3/30/1981 page 12

 3/30/1981 page 12 by ric gustafson

Hinckley Jr quietly walked up to the small crowd that had already gathered. The group was standing behind a black rope across the street from the hotel's VIP entrance. Five minutes after Hinckley Jr joined the crowd, the President's motorcade arrived.

The President's limousine drove up the Hilton's driveway. It stopped at the VIP entrance. A Secret Service agent got out of the front passenger seat. He opened the right rear door. President Reagan stepped out. Reagan turned toward the crowd where Hinckley Jr was now standing. He waved. Hinckley Jr raised his arm to wave back. He stopped. The President had already entered the hotel.

President Reagan walked into a hotel elevator. Agent Jerry Parr, Ray Donovan and the Chief of Hotel Security were with him. The President walked off the elevator and into the hotel holding room. 

At exactly 2:00 pm, The President entered the backstage of the hotel's International Ballroom. When he had heard ' Hail to the Chief' President Reagan walked onstage. At the podium, Reagan shook hands with Robert Georgine. He was head of the Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. 

Then Reagan began to speak.

Outside, John Hinckley Jr waited.

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Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric