The story

March 30, 1981. Arguably the most powerful man in the world is shot.

As measures were taken to save President Reagan's life, the press was trying to bring the story to the American people. But information was scarce; the media both at the scene and at the hospital had no idea just how serious it was.

"We did not know, the general public or the press, how near death he was when he collapsed in the ER," recalled Sam Donaldson, a former ABC White House correspondent. "The first briefing did not give us any of those details; the first briefing was a fairly upbeat briefing."

Former White House reporter Helen Thomas has covered every president from John Kennedy to George W. Bush for United Press International. She says the atmosphere was tense and the answers few.

"We were asking many questions, which the White House refused to answer. There was a great sense of frustration in terms of what was really going on," Thomas said. Read full article »

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