Elder Bush Recalls Reagan Shooting

Former President Discusses Assassination Attempt 25 Years Ago

(CBS) 
Bush: In retrospect, maybe so, more so than what at the time. I can't say I didn't have any thought about that at all because the enormity was out there for the whole world to see. But I'll put it this way: I didn't think it was going to happen. I wasn't aware of the bullet being that close to finishing him off.

Maer: What are your memories of the first time you saw Ronald Reagan in the hospital?

Bush: They're a little vague too, Peter. I'm getting along in years here. But I didn't want to overstay my welcome. I wanted to show we were in touch and then report back that he was looking good. That's about all I remember about it.

Maer: If I could jog your memory just a little bit, I recall a story that you've told about Ronald Reagan wiping up a water spill on the hospital floor. He was worried about something?

Bush: Oh, yeah. He didn't want the nurse to have to do it. That was typical of Reagan. People don't realize his kindness. He spilled and he cleaned the water up himself so the nurse wouldn't have to do it. It was a little tiny vignette. Now that you prompt my memory, I remember it.

Maer: I've read in a number of sources there were concerns about Soviet intentions that day.

Bush: I have to say I don't remember it. I would be surprised if we gave any credibility to that, any credence to that. Maybe it was so.

Maer: It was such a confusing time that day, at least to those of us on the outside looking in. What did you think when you heard about Alexander Haig's famous declaration that he was in control at the White House?

Bush: (Chuckles) I think I thought I better get back and demonstrate that I was in control briefly ... but that the regular order should apply. I didn't take it as a personal attack on my prerogatives or on my position as vice president of the United States. I had known Al Haig a long, long time and he was under a lot of pressure there. He took a huge hit on that and I'm not sure it was altogether fair. I think in the White House at the time there was some real feeling. Cap Weinberger, I think, was very unhappy about it as I remember. I don't know where the other Cabinet officers came down but by the time I got back there that had been resolved and everything had calmed down.

Maer: Given the frantic nature of what had happened that day, was the situation that you found under control at the White House?

Bush: I think it was under control but there were question marks. What's really happening? How's the president really doing? How's this going to affect our country? It got more into that philosophical bent, you might say, rather than the temporary elbows flying about who's going to do what to whom?

Maer: What were your thoughts when you found out about Jim Brady, Tim McCarthy, the Secret Service agent and Thomas Delahanty, the D.C. police officer?

Bush: It was one of just angst, terrible anxiety. I had a very close relationship with Brady as did most everybody in the White House. He was widely respected and widely liked. The Secret Service agent — I don't remember whether he'd ever been on our earlier details when I was a candidate or anything — but they all respected him. Since it was, you know, a colleague is lost. A colleague is hurt, more of that than anything else. Respect. Respect for the way the Secret Service does its job. He took a bullet for the president of the United States. He could have gone for cover and he didn't. That was just a symbol that I can always look to remind me how great the Secret Service people are. I'm a total advocate for the U.S. Secret Service.

Maer: Have the events of that day affected your own feelings on the issue of gun control?

Bush: Nope. It hasn't changed a bit.

Maer: Why?

Bush: Affected in what way? I think there are a lot of handgun regulations. I don't even know whether this violated regulations at the time. It might well have. Certainly it comes to registration. I love the story about when I went down to register my guns when I was in Congress, I think it was. It was the last day for registration. I went down there. The guy was sitting at his desk all alone, nobody in there. I said I'm here to declare my .410 and whatever, my .22 or something. I said, "Are you getting a lot of people registering?" And he said, "No. It's only a bunch of suckers like you from northwest Washington that are in here." I've not been a big advocate of more gun control and that didn't change my mind. Now, Mrs. Brady became, for understandable reasons, became a great pioneer in trying to do more and I haven't kept up with what the rules are there now.

Maer: What about John Hinckley? A judge recently said he can get out and have some visits with his family. What do you think about that?

Bush: I don't know enough about the medicine, about the medical condition of the guy. I'm not in a position to argue with the decision of the judge because I just don't know.

Maer: Did you know the Hinckley family from the Texas days? This is something else. There are always the conspiracy books that have been written. Did the Bushes know the Hinckleys?

Bush: I think our son may have met in Colorado, met a Hinckley. I don't think I ever did. I don't remember it. I have seen conspiracy theories that just come out the "gazoo" as Senator Simpson would say.

Maer: Any other thoughts about the aftermath and when President Reagan came back to work?

Bush: It was a huge celebration and relief across the country. Gratitude. Thanking God. A lot of people were in a religious mode about that. It was very reassuring and his manner, the way he, when he addressed the public and when he had pictures and stuff. It was very calming and very reassuring to the country I think. So I do remember all that fairly clearly.

Maer: Thank you for allotting so much time to us. I appreciate it President Bush.

Bush: Great, Peter. Good to see you.