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    "title": "[Press Conferences and Press Releases - Assassination Attempt] (3)",
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        "Records of the White House Office of the Press Secretary (Reagan Administration)",
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    "ocrText": "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library\nDigital Library Collections\nThis is a PDF of a folder from our textual\ncollections.\nCollection: Brady, James S.: Files\nFolder Title: [Press Conferences and Press Releases -\nAssassination Attempt] (3 of 3)\nBox: OA 16783\nTo see more digitized collections visit:\nhttps://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library\nTo see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library\ninventories visit:\nhttps://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection\nContact a reference archivist at:\[email protected]\nCitation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMarch 31, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nAt 6:15 this morning, the President left the recovery room for the\nintensive care ward. Dr. Daniel Ruge, the President's personal\nphysician, said, \"The President's vital signs are all in the normal\nrange. He's in exceptionally good condition.\" Dr. Ruge indicated\nthat the President was talking and writing notes.\nOn James Brady's condition, Dr. Ruge said, \"It is serious, but\nimproving. It's too early to make a prognosis. He is somewhat\nresponsive.\"\nDr. Ruge also said that Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy's\ncondition is \"very fine.\"\nDoctors at the Washington Hospital Center said the condition of D.C.\npoliceman Thomas Delahanty is serious, but the prognosis is good.\nAt 5:30 this morning, Michael Reagan, Maureen Reagan, and Patti Davis\narrived at the White House. Ron Reagan and his wife, Doria, arrived\nlast night. All of the children will be staying at the White House.\n###\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMARCH 31, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nDr. Daniel Ruge, the President's personal physician, made the\nfollowing statement at 5:00 pm:\nThe President continues on the road to recovery. He is doing\nextremely well. After sleeping this morning, he has spent the\nday reading newspapers. From time to time he is sitting up in\nbed. He is converting from non-oral to oral feeding and toler-\nating it very well. He has had clear liquids such as soup and\ngelatin. He continues on intravenous fluids and antibiotics.\nHis vital signs are in the normal range.\nThe President was informed about Jim Brady, Agent Tim McCarthy\nand Officer Thomas Delahanty shortly after noon. He was very\nsaddened and expressed sorrow.\nThe physicians attending Jim Brady are pleased he has continued\nto be more responsive. Although he is seriously ill, they are\noptimistic.\nSecret Service Agent Tim McCarthy continues to improve.\nOfficer Thomas Delahanty is improving at the Washington Hospital\nCenter. He is listed in fair condition and will be moved from\nintensive care today. There are no plans as of today to remove\nthe bullet from his neck.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMARCH 31, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nJames Brady remains in critical but stable condition. He is\nbeing observed closely for possible complications for which he\nis at significant risk. Mr. Brady. is responsive and continues\nto move the right side of his body in response to voice command.\nIt is clear that Mr. Brady understands voice command, implying\nretention of significant brain function. Physicians are encouraged\nby Mr. Brady's progress thus far but he remains in guarded condition.\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. McCarthy, Secret Service agent who was shot in an assassination\nattempt on the President, continues in good condition as his\nvital signs remain stable. He is awake and alert and is receiving\nroutine care. His prognosis is excellent and he will most\nlikely be moved to a surgical ward within the George Washington\nUniversity Hospital sometime tomorrow.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nApril 1, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nDr. Dennis O'Leary, Dean for Clinical Affairs at the\nGeorge Washington University School of Medicine and Health\nSciences, reported at 5:00 pm that Press Secretary\nJames S. Brady continues to make very satisfactory progress.\nMr. Brady continues to play catch and is responsive\nto command. There is no evidence of complications at\nthis time.\nDr. O'Leary also reports that Special Agent Timothy\nMcCarthy of the United States Secret Service is in good\ncondition. Agent McCarthy was transferred out of\nintensive care this morning and is in a private room.\nAgent McCarthy underwent a scan of his liver to exclude\nthe possibility of blood collection there and Dr. O'Leary\nreports that everything looks very good. Agent McCarthy\nis doing extremely well and is stable.