Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) National reaction to verdict in John West Hinckley, Junior's trial noted. [President REAGAN - declines comment.] Nancy Reagan said considering verdict unbelievable. [Gerald FORD - agrees.] Judge Barrington Parker reported committing Hinckley to Saint Elizabeth's Hospital.
REPORTER: Roger Mudd

(DC) Apparent disunity among jurors examined. [Jurors Nathalia BROWN, Maryland COPELIN - comment on their vote.] "New York Post" headline shown. Stern [Foreman Lawrence COFFEY - defs. verdict.] Coffey's account of deliberations, include perusal of Hinckley's poems, outlined; audio tape made by Hinckley dedicating his actions in 1981 to actress Jodie Foster shown. Assassination attempt shown. Defense attorney said not seeking Hinckley's release from Saint Elizabeth's in near future.
REPORTER: Carl Stern {Artist: Betty Wells}

(Studio) Impact of verdict on insanity defense noted.
REPORTER: Tom Brokaw

(DC) Capitol Hill response verdict examined. [Senators Arlen SPECTER, Orrin HATCH, Strom THURMOND, Howard BAKER, Attorney General William French SMITH - react to verdict.] [Edwin MEESE - considers insanity defense outdated; explains.] ID noted repealing insanity defense this year [ID attorney general David LEROY - thinks Hinckley would have been convicted if tried in ID.] Georgia, Illinois, IN and Michigan said offering compromise verdict; details given. [Rush Med. College attorney Barbara WEINER - defs. insanity defense] Possible outcome of furor considered.
REPORTER: James Polk