Rawhide Down_ The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan - Del Quentin Wilber [114]
nicest watch on: Ronald Reagan, An American Life, p. 259. Before going to the Hilton, Reagan swapped this watch for a cheaper one that he used on his ranch.
Reagan’s clothes draped: Several of the president’s friends, former advisors, and former Secret Service agents described Reagan’s ranch work, his workouts, and his pride in his physique. Richard Williamson, for example, said he once saw Reagan jokingly pose in such a way to show off a biceps muscle for an official photograph.
fifty-three movies: Thomas, The Films of Ronald Reagan, and the official White House biography of Reagan.
captain sounded more dashing: Interview with Edwin Meese III. Reagan later wrote in Where’s the Rest of Me? (p. 117) that he turned down the promotion because he had not served in combat. “Who was I to be a major for serving in California,” he wrote, “without ever hearing a shot fired in anger?”
despite widespread skepticism: This is another example of how Reagan was underestimated. His opponent in the 1966 California governor’s race, the incumbent Democrat Edmond G. Brown, did not take the former actor seriously—to his own detriment. During the campaign, Brown derided Reagan’s experience as an actor and often mentioned that he starred in the movie Bedtime for Bonzo. As the race heated up, Brown famously told a classroom of young schoolchildren: “I’m running against an actor, and you know who shot Lincoln, don’t you?” Reagan crushed Brown by nearly one million votes.
most populous: California officially became the most populated state just before Reagan won the 1966 gubernatorial election; “California Takes Population Lead,” NYT, September 1, 1964, p. 37.
hundreds of radio: Ronald Reagan, Reagan, in His Own Hand.
Tough and demanding: This was echoed by nearly every former White House official I interviewed, and is a common thread in many Reagan biographies and newspaper stories of the era.
the couple had celebrated: Helen Thomas, UPI, March 5.
“As Pres. of the U.S.”: Nancy Reagan, I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan, p. 140.
A much more elaborate celebration: Photographs of festivities, RRPL; DDPRR, February 6 and 7, 1981; Reagan Diaries, p. 17; stories published in WP, NYT, AP, UPI about the events.
did not retire until after midnight: DDPRR, February 7, RRPL.
Now, a little more than seven weeks: Deaver, Nancy: A Portrait of My Years with Nancy Reagan, p. 121. “The President’s Schedule, Monday, March 30, 1981,” RRPL; the call with the German chancellor was not on the official schedule, but there is no doubt that Reagan was told about it at least a day earlier.
Reagan’s first task: “The President’s Schedule, Monday, March 30, 1981,” RRPL; interviews with David Fischer and Jose Muratti; photographs of event and meet-and-greet, RRPL; audiotape of Reagan’s speech by WHCA, RRPL.
Reagan made it clear that the Oval Office: Author review of DDPRR for first two months in office.
go horseback riding: Reagan went horseback riding with Fischer and James A. Baker III, his chief of staff, on March 25, according to the DDPRR and other scheduling records, RRPL. An official White House photograph shows Reagan and Baker chatting on the marine helicopter as it flew back to the White House. Reagan was wearing his brown riding breeches and boots; Baker had a pack of Red Man chewing tobacco poking out of his left breast pocket.
But Reagan, a perpetual optimist: Interviews with Meese, Frederick Ryan, Baker, and Fischer; Reagan’s autobiographies.
in a commencement address: Kengor, God and Ronald Reagan, p. 95.
At 8:50, shadowed by: DDPRR; photograph of Reagan walking