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAPRIL 1, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing surgical rounds at the George Washington University Hospital,\nphysicians report President Reagan's condition continues to improve\nas well as can be expected. The President was moved from the Inten-\nsive Care Unit to a surgical ward last evening. The President will\nincrease his food intake beginning today as his diet is changed from\nliquid to solid food.\nMrs. Reagan visited the President until 11:00 pm and they watched\npart of the Academy Award presentation.\nThe President is in good condition but is experiencing some pain and\nfatigue in response to his injury. The President slept well during\nthe night and is up and walking this morning.\nFollowing surgical rounds at the George Washington University Hospital\nphysicians report Mr. James Brady's condition continues to improve\nas he remains in critical condition. Mr. Brady is able to speak,\ncan move his left arm and leg, and it is anticipated that he may be\nable to sit up in his hospital bed in a few days. During Mrs. -Brady's\nvisit last night she and Mr. Brady played catch, demonstrating his\nability to move in spite of his weakened condition. Physicians\ncontinue to be cautiously optimistic as Mr. Brady's neurological\ncondition continues to improve. Mr. Brady is breathing well without\nthe assistance of a respirator.\nAgent McCarthy's condition continues to improve. He will undergo\nsome diagnostic liver scanning tests this morning and it is anticipated\nthat he will be relocated within the hospital to a surgical ward\nlater today.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nFor Immediate Release\nApril 2, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds at George Washington University\nHospital, physicians report President Ronald Reagan's progress\nto be satisfactory. He remains in good condition with vital\nsigns and temperature well within normal limits.\nThe President is experiencing some pain as anticipated in\nresponse to his injury and surgical care, but he is able to\nwalk around the Presidential surgical suite. His appearance\nreflects the effect of a peaceful night's sleep.\nChest x-rays show that the President's injured lung is expanded,\nand he is coughing well, a favorable indication of his continued\nprogress and recuperation.\nFor breakfast the President had fresh orange juice, honeydew\nmelon, two soft-boiled eggs, whole wheat toast and honey, and\ndecaffeinated coffee. He ate about 8:30 am.\nThis morning the President watched some of the morning television\nshows, read newspapers and the White House news summary, and\nalso some of the National Review.\nFollowing morning surgical rounds at George Washington University\nHospital, physicians report that Mr. James Brady's post-operative\nprogress continues to improve and his vital signs are stable.\nHe remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.\nA routine post-operative CT scan confirms Mr. Brady's steady\nprogress, physicians report, and rudimentary vision and cognative\ntest results are satisfactory. The post-operative drainage\ntubes placed at the sight of the injury at surgery have been\nremoved. Mr. Brady is able to cooperate in his nursing care\nthrough working with the nurses to position himself for standard\ntreatment.\nFollowing morning surgical rounds at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital, physicians report Mr. Timothy McCarthy's\ncondition as good, as he experiences some anticipated \"third\nday\" soreness.\nX-rays show Mr. McCarthy's chest to be clear, and his vital\nsigns are stable.\n9:30 am\nApril 2, 1981\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nFor Immediate Release\nApril 2, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds at the George Washington University\nHospital, physicians report President Ronald Reagan continues to\nmake excellent progress. His condition is good, with respirations,\nheart rate, and other vital signs well within normal limits.\nThe President is now exercising regularly by walking in the Presi-\ndential surgical suite four times each day. He continues to receive\nbriefings in person and in writing.\n**************\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians report that Mr.\nJames Brady's post-operative status continues to improve and that\nhe appears clearer mentally. He held a restricted conversation with\nhis physician this afternoon. When asked how he was feeling, Mr.\nBrady replied with a thumbs up sign and said, \"Fine, fine.\"\nMr. Brady is also now performing breathing exercises on instructions\nand has gained some minimal voluntary movement of the proximal\nmuscles of his left arm and leg.\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians report that Mr.\nTimothy McCarthy's condition is good, and that his vital signs remain\nstable.