John Hinckley Jr., 41-year-old man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, spoke exclusively to CBS News about the horrible crime, the years he spent in mental health supervision, and his current life.
An earlier in the month, a judge granted Hinckley unconditional liberty. Since Hinckley’s 2016 conditional release from a mental institution, his confinement conditions have been slowly eased.
“I feel true regret for what I did.” Although I understand that [victims] won’t be able to forgive me right now, I want them all to know that I’m sorry for what they did,” Hinckley said to Major Garrett, CBS News’ chief Washington correspondent. He is the only one to have ever shot a U.S. President who was ever released.
Hinckley was 25 years old when he brought a.22 caliber revolver with him to the Washington Hilton. This was where President Reagan was speaking to union members. Hinckley shot six shots as Reagan walked to his limousine.
James Brady, White House Press Secretary, was paralysed in the attack. He died decades later from his injuries. Bullet wounds also occurred to Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy, and Thomas Delahanty, a police officer.
Hinckley was found mentally unfit for trial and spent over 30 years at St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.
He said, “I have been the most scrutinized person within the entire mental healthcare system for 41 years.”
Hinckley claimed that he attempted suicide twice in the 1980s.
He said, “One was a hanging and one was overdosed with pills.”
Hinckley continues to take two psychotropic drugs, but he credits decades of individual or group therapy for helping him reintegrate back into society.
Hinckley stated that his younger self was dead psychologically. “I am a completely different person in spirit and mind.”
CBS News reported that Hinckley suffered from severe depression and delusions, which left him isolated and disconnected from reality in his early eighties. He said, “I wasn’t just a cold and calculating criminal in 1981.” “I’m glad that I didn’t succeed.”
Hinckley saw in 1981 that Reagan was at the hotel. He decided to attempt to kill him because of a delusional obsession to impress actress Jodie Foster.
Hinckley said that it was planned, yes, and added that he believed Reagan was a “nice person and a good President.”
Hinckley stated that he doesn’t remember what it was like to pull the trigger. It’s a lifetime ago…it’s something that I don’t want. It was all so traumatizing.”
Reagan was taken to George Washington University Hospital. Doctors later found that Reagan had been hit with a bullet from Hinckley’s gun.
Two months into Reagan’s first term, the assassination attempt rocked the country. It also altered the protection of presidents by the Secret Service.
Hinckley, now aged 67, resides in Williamsburg, Va. Hinckley, a Christian and a prayerful Christian believes that America has too many guns and is concerned about the future.
“I believe the current climate in the country is not conducive to growth.” He cited big-city violence as an example.
Hinckley has been granted full freedom and would like to pursue a career in touring singing/songwriter. However, three of his scheduled performances were cancelled due to security concerns.
Hinckley stated, “I don’t know anyone else who’s had a life as good as mine.” “It’s what I say now to people: if you want John Hinckley to get to know, listen to his music.”
