him, behind a rope line. : 80–81, 225 The agency uses multiple layers of protection; local police in the outer layer briefly check people, Secret Service agents in the middle layer check for weapons, and more agents form the inner layer immediately around the president. Hinckley penetrated the first two layers.

Who was Reagan's aide?

O’Leary and Reagan aide Lyn Nofziger both said President Reagan would be able to handle the decision-making duties of his job Tuesday.

Who said Reagan should be able to make decisions by tomorrow?

O’Leary described Reagan as “clear of head” and said he “should be able to make decisions by tomorrow, certainly.”

What gun was used to shoot the President?

Roger Young, an FBI spokesman in Washington, said the weapon used to shoot the president and three others was a .22-caliber “Saturday night special” purchased at a Dallas gun shop.

What was the motive for the savage burst of gunfire that exploded as the President stood beside

There was no known motive, for the savage burst of gunfire that exploded as the president stood beside his limousine, ready to step inside for a rainy, one-mile ride back to the White House.

How many lawmen were wounded in the Reagan blaze?

Two lawmen also were wounded in the mid-afternoon blaze of gunfire outside a Washington hotel where Reagan had just addressed a union convention. They were reported in serious condition but apparently not in danger.

Why was Hinckley arrested?

John Warnock Hinckley Jr, arrested Monday in an attempt on the life of President Reagan, recently had been under psychiatric care and had been arrested while carrying handguns in Nashville, Tennessee, on a day former President Jimmy Carter visited the city.

What was the Reagan doctrine?

The “Reagan Doctrine” was used to characterize the Reagan administration’s (1981-1988) policy of supporting anti-Communist insurgents wherever they might be. In his 1985 State of the Union address, President Ronald Reagan called upon Congress and the American people to stand up to the Soviet Union, what he had previously called the “Evil Empire”:

What was Ronald Reagan's foreign policy based on?

Breaking with the doctrine of “Containment," established during the Truman administration—President Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy was based on John Foster Dulles’ “Roll-Back” strategy from the 1950s in which the United States would actively push back the influence of the Soviet Union.

Who was Reagan's national security advisor?

Robert C. McFarlane, Reagan's National Security Advisor, pled guilty to four misdemeanors and was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service. He was also fined $20,000. He received a blanket pardon from President George Bush... 8.

Who was the Chief of Staff of Reagan?

Michael Deaver, Reagan's Chief of Staff, received three years' probation and was fined one hundred thousand dollars after being convicted for lying to a congressional subcommittee and a federal grand jury about his lobbying activities after leaving the White House. Same as with Lyn Nofziger.

Who was cleared of lying to the federal grand jury?

Jurors cleared George of five other charges including two counts of lying to a federal grand jury. Clair George received a blanket pardon for his crimes from President George Bush... Rita Lavelle was indicted, tried and convicted of lying to Congress and served three months of a six-month prison sentence.

Who was the head of the CIA under Reagan?

Donald Fortier. Clair George was Chief of the CIA's Division of Covert Operations under President Reagan. George was convicted of lying to two congressional committees in 1986. George faced a maximum five year federal prison sentence and a $20,000 fine for each of the two convictions.

What was Oliver North's sentence?

He was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service.

How long was Abrams sentenced to?

Abrams agreed to cooperate with Iran-Contra investigators and pled guilty to two charges reduced to misdemeanors. He was sentenced in 1991 to two years probation and 100 hours of community service but was pardoned by President George Bush... 7.

Who was the Latin American bureau chief?

Elliott Abrams was appointed by President Reagan in 1985 to head the State Department's Latin American Bureau. He was closely linked with ex-White House aide Lt. Col. Oliver North's covert movement to aid the Contras.

What was the Reagan administration?

The Reagan Administration took office at a time of high inflation, slow economic growth and nationwide concern about the United States' ability to maintain its prestige ...

Who was the secretary of labor under Reagan?