\nMr. McCarthy's chest tube has been removed, and his injured lung\nremains fully expanded. He is now obtaining some mild exercise by\nwalking around his hospital room.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nFor Immediate Release\nApril 3, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan's condition is\nsatisfactory. The previously-reported temperature elevation again\nbecame moderately elevated. A fiberoptic-bronchoscopy was then\nperformed, and several small bronchial plugs as well as some dormant\nblood were successfuly removed. The President has been restarted on\nthe broad spectrum antibiotic which he had received following surgery,\npending the results of specific cultures. All blood and urine studies\nperformed thus far are normal.\nThe President has received several visitors through the day and remains\nalert and generally comfortable.\n*****\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady's condition continues\nto improve. He has now been moved from the critical list but remains\nin the Intensive Care Unit. His vital signs are stable and there have\nbeen no further temperature elevations.\nThis afternoon when Mr. Brady's physician asked him what his job was,\nhe replied, \"Press Secretary at the White House.\"\n*****\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. Timothy McCarthy continues to do\nwell. His digestive system appears to be functionally normal and his\nchest x-ray is clear.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 4, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at the George\nWashington University Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan\ncontinues to progress satisfactorily. His temperature\nhas slowly ebbed through the day and is normal at this time.\nAlthough all culture results are still negative, the President\ncontinues on antiobiotic coverage as a precautionary measure.\nAt 12:12 pm, the President was visited by Special Agent Timothy\nMcCarthy and his wife, Carolyn. Mrs. Reagan visited with the President\nat that time. When Special Agent McCarthy arrived, the President was\nseated in a chair having lunch and rose to shake hands with\nMr. McCarthy. They discussed their treatment in the hospital for\nabout 10 minutes. As the McCarthys were preparing to leave,\nMrs. McCarthy mentioned their children would be visiting their\nfather on Sunday. The President said: \"You tell them their father\nput himself between me and that guy. I'm glad there are guys around\nto do those kind of jobs.\"\nThe President had lunch at 12:00 noon and ate cream pea soup, relishes,\ncrackers, lemon custard, decaffeinated coffee and water. He ordered\nthe following for dinner: lamb chops, yellow squash, peas, cucumber\nsalad, bannana cake with ice cream, water and decaffeinated coffee.\nThe President had a bannana milkshake at 3:30 pm and at 2:05 pm,\nhe visited briefly with Counsellor Edwin Meese. The President has\notherwise spent the day napping occasionally and visiting with\nMrs. Reagan and her brother, Dr. Richard Davis. He has also taken\nseveral walks during the day.\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at the George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady's general level of\nalertness has improved further and that he has been transferred from\nthe intensive care unit to a private room on the neurosurgery service.\nWith effort, he can now partially open his right eye. He has also\nbegun to speak spontaneously.\n-MORE-\n2\nFollowing afternoon surgical rounds, physicians at the George\nWashington University Hospital report that Special Agent Timothy\nMcCarthy continues to recuperate uneventfully. His condition\nremains good.\nThomas Delahanty's condition is good and he is making satisfactory\nprogress. He was moved from the intensive care unit last night.\nHe has some pain, which is to be expected, but the prognosis is\ngood. He has been walking around. His vital signs are stable.\n6:00 pm\n* * *\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 4, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan's condition\nis good. He is responding very well to routine chest physical\ntherapy, and his temperature is only mildly elevated. The last\nchest tube was removed this morning and his chest x-ray has improved.\nThe President is very alert, telling stories and laughing.\nThe President met with Dr. Ruge, Dave Fischer and Jerry Parr at\n9:25. He was given an update on the condition of the others.\n\"That's great news, just great, especially about Jim.\" He also\nsaid, \"We'll have to get four bedpans and have a reunion.\"\nHe awoke at 6:30 a.m. For breakfast, the President had orange\njuice, kiwi fruit, soft-boiled eggs and whole wheat toast.\n*****\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady continues to make\nexcellent progress. He is now trying to open his eyes \"and mild\nintermittent temperature elevations have been easily controlled.\nWhen asked this morning by his physicians what his job involved, he\nreplied \"I answer questions.\" His physician said \"who for?