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Not a preview, but the full TL. Enjoy.
Mourning in America
“This is CBS Breaking News: we have just received word that President Ronald Reagan was shot by a lone gunman while leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel in DC. Mr. Reagan has apparently been shot in the chest, and the presidential motorcade has left the building. Repeat, there has been an assassination attempt on President Reagan.” - NBC News, Mar. 30, 1981
“Mrs. Reagan, I am sorry to inform you that your husband could not be saved. The round punctured his heart, and despite our best efforts he is close to death.” - Dr. Joseph Giordano to Nancy Reagan, 3:15 PM EST
“Mr. Vice President, President Reagan has been shot and killed in Washington. You have to return to Washington immediately.” “Is this confirmed?” “Yes sir.” “Get me Al Haig right now.”
“The scene was eerily reminiscent of Lyndon Johnson’s swearing-in aboard the same aircraft eighteen years previously, on the same tarmac: Love Field, Dallas, Texas. After a brief oath-taking, the aging 707 took off for Washington.”
“Gentlemen, the President died at 3:35 PM Eastern time. Vice President Bush is now President of the United States.” “Is there any news on funeral arrangements for Mr. Reagan?” “There are none that I am aware of at the present time.” - White House Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes, 4 PM EST
“Rest assured Mrs. Reagan, the President will receive a state funeral according to your wishes.” “Thank you Mr. President, but do you need any assistance?” For you are the one in trouble now.” - Nancy Reagan to President George Bush, Mar. 30
WEINBERGER: “Mr. President, there is no indication that President Reagan’s assassination was anything more than a lone gunman. Soviets have already sent us condolences, which I’ve left in the Oval Office for you.” HAIG: “State has been receiving condolence messages from around the world.” PRES. BUSH: “I’ll be calling certain leaders after this meeting are over, and then address the nation tomorrow night. That is all gentlemen.”
“My fellow citizens, a great man has been struck down long before his time. I pledge to you that will continue the path set by President Reagan for America in his first seventy days in office.” - President George Bush’s National Televised Address, Apr. 1
“Over the following week, I spoke to all our G7 allies, along with Deng Xiaoping and PW Botha. At the time, the Soviet leadership was dying at a very rapid rate, and Brezhnev only replied to my letter two months later. At home I had pledged to continue the policies I had called “voodoo economics” during the primaries. What I preferred to do was monetarism, like Margaret was practising in Britain with the slogan “short-term pain, long-term gain.” She was the first foreign leader I called and our relationship was always friendly, regardless of the pressures applied on us by foreign events.” - Former President George Bush interviewed, 1995
“Immediately, Bush ordered further aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, and continued to follow his pragmatic convictions on international affairs. In the media there was speculation that Bush would drop Secretary of State Al Haig for George Shultz, or even Henry Kissinger. Their tense relationship was an open secret, but Bush refused to make any changes until the end of 1981 at the earliest. “It would be dishonouring President Reagan’s wishes for me to conduct a Cabinet shuffle at the present time.”
“On May 5, 1981 President Bush nominated Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) to fill the Vice-Presidential vacancy, and Lugar was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Though no public criticism was voiced out of respect, GOP conservatives were disappointed that one of their own was not chosen. Foremost among them was freshman Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) who complained that Lugar was a “milk-and-water Republican” “just like Rocky on economics”.
“Upon taking office, I discovered that President Carter had decided to give Ethel Kennedy a Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her murdered husband, but had never followed through. I found that simply inexcusable and we agreed that it would be a private ceremony out of respect, which took place on June 4th, 1981. I have always admired Bobby Kennedy: he was a man of great moral and political courage who would have been an excellent President.” All the Best, George Bush
Philippine presidential election, 30 June (KBL) Ferdinand E. Marcos: 93.3% Incumbent President: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
“In July 1981, Bush made his first state visit to the United Kingdom. Thatcher reportedly wanted him to address the Tory Conference in Blackpool, but Bush “gently dissuaded Margaret, because I didn’t think that appropriate.” Regardless, Bush’s visit was regarded as a great success, despite having less “star power” than Thatcher.”
“I will be getting rid of Al Haig the first chance I get: the asshole is not what I want in a Secretary of State. This will have to wait until year’s end because of the implicit pledge not to touch Reagan’s Cabinet. I’m debating between Shultz and Henry K, both of whom subscribe to my foreign affairs philosophy. What I am definitely not doing is attending the North-South summit in Mexico City, because foreign aid never reaches those it’s supposed to reach.” Bush Diaries, Sept. 4
“I want a FTA with the Canadians as much as anyone, but you’re not going to get it as long as that socialist Castro-loving asshole resides at 24 Sussex. Not to mention the economic illiterates in both parties.” - White House Tapes: Conversation with Treasury Secretary Donald Regan, Sept. 22, 1981