"President Reagan shot plus 3 others. He has bullet wound into left lung, but is doing well in the hospital. TV has been all about the shooting by a young man ever since it happened about 3:45 PM."
I think the idea was to calm the public, reassuring them that all was well with the President. The picture on the right is of John & Ruth 4 years earlier in 1977 in front of their car in Florida.
Tues., March 31, 1981
"I played bridge at Em Frost's - our 4-sum - this afternoon. No luck, but a few good hands were fun for me.
Pres. Reagan's bullet was removed and is carrying on the office from the hospital room. The culprit was caught immediately & the other victims are in various degrees of serious hurts."
Every once in a while Ruth's phrasing seems odd - such as the "serious hurts" sentence. At this point she was 74, gradually moving into dementia. Her handwriting began to change in 1982, another hint of what was to come. In the picture, she and John are 70 and 77.
Wed., April 1, 1981
"Both Reagan and Brady (his Press head) are doing very well after the shooting. The young man Hinkley is in custody. He has wealthy parents to hire good lawyers.
J & I went to dentist for a check up & I had him (Dr. Faklis) grind down sharp back tooth. That's all & no charge! Letter from Marge Homer re: her Mom Bea - not good at all - a shame!"
Older than Ruth, Bea Newton was one of her closest friends when the Kelloggs lived in Oak Park.
These entries are not in Pieces of a Life.
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