\" Brady\nresponded \"anyone who asks them.\"\nIn follow up to earlier FBI reports that the bullet which struck\nMr. Brady may have exploded on impact, physicians agree that the\nentry wound is compatible with such a thesis but doubt that much\nif any of the lead azide explosive actually penetrated the skull.\nPhysicians also comment that surgical debreidement of the missile\ntrack was sufficiently thorough to assure that any remaining\nchemical would have been removed at surgery.\n*****\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. Timothy McCarthy's condition\nremains good. He has been started on a liquid diet.\nMr. McCarthy is scheduled for further routine post-operative tests\nearly next week.\n*****\n9:45 a.m.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAPRIL 5, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nAfter morning surgical rounds at the George Washington University\nHospital, physicians report that President Ronald Reagan continues\nhis convalescence after sleeping most of the night. His tem-\nperature was intermittently elevated to moderate levels through\nthe evening but is again normal this morning.\nEarlier this morning, the President was transported to the\nradiology department for standard posterior-anterior and\nlateral chest x-rays. These films show persistent lung infil-\ntrates along the bullet track, findings which would be expected\nto resolve quite slowly. Physicians continue to monitor the\nPresident's clinical course carefully.\nThe President remains alert and in good spirits, and is expected\nto receive Vernon Jordan as a visitor later today.\nIt is anticipated that no further reports concerning the\nPresident's condition will be issued today.\nAfter morning surgical rounds at the George Washington University\nHospital, physicians report that Mr. James Brady spent a good\nnight and continues to make satisfactory progress. He is now\neating solid foods and sipping water. Although intermittent\ntemperature elevations continue, all cultures performed thus\nfar are negative.\nMr. Brady has been informed by his wife as to the President's\ninjury and is aware that the President is also hospitalized\nat George Washington. Mr. Brady's speech is becoming more\nsophisticated and he clearly recognizes his wife both by\nsound and vision.\nLast night Mr. Brady commented on his injury by remarking, \"The\n'Bear' was certainly in the wrong place that time.\"\nMr. Timothy McCarthy continues to make excellent progress.\n*************\nOfficer Thomas Delahanty is in good condition at Washington\nHospital Center. He was walking around today and took a\nshower. The hospital spokesman said that Officer Delahanty\nhad a moderate elevation in temperature and is receiving anti-\nbiotics although there is no evidence of infection.\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 6, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan spent a\nrestful night as he continues to recuperate. Intermittent moderate\ntemperature elevations have persisted through the past 24 hours.\nA portable chest x-ray this morning shows modest clearing of the\npreviously-described lung infiltrates when compared to earlier\nportable chest film. Existing cultures and review of specimen\nsmears show no evidence of bacterial infection. However, .as a pre-\ncautionary measure, antibiotic coverage was broadened further\nyesterday.\nThe President continues to be alert and in good spirits.\n****\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady continues his thus\nfar uncomplicated recovery. Vital signs, including temperature,\nare normal. Motor function is essentially unchanged, but Mr. Brady\nis able to open both eyes, the left still with some difficulty.\nThe facial swelling is gradually receding.\nMr. Brady's thinking processes and speech continue to improve. He\nnow makes quips and jokes spontaneously. After his first look at\nhis neurosurgeon, Dr. Arthur Kobrine, Mr. Brady remarked, \"Not a\nbad job, doc.\"\n****\nMr. Timothy McCarthy continues to make excellent progress.\n****\nPhysicians at the Washington Hospital Center report that Thomas Delahanty'\ncondition continues good. He is up and around and eating well. His\ntemperature is normal.\n****\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 7, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan's condition\nhas improved further. His temperature returned to near normal last\nnight and has remained at this level.\nStandard x-ray facilities were temporarily established in the Presi-\ndential Suite yesterday. Posterior-anterior and lateral chest x-rays\nsince that time show some apparent clearing of the lung infiltrates,\nalthough radiographic abnormalities related to the injury and surgery\npersist, as expected. All cultures remain negative, and the President\ncontinues to receive broad spectrum antibiotic coverage.\nThe President is in excellent spirits. His color is good and he is\neating well.