麻豆社

The man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in Washington 35 years ago is to be allowed to leave a psychiatric hospital. A judge says medical assessments show John Hinckley Junior has had no symptoms of mental illness since 1983.

On the 30th March 1981, just 69 days into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was shot outside the Washington Hilton. He suffered a punctured lung in the shooting, but survived.

Nancy Reagan鈥檚 Press Secretary Sheila Tate was with the first lady on the day of the shooting. She spoke to 5 live Drive about how the event unfolded, including Reagan鈥檚 humorous reaction when being taken into surgery: 鈥淗e asked all of us, 鈥榳ho鈥檚 minding the store?鈥� 鈥� and everyone started laughing.鈥�

On the release of John Hinkley, Tate said: 鈥淩onald Reagan actually forgave him, but Nancy and I shared less charitable feelings. He ruined [President Reagan鈥檚 assistant] Jim Brady鈥檚 life, who was catastrophically injured; I just hope he鈥檚 not in a position to hurt anybody else.鈥�

This clip was originally 5 live Drive on Wednesday 27 July 2016.

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