Vanderbilt Television News Archive

ABC Evening News for 1981-04-01

This program is 28 minutes long

• Introduction and Preview Peter Jennings (London, England); Max Robinson (Chicago, Illinois) Frank Reynolds (Washington, DC)

  #71000

  05:30:00 pm — 05:30:20 pm

• Assassination Attempt / Aftermath

  #71001

  05:30:20 pm — 05:40:10 pm

  (Studio) Progress of President Reagan and Press Secretary James Brady reported
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

  (DC) Status of John Hinckley, currently held at Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, detailed; results of government psychiatrists' interview with him today noted ordered sealed by federal magistrate. Defense attys.' position on case outlined.
  REPORTER: Bettina Gregory Artist: Freda Reiter

  (Studio) Report introduced
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

  (NYC) Hinckley's background with American Nazi party, at Texas Tech Univ. in Lubbock, and at Yale Univ. in New Haven, Connecticut, examined; actress and Yale student Jodie Foster's role in "Taxi Driver" discussed as possible parallel with actions assumed by Hinckley. Scenes form movie shown. -FOSTER - discusses letters she recd.] Ronald Reagan's campaign stops in New Haven and his canceled appearance in Nashville, Tennessee, where Hinckley was arrested, outlined; further details of his odyssey to Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado., (where he applied for jobs with "Denver Post" and "Rocky Mountain News)", and Washington, DC via Salt Lake City, UT, and Los Angeles, California, examined. Presence of "Washington Post" clipping with regard to murder of John Lennon and letter to Foster in Hinckley's room noted.
  REPORTER: John Martin (WJLA film/tape)

  (Studio) New information with regard to initial moments following shooting of President Reagan said calling into question the-original version of events.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

  (DC) Lapse in White House security plan for Reagan examined; films, photos of shooting shown, discussed. Apparent actions of Secret Service agent Jerry Parr, followed by President's criticism, outlined. [PARR - describes route taken to hospital.] Reagan said apologizing to Parr since shooting; implications of Nancy Reagan's visit with husband today noted. Films shown. Details of President's progress and conditions at hospital outlined; get-well wishes sent by grade school class quoted. Vice President George Bush's role today mentioned. President said still planning on attending daughter Maureen's wedding next month

  (Studio) Brady's condition today described.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

  (Studio) Edwin Meese and James Baker reported appearing on tonight's "Nightline" to discuss assassination attempt; upcoming items announced.
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

• (COMMERCIAL: Conoco.)

  #711274

  05:40:10 pm — 05:41:10 pm

• Gun Control / Poli

  #71002

  05:41:10 pm — 05:43:10 pm

  (Studio) President Reagan's aide Edwin Meese reported restating administration's opposition to gun control.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

  (Studio) Results of ABC "News-Washington Post" poll on gun control following attempted assassination of Reagan, public's perception of Reagan, Vice President George Bush and Secretary of State Alexander Haig discussed; details outlined on screen.
  REPORTER: Lynn Sherr

• Atlanta Murders

  #71003

  05:43:10 pm — 05:44:40 pm

  (Studio) Report introduced
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

  (Atlanta, Georgia) Eddie L. Duncan, Junior, said considered city's 22nd victim of child killer; details given, films shown. Recent discovery of Timothy Hill's body in same area recalled; Duncan's background discussed. Possibility that info-gathered from Hill's murder will confirm suspicions that killings are related to organized homosexual activity considered; telephone calls from Hill to teacher mentioned.
  REPORTER: Bob Sirkin (WSB film/tape)

• Economy: Gold Price (Studio)

  #71004

  05:44:40 pm — 05:44:50 pm

• (Commercial: Big A Auto Parts; Sanka Coffee; Cadillac Eldorado.)

