A page from Reagan's journal

A friend (thanks, MR) is reading "The Reagan Diaries" and, though he probably doesn't want to be linked to, I thought this post on one of RR's diary entries was quite good. My hometown is only about 20 miles from Ronnie's birthplace (Tampico, IL). For whatever reason I never knew too much about him though. Here's the post:

Ronald Reagan had no reason to believe that his journal would ever be released to the public, no other President's private entries had been. In reading them, I find that Reagan is the very man he appeared to be. I think his charisma made people like him, and he in returned genuinely liked people and genuinely wanted to help. Reagan was criticized for not regularly attending a church when he was President, but after the assassination attempt, he wasn't allowed to go anywhere regularly. Instead, Priests would visit them in the White House and bring communion. It's ironic now that Presidents, like George W. Bush, are criticized for BEING religious. I'm sure presidents are used to the damned if you do, damned if you don't mentality.

Printed on the inside covers of the hardback is Reagan's entry for Monday, March 30th, 1981 in his own hand, clearly one of the longest entries from the day of the assassination attempt:

"My day to address the Bldg & Const. Trades Nat. Conf. A.F.L.-C.I.O. at the Hilton Ballroom-2.pm. Was all dressed to go & for some reason at the last min. took off my really good wrist watch & wore an older one. Speech not riotously received--still it was successful. Left the hotel at the usual side entrance and headed for the car--suddenly there was a burst of gun fire from the left. S.S. agent pushed me onto the floor of the car & jumped on top. I felt a blow in my upper back that was unbelievably painful. I was sure he'd broken my rib. The car took off. I sat up on the edge of the seat almost paralyzed by pain. Then I began coughing up blood which made both of us think--yes I had a broken rib & it had punctured a lung. He switched orders from W.H. to Geo. Wash. U. Hosp.

By the time we arrived I was having great trouble getting enough air. We did not know that Tim McCarthy (S.S.) had been shot in the chest, Jim Brady in the head & a policeman Tom Delahanty in the neck. I walked into the emergency room and was hoisted onto a cart where I was stripped of my clothes. it was then we learned I'd been shot & had a bullet in my lung.

Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less and less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn't ask for Gods help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn't that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all God's children & therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold.

I opened my eyes once to find Nancy there. I pray I'll never face a day when she isn't there. Of all the ways God has blessed me giving her to me is the greatest and beyond anything I can ever hope to deserve.

All the kids arrived and the hours ran together in a blur during which I was operated on. I know it's going to be a long recovery but there has been such an outpouring of love from all over.

The days of therapy, transfusion, intravenous etc. have gone by--now it is Sat. April 11 and this morning I left the hospital and am here at the W.H. with Nancy and Patti. The treatment, the warmth, the skill of those at G.W. has been magnificent but it's great to be here at home.

Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can."

I know it's not funny, but... that line "Getting shot hurts" is classic.