Reagan Says He’s Forgiven Hinckley
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WASHINGTON — Former President Ronald Reagan said Thursday that he has forgiven would-be assassin John W. Hinckley Jr., likes convicted former aide Oliver L. North and thinks Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev could be a successful American politician.
Reagan said of Hinckley: “I found out he wasn’t thinking on all cylinders.” Hinckley was found innocent by reason of insanity of trying to assassinate the President in 1981. Reagan was interviewed from Los Angeles on CNN’s “Larry King Live” show. The one-hour broadcast was monitored in Washington.
The former President, when asked if he personally liked North, replied: “Yes, and he had a great military record of courage and certainly of taking care of the men.” Reagan had little else to say about North, who is appealing his conviction for lying to Congress in the Iran-Contra affair.
Asked if he thought Gorbachev could be a successful politician in the United States, Reagan answered: “Yes, because I think he is a likable person. You find yourself liking him.”
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