\n* * *\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady had a restful night\nand continues to recuperate uneventfully. Mr. Brady sat up in a\nchair twice yesterday. He can now drink by himself and is eating\nsolid foods on a regular basis.\nYesterday Mr. Brady was evaluated by the Physical Therapy and Occu-\npational Therapy staffs who have initiated appropriate treatment\nprograms.\nMr. Timothy McCarthy was discharged from the University Hospital\nthis morning in good condition and is scheduled for a routine follow\nup visit with his surgeon next week.\nThe President visited with Agent McCarthy, his wife Carolyn, Jerry\nParr and Dave Fischer at 10:04 a.m. They shook hands, exchanged\npleasantries and chatted briefly about the incident. Mr. McCarthy\ntold the President about an offer by W. Clement Stone for the use of\nhis condominium in Acapulco. The President urged Mr. McCarthy to go\nand have fun. As Mr. McCarthy was leaving, the President said to him,\n\"I wish you well on your vacation and trip to Mexico and I thank you\nfrom the bottom of my heart.\"\n* * *\nPhysicians at Washington Hospital Center report that Officer Thomas\nDelahanty's continues good. His temperature is normal. He is\nexpected to remain on antibiotics for another 24 hours as a pre-\ncautionary measure.\n11:00 a.m.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 8, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan continues\nhis progressive improvement. His temperature, which was mildly\nelevated last evening, is essentially normal this morning.\nChest x-rays today show significant clearing of the previously-\ndescribed lung infiltrates which are now barely perceptible.\nAlthough antibiotic coverage is being continued, the President is\nno longer receiving any oxygen therapy.\nThe President has been ambulating with increasing vigor and is\ndescribed as animated in his conversations with physicians and\nvisitors.\n*****\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that Mr. James Brady continues to make\nsatisfactory progress. Mr. Brady spent much of yesterday napping\nbut sat up in his chair for dinner.\nA further routine CT scan was performed last evening. It shows\ncontinued resolution of the injury site with no evidence of\ncomplications\n*****\nPhysicians at Washington Hospital Center report that Officer\nThomas Delahanty is progressing nicely. Antibiotics have been\ndiscontinued and he has no fever. He is up and around. No\ndischarge date has been determined.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 9, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nFollowing morning surgical rounds, physicians at George Washington\nUniversity Hospital report that President Ronald Reagan continues\nto make highly satisfactory progress. His temperature has stayed\ndown for the past 24 hours and remains normal this morning.\nChest x-rays show steady post-operative resolution. One anti-\nbiotic, Topramycin, has been discontinued. Chest physical\ntherapy has also been terminated.\nThe President continues to be active and in good spirits.\n* * *\nMr. James Brady continues his uneventful recuperation. His\ntemperature has been normal, and antibiotic therapy was stopped\nthis morning. Mr. Brady naps occasionally through the day,\nbut has been receiving a limited number of visitors, including\nVice President Bush who met with Mr. Brady yesterday afternoon.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 14, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nThe President called Press Secretary Jim Brady at 12:45 p.m.\ntoday. They spoke for about two minutes.\nThe President opened the conversation by saying, \"Are you ready\nfor a press conference?\" Brady replied, \"Yes, sir.\"\nThe President said, \"We both have a lot to thank God for.\"\nBrady's reply: \"We feel the same way.\"\nThe President also spoke to Sarah Brady.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 16, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Jim Brady is continuing his steady recuperation. There\nis slow but significant recovery of the hip and thigh muscles\nof his left leg. All medications have now been discontinued.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 20, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at the George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Mr. James Brady remains in satisfactory condition. It is\nnoted that the press release of April 16 overlooked the fact that\nMr. Brady was continuing to receive standard anti-seizure and anti-\nhypertensive medication. This information is germane to the manage-\nment of his care over the past weekend.\nEarly in the weekend, Mr. Brady developed a generalized rash and\ntemperature elevation which eventually reached high levels. Appro-\npriate culture and specimen smears, including spinal fluid, were\nobtained, and following infectious diseases consultation, broad\nspectrum antibiotic coverage was initiated. Because no evidence\nof infection has been identified and Mr. Brady's white blood cell\ncount is normal, it is believed that his rash and temperature\nelevations were due to a drug reaction. Therefore, the previous\nanti-seizure and anti-hypertensive medications were discontinued\nand acceptable alternative medications have been started.