baker. we didn t know, was as part of a conspiracy? where they re gonna be other people shot? the answers would be much stranger, and more chilling than they could possibly imagine. and it turned out, the clothes were hiding in plain sight. a nation is rocked as details emerge about the presidents precarious condition, and the gunman who pulled the trigger. coming up the first nationally ties levi s interview with the detectives who questioned hinckley, minutes after the attack. he just said matter-of-factly, like it wasn t a big deal. when dateline continues.
hinckley was also in an astonishing relationship with someone else, a relationship that raised serious questions about his progress. it was the notorious serial killer and rapist, ted bundy, on death row in florida. bundy sent this letter to hinckley. dear john, i think we have something going here john. is always a pleasure to find someone i feel comfortable writing. the secret service discovered that hinckley started the correspondence. the two men had been writing each other for months. hinckley wrote this letter to bundy. dear ted, i read about the new death order and it upsets me. i am against the death penalty. i value you as a friend. hinckley wrote a letter. doctors became more concerned after learning that hinckley still seemed to be obsessed with jody foster, and had 20 photos of her in his room. he also considered writing to convicted killer, charles manson, and received from
the only meaningful thing in his life is his delusional attachment with jody foster. dr. carpenter testified, hinckley created an entire fantasy world, where that attachment could exist. he developed this grandiose view of jody and him as a couple. he felt this is something that everybody should know about. killing carter, killing reagan, he needed something that would call attention to this. is attempts to connect with foster were his way of trying to convince her that they were meant to be. the defense had jurors listened to a phone call. hinckley recorded between himself and actress. john who? oh no, not you again. look, i really can t talk to, okay? you understand why can t, you know, carry on these conversations with people don t know. but jody foster did not appear a trial, but her testimony was
coming up we recovered news footage of carter at different rallies during the election, where hinckley s in the crowd. evidence that ronald reagan wasn t his only target. was in tingly s only target. john hinckley had plans to kill president jimmy carter. yes. when dateline continues. ontinues
city that the power begins and ends with the people. he gives a speech, he s walking out, it s 2:27 pm. i was part of the press pool, which is a small group of reporters who follow along in the motorcade. pbs news our anchor and managing editor was a white house correspondent for nbc news. he came out the door and was waving. i remember, he raised his arm to wave to people there. 15 feet away was a rogue line, which separated a small crowd of reporters and bystanders from the president. in that crowd, a sandy blonde hail 25-year-old named john hinckley junior. moments later [noise] it sounded like firecrackers. you knew in an instant that it couldn t be. you then assumed it was a gun. he unleashes six shots and 1. 7 seconds.