  #71005

  05:44:50 pm — 05:46:20 pm

• Abscam Trials / Williams

  #71006

  05:46:20 pm — 05:48:00 pm

  (Studio) Beginning of Abscam trial of Senator Harrison Williams reported.
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

  (NYC) FBI videotapes featuring Williams and undercover agents Richard Farhart, posing as Arab sheik Yassir Habib, shown, discussed; conversation transcribed on screen. Defense argument, involving FBI informant Mel Weinberg outlined. Audio tape of Weinberg and Williams heard; remarks transcribed on screen. Weakness of defense argument noted.
  REPORTER: Tim O'Brien

• Energy Department Report

  #71007

  05:48:00 pm — 05:48:20 pm

  (Studio) Energy Department reported releasing report indicating major shift from oil to coal in US.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

• Coal Miners' Strike

  #71008

  05:48:20 pm — 05:50:00 pm

  (Studio) Continued coal miners' strike noted.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

  (DC) Opposition to strike by both UMW (United Mine Workers of America, International Union) and management and miners' opposition to contract examined. [UMW (United Mine Workers of America, International Union) local president William KLINE - mentions reason for strike.] Implications for UMW (United Mine Workers of America, International Union) president Sam Church discussed. [Miner Charlie BUTTA, local president Bill HORNICK - criticize Church.] Strike's impact on miners considered.
  REPORTER: Roger Peterson

• Stock Market Report (Studio)

  #71009

  05:50:00 pm — 05:50:00 pm

• (Commercial: John Deere Lawn Mowers; Roman Meal Bread; Gallo Rhine Wine; Midas Mufflers.)

  #71010

  05:50:00 pm — 05:52:00 pm

• US-Nicaragua Relations

  #71011

  05:52:00 pm — 05:52:20 pm

  (Studio) United States reported stopping economic aid to Nicaragua due to its continued support of guerrillas in El Salvador.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

• USSR Diplomat

  #71012

  05:52:20 pm — 05:52:50 pm

  (Studio) State Department reported refusing extension to visa for director of Moscow's Canadian-American Institution, Georgi Arbatov; details given.
  REPORTER: Frank Reynolds

• Poland

  #71013

  05:52:50 pm — 05:53:20 pm

  (Studio) Solidarity reported lifting specter of ntnwide. general strike in Poland; implications for leadership of Lech Walesa noted. Beginning of meat rationing today discussed.
  REPORTER: Peter Jennings

• Thailand / Coup Attempt

  #71014

  05:53:20 pm — 05:53:50 pm

  (Studio) Thailand's Prime Min. Prem Tinsulanonda reported denying claims of his resignation, following General Sant Chiltpatima's announcement last night of coup attempt; details given, films shown.
  REPORTER: Peter Jennings

• Israel / South Lebanon Conflict

  #71015

  05:53:50 pm — 05:54:00 pm

  (Studio) Apparent clash between United Nations troops and Israeli forces in south Lebanon detailed.
  REPORTER: Peter Jennings

• England / Unification Church

  #71016

  05:54:00 pm — 05:54:30 pm

  (Studio) England's Parliament reported calling for withdrawal of tax-free status of Reverend Moon's Unification Church; church noted losing libel suit against newspaper. Details given.
  REPORTER: Peter Jennings

• Alabama / Tornadoes

  #71017

  05:54:30 pm — 05:56:00 pm

  (Studio) Report introduced
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

  (Hurtsboro, Alabama) Tornado here today examined; films shown. [Uniden. RESIDENT, Willie LEMONS - describe experience.] Impact of storm on individuals outlined. [Dan HENDRICK - notes store's destruction.] Total damage estimate mentioned.
  REPORTER: Al Dale (WSB film/tape)

• Las Vegas / Hotel Fire

  #71018

  05:56:00 pm — 05:56:20 pm

  (Studio) Fire at Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas, NV, reported; details given, films shown.
  REPORTER: Max Robinson (KTNV film/tape)

• Space Shuttle

  #71019

  05:56:20 pm — 05:56:30 pm

  (Studio) April 10 reported set for launch date of space shuttle Columbia; details given.
  REPORTER: Max Robinson

• (Commercial: Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray; Chevrolet Autos; K Mart.)

  #71020

  05:56:30 pm — 05:58:00 pm

• Top Item Recapped

  #71021

  05:58:00 pm — 05:58:20 pm

• Good Night

  #674222

  05:58:20 pm — 05:58:20 pm