Remember when … President Reagan and others were shot by John W. Hinckley Jr

Brad Wadlow, MyCentralJersey.com
President Ronald Reagan waving to the crowd on March 30, 1981, just before the assassination attempt on him, after a conference outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Also seriously injured was press secretary James Brady (just behind the car).
President Ronald Reagan waving to the crowd on March 30, 1981, just before the assassination attempt on him, after a conference outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Also seriously injured was press secretary James Brady (just behind the car).

An attempted Presidential assassination shook Central Jerseyans ― and the nation ― when President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest on Monday, March 30, 1981, by John W. Hinckley Jr., 25.

But, Reagan wasn't the only victim. James S. Brady, White House press secretary, was critically injured. Also wounded were Timothy J. McCarthy, a Secret Service agent, and law enforcement officer Thomas K. Delahanty.

'Sounded like firecrackers'

Jim Grogan of Belleville, who was president of the New Jersey State Union Building and Construction Trade Council at the time, was standing just inside the Florida Avenue entrance to the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the shooting occurred. Grogan said the six shots that wounded Reagan and the three others "sounded like firecrackers."

Police and Secret Service agents reacting on Monday, March 30, 1981 during the assassination attempt on then US president Ronald Reagan, after a conference outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Police and Secret Service agents reacting on Monday, March 30, 1981 during the assassination attempt on then US president Ronald Reagan, after a conference outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Reagan underwent surgery at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and survived. He was released from the hospital on Saturday, April 11, 1981, according to the Associated Press.

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Vice President George Bush, after a flight back to Washington, took over Reagan's official duties on Monday, March 30, 1981, beginning with a short appearance on TV to "reassure the nation that the government is functioning fully and effectively."

As for the other shooting victims, Brady suffered brain damage and was permanently disabled. McCarthy and Delahanty also survived the attack, according to the AP.

Hinckley was arraigned on Monday, March 30, 1981, with an attempt to assassinate Reagan. That night, Hinckley's parents said that he had "been under recent psychiatric care," but had no indication of "the seriousness of his condition."

Hinckley

According to the AP, Hinckley's motive for the assassination attempt was to impress actress Jodie Foster.

Central Jersey reacts

Central Jerseyans were not without opinion on the matter.

"I don't know what anybody can do when a deranged person decides to do something like this," said Dale Olson of Clinton Township. "There's too much of this sort of thing."

"Everybody is scared," said Ann Greenberg of East Brunswick. "But nobody knows why. I've always been against guns, but there are always nuts around."

Shoppers and employees at Sears in Bridgewater gather around a television display area to watch reports on the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
Shoppers and employees at Sears in Bridgewater gather around a television display area to watch reports on the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.

"I think it's terrible, a disgrace to our country," said Eve Emery of Bridgewater. "I don't care what president it is or who it is. It's a disgrace."

Lynn Kamer of East Brunswick said, "I was in school when Kennedy was shot and I thought, 'Oh no, here we go again.' "

Kamer said she was opposed to gun control as a way of deterring violent crime. "People with bad intentions would get guns, but people without guns would still be the victims," Kamer said.

"No matter how lousy or good a president is ― and this is not a personal judgment of him ― people shouldn't resort to violence," said Anthony Ianniello of Branchburg. "This is a democratic system and things should be done in a democratic way. You shouldn't try to shoot the president if you don't agree with him."

"The death penalty may be an answer," said Dick Miller of Spotswood. "It would do a lot to control all these shootings."

"They get away with murder now," said Miller.

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Alberta DeSepio of Piscataway said the assassination attempt left her "sick, really sick. I'm sad for this country. The office of president means a lot to me.

"I may not agree with (Reagan) personally," DeSepio said, "but the gunman had no right to shoot him. The nut who went after him wants attention. He deserves whatever he gets, even capital punishment."

DeSepio said gun control would not stop the shooting of public figures in the U.S. because "anyone with money can buy a gun."

