Hinckley’s Past Writings Reveal He Felt “Regret” For Attempted Assassination of President Reagan, But Also “Satisfied”
Broadcast Also Features Interview with Ron Reagan
August 22, 2019 – For the first time on television, Dateline NBC will reveal recently uncovered pages from John Hinckley Jr.’s diary, which he began writing after he was arrested for trying to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. The all-new special, HINCKLEY: Diary of a Dangerous Mind, airs Monday, August 26th at 10 p.m. ET/9 CT.
In the diary, entitled The Diary of A Person We All Know, he wrote ahead of his trial: “There are many times when I thoroughly regret the incident and then many times when I think about what I have accomplished and feel satisfied.” Hinckley also referenced actress Jodie Foster, whom he had been attempting to impress, writing: “I have such an empty, sad feeling. Where are you Jodie?”
The broadcast will also feature the first network TV interview with the initial officer who questioned Hinckley after the attempted assassination, Eddie Myers. Roberts also speaks with three of Hinckley’s childhood friends for their first joint interview. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, after he shot President Ronald Reagan and three other men on March 30, 1981. He was released from a psychiatric hospital in 2016.
Additionally, Monday’s special includes an interview with President Reagan’s son, Ron Reagan, who opens up about Hinckley’s release from a psychiatric hospital. He tells special NBC News contributor Troy Roberts: “My worry is that his narcissistic personality disorder will be affronted by somebody. He will not get the respect or attention that he feels that he’s owed, and he will act out again in some violent way.” Click here to watch an excerpt of the interview.
Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is now in its 27th season. Anchored by Lester Holt and featuring correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy, Dateline is the #1 most-watched Friday newsmagazine for the last two straight seasons and reaches millions of people every week through its broadcast and social media platforms. This year, the series will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. David Corvo is the senior executive producer, and Liz Cole is the executive producer. Follow Dateline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Dominique Cuce
NBC News
212-664-6192
dominique.cuce@nbcuni.com