To carry out the Economic Recovery Program and regulatory relief at the Department of Labor, President Reagan selected Raymond J. Donovan to be Secretary of Labor. Donovan was vice president of a construction company in his home state of New Jersey and had been active in Reagan's 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns.

What was Secretary Brock's first action?

One of the first actions Secretary Brock took after taking the reins of the Department was to appoint a number of task groups to determine ways to improve the Department's efficiency and its delivery of services to the public.

Why did Raymond Donovan resign?

In March 1985 Raymond Donovan resigned to deal with a legal indictment unrelated to his tenure as Secretary. (He was later acquitted in a trial.) Replacing him in April was William E. Brock. Bringing with him a wealth of experience in government, Brock had served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, had been National Chairman of the Republican Party from 1977 to 1980, and had served in the Cabinet-level job of U.S. Trade Representative from 1981 until his appointment as Secretary of Labor.

When did the Department of Labor and Management Relations reorganize?

As both a symbolic and substantive action, in 1984 the Department's labor-management relations functions were reorganized into the Bureau of Labor-Management Relations and Cooperative Programs.

What was the Reagan Administration's primary mission?

One of the primary missions of the Department during the Reagan Administration was to foster better and less adversarial relationships between labor and management as a way of promoting both economic competitiveness and national harmony. As both a symbolic and substantive action, in 1984 the Department's labor-management relations functions were reorganized into the Bureau of Labor-Management Relations and Cooperative Programs. This bureau served as a focal point for federal efforts to enhance national productivity and competitiveness by encouraging the growth and development of joint labor-management approaches and solutions to economic problems. BLMRCP programs were designed to provide labor and management practitioners throughout the economy with information which would help them create a climate in which cooperative labor relations might flourish. It gathered information on labor-management issues, conducted research on industrial relations issues, and held numerous conferences bringing together leaders from labor and management and the rest of the industrial relations community to discuss issues related to labor-management cooperation and employee involvement programs.

How much was CETA cut in 1985?

Discretionary spending was reduced 60 percent by 1985 and departmental employment fell by 21 percent at the same time. CETA alone was cut from $8 billion per year to $3.7 billion, largely through elimination of public service employment jobs.

Who was the agriculture secretary when Reagan was elected?

Agriculture. John R. Block, 45, was Illinois agriculture secretary when Reagan selected him for the Cabinet.

Who was Reagan's executive secretary?

Edwin Meese III , 48, a San Diego lawyer, was Reagan's executive secretary when he was governor of California. He took a leave from San Diego University to be 1980 campaign chief of staff. Chief of Staff

Who was Lyn Nofziger?

Lyn Nofziger, 56, an ex-political reporter, was public relations director of Reagan's first campaign in 1966, and a key political adviser during his early years as governor . He managed Nixon's California campaign in 1972, rejoining Reagan in 1976. Pollster

Who was Martin Anderson?

Martin Anderson, 44, an economist, was a deputy counselor in the Nixon White House, leaving in 1971 to become a senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution. In 1976 and 1980, he was Reagan's chief issues adviser. National Security.

Who is James Brady?

James Brady, 40, is a veteran Washington press secretary, having served at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense. He is a former press aide to Sen. William Roth (R-Del.). Domestic Affairs.

Who is Murray Weidenbaum?

Louis, where he was associated with the Center for the Study of American Business. He served as an assistant treasury secretary in the Nixon administration and has written extensively on federal economics. Counselor .

Who was Reagan's campaign manager?

He was Reagan's New Jersey campaign manager. Housing. Samuel R. Pierce, 58, was a senior partner in the New York law firm of Battle, Fowler, Jaffin, Pierce and Kheel and a former New York Supreme Court justice. He held posts in the Treasury and Labor departments under Nixon. Interior.

How old was Ronald Reagan when he ran for president?