The Rev. Edward Wanat celebrated a special Mass at St. Stanislaus R.C. Church in Sayreville on Monday, March 30, 1981, leading the congregation in prayers for the health and well-being of President Ronald Reagan and others wounded in Monday, March 30, 1981’s assassination attempt.
The Rev. Edward Wanat celebrated a special Mass at St. Stanislaus R.C. Church in Sayreville on Monday, March 30, 1981, leading the congregation in prayers for the health and well-being of President Ronald Reagan and others wounded in Monday, March 30, 1981’s assassination attempt.

"It was a relief to hear the president survived," said Art Griffin of East Brunswick. "But we have to find answers."

"There are radicals in this world who are afraid that they'll be hurt by the government cutbacks and people with sick minds who react this way (by trying to kill the president)," said Phyllis Barnes of Bridgewater.

Prayers and songs in remembrance of President Ronadl Reagan and other shooting victims rang out on Monday, March 31, 1981’s service at the Pentecostal Holiness Temple in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. One member of the audience, 3-year-old Timothy Lynch of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, stands in prayer.
Prayers and songs in remembrance of President Ronadl Reagan and other shooting victims rang out on Monday, March 31, 1981’s service at the Pentecostal Holiness Temple in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. One member of the audience, 3-year-old Timothy Lynch of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, stands in prayer.

"We must try to convince those people that might be hurt that there are other ways to get help," Barnes said. "This saddens me, but it's always been this way for our presidents, living with the threat of assassination."

Walter Pearson of Old Bridge.
Walter Pearson of Old Bridge.

Walter Pearson of Old Bridge, spoke of President John F. Kennedy. "I was in Bayonne at the time Kennedy was shot. I was completely shocked to hear about it. There hadn't been an assassination for many years. Yeah, I'm shocked about this. But, this one didn't hit me the same way. This president is still new. We hadn't gotten used to him yet."

"I feel bad that an attempt was made," said Kelly Franklin of Franklin. "But right now (Reagan's) cutting back a lot of government spending and taking away a lot of jobs. That could be a reason."

Prayers and songs in remembrance of President Ronadl Reagan and other shooting victims rang out on Monday, March 31, 1981’s service at the Pentecostal Holiness Temple in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. Patricia Chapman leads the congregation.
Prayers and songs in remembrance of President Ronadl Reagan and other shooting victims rang out on Monday, March 31, 1981’s service at the Pentecostal Holiness Temple in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. Patricia Chapman leads the congregation.

"One of the hazards of the trade," said Fran Murdock of Dunellen. "You can't please all the people all the time."

"Mine was a mixed reaction," said Irma Goldman of Bridgewater. "At first I was stunned. But my second thought was about the business of how all the presidents elected in years that end in zero died in office."

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated in office, elected in 1860. Each president elected at 20-year intervals after that had died in office.

Anthony Stella of Bloomfield said, "People are just crazy."

Andrew Mignano leads his first- and second-grade class from Irving School, Highland Park, to the post office on Thursday, April 2, 1981, to mail a big envelope full of get-well messages to President Ronald Reagan.
Andrew Mignano leads his first- and second-grade class from Irving School, Highland Park, to the post office on Thursday, April 2, 1981, to mail a big envelope full of get-well messages to President Ronald Reagan.

For Karen Steckowich of Edison, the news "didn't sink in when I first heard it. I remembered having the same feeling when I was in the third grade and (John) Kennedy was shot."

At the Monday, March 30, 1981, Somerville Borough Council meeting, Mayor Phillips S. Heathcote called for a moment of silent prayer for Reagan and the three others who were shot in Washington that day.

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Bernadine Kanaly of Manalapan said, "I was at work when I heard about the shooting," she said. "My initial reaction was disbelief. Everyone in my office talked about the '60s and the 20-year cycle.

"It's upsetting," Kanaly said. "After all, he's a president in a democratic society. It's terrible that there's people with such a mind set they have to settle problems with a gun."

Insanity acquittal and release

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of attempting to assassinate the president.

In July 2016, a federal judge ruled Hinckley was not a danger to himself or the public and could live full-time at his mother's house in Williamsburg, Virginia. Hinckley was released from St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, according to Gannett and wire reports.

Reagan died on Saturday, June 5, 2004. Brady died on Aug. 4, 2014.

What do you remember about this event? Visit This Week in Central Jersey History/Remember When at bit.ly/3IyzE1G.

Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: President Reagan assassination attempt: a look back

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