Actually, ever since Ronald Reagan’s first substantial run for president in 1976 at the age of 65 , those opposed to Reagan labeled him as “old” and proclaimed his age a huge disadvantage compared to his opponents.

Who is the executive director of Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute?

Trump explains tweets on his mental state. Editor’s Note: John Heubusch is the executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. Craig Shirley is author of four books on Ronald Reagan, including his most recent, “Last Act.”. The opinions expressed in this commentary are theirs.

How many documents are there in the Reagan Library?

Among the 66 million documents in the Reagan Library archives are schedules that track every minute of Reagan’s presidency, along with his own handwritten daily diary of his activities. It’s clear from the documents that Reagan fully carried out the responsibilities of his office and was actively occupied in that role throughout his two terms.

Did Reagan suffer from mental illness?

Is there any medical evidence, doctors’ notes, counseling reports or any other information indicating that President Reagan suffered mentally in any way at any time in office? No. In fact, Dr. Lawrence Altman, longtime New York Times medical correspondent, looked for just such evidence and found none.

Was Reagan incapacitated?

There is not a single mention from a White House staff person, a credible book author, or physician that President Reagan experienced even a single day where he was mentally incapacitated or unable to serve.

Hinckley's Motivation

Image
John Hinckley Jr. was suffering from erotomania and his motivation for the attack was born of his obsession with then-child actress Jodie Foster. While living in Hollywood in the late 1970s, he saw the film Taxi Driver at least fifteen times, apparently identifying strongly with protagonist Travis Bickle, portrayed by actor R…
See more on en.wikipedia.org

Assassination Attempt

  • On March 21, 1981, new president Ronald Reagan (who took office on January 20, 1981) and his wife Nancy visited Ford's Theatrein Washington, D.C. for a fundraising event. Reagan recalled,
See more on en.wikipedia.org

Immediate Response

  • National Security Advisor Richard Allen would traditionally be responsible for crisis management for the Executive Branch, but Secretary of State Alexander Haig wanted the role. Six days before the shooting, Vice President George H. W. Bush received the assignment instead; Allen and the National Security Council would assist him. Reagan persuaded an upset Haig not to resign; the s…
See more on en.wikipedia.org

Public Reaction

  • The assassination attempt was captured on ENG videotape by several cameras, including those belonging to the Big Three television networks; ABC began airing footage at 2:42 p.m. All three networks erroneously reported that Brady had died. When ABC News anchorman Frank Reynolds, a friend of Brady, was later forced to retract the report, he angrily said on-air to his staff, "C'mon, l…
See more on en.wikipedia.org

Aftermath

  • Jodie Foster
    The incident was a traumatic experience for the 18-year-old Foster, who was hounded by the media and paparazzi in the aftermath of the incident. She took a semester off at Yale and had to be escorted by a bodyguard everywhere she went. This event produced other stalkers for her, in…
  • President Ronald Reagan
    Reagan's staff members were anxious for the president to appear to be recovering quickly, and the morning after his operation he saw visitors and signed a piece of legislation.Reagan left the hospital on the morning of April 11. Entering the limousine was difficult, and he joked that the fir…
See more on en.wikipedia.org

Portrayals in Literature and Popular Culture

  • Books
    1. The book Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan (2011) by Del Quentin Wilber 2. The novella John Loves Jodie(2015) by Joe Kelly
  • On screen
    The following is the list of the movies dealing with the assassination attempt or portraying a portion of it: 1. The 1991 made-for-television film Without Warning: The James Brady Story, dramatizes James Brady's recovery. 2. The 2001 Showtime TV movie The Day Reagan Was Shot…
See more on en.wikipedia.org

See Also

External Links

  1. Assassination Attempt of President Ronald Reagan (full length video)
  2. Treaster, Joseph B. (April 1, 1981). "A Life that Started Out With Much Promise Took Reclusive and Hostile Path". The New York Times. p. A19. The eldest Hinckley child, Scott, 30, is the vice presi...
See more on en.wikipedia.org