\nThis morning Mr. Brady's rash has faded, and his temperature is\nonly slightly elevated. He remains alert and in good spirits.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 21, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady continues his slow but steady neurologic improve-\nment. The drug reaction which developed over the past weekend is\nresolving satisfactorily as Mr. Brady's rash and temperature eleva-\ntion continue to diminish.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 23, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady was transferred back to his hospital room from\nthe recovery room earlier this morning.\nHis vital signs, including temperature, are normal, and he remains\nin satisfactory condition. He has slept intermittently through\nthe night as the usual effects of anesthesia wear off, but he is\nreadily awakened and responds normally to questions.\nComprehensive cultures were obtained during the course of last\nnight's five-hour surgical procedure. Physicians caution that\nseveral days of careful monitoring will be required before the\neffectiveness of the surgery can be adequately assessed. Mr. Brady\ncontinues to receive broad spectrum antibiotic coverage.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 24, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady continues to progress satisfactorily in his recovery\nfrom surgery Wednesday evening. His vital signs remain stable, and\nhis temperature which was slightly elevated last evening is normal\nthis morning. He is eating well, is alert and is talking.\nA post-operative CT scan performed yesterday afternoon shows good\nresolution of the intracranial air and is otherwise satisfactory.\nWhile there remains no evidence of infection, Mr. Brady continues\nto be carefully monitored by the neurosurgical and infectious diseases\nstaffs.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 25, 1981\n10:00 am\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at the George Washington University Hospital\nreport that Mr. James Brady continues his satisfactory\nrecovery from surgery earlier this week. Late yesterday\nafternoon, Mr. Brady developed a new generalized rash without\nany temperature elevation. This finding, believed to represent\na second drug reaction, was readily controlled by again\nchanging anti-seizure medications, and the rash has already\nbegun to fade.\nMr. Brady is quite alert, and there remains no evidence of\ninfection thus far. Yesterday, Mr. Brady engaged his neuro-\nsurgeon in a game of \"thumbsies\" and won in what Dr. Kobrine\ndescribes as a fair match.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be issued on Monday, April 27.\n###\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAPRIL 27, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Mr. James Brady spent a quiet weekend as he continues\nhis uneventful recovery from last week's surgery. His\ntemperature remains normal, and serial skull x-rays\nshow progressive absorption of the intracranial air.\nA spinal fluid examination on Sunday was normal, but he\ncontinues on broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage.\nYesterday, Mr. Brady spent two hours sitting up, his longest\nperiod out of bed since the original injury. While an atmos-\nphere of caution still prevails, Dr. Arthur Kobrine, his\nneurosurgeon, indicates that Mr. Brady is mentally the\nsharpest he has been since the initial hospitalization.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be issued on Wednesday, April 29.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nApril 29, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in satisfactory condition. On Monday even-\ning, while drinking iced tea, Mr. Brady leaked approximately four\ndrops of fluid from his nose. Because of the possibility that this\nmight be spinal fluid, a skull x-ray was obtained; this showed a slight\nincrease in intracranial air. Thereafter, Mr. Brady's activities were\ncurtailed, and he has subsequently been restricted to bed with the\nhead of the bed elevated by 20 degrees. Follow-up skull x-rays yester-\nday show absorption of most of the intracranial air, and there has been\nno further indication of a spinal fluid leak.\nThere continues to be no evidence of infection, and Mr. Brady's temper-\nature remains normal; antibiotic coverage continues.\nPhysicians believe the most recent leakage of air and possibly spinal\nfluid to be related to an additional potential abnormal communication\n(passageway) in the region of the left posterior ethmoid sinuses, an\narea which could not be adequately exposed during the last surgical\nprocedure without compressing the healing brain tissue. Because there\nis a reasonable expectation that any persistent potential communica-\ntion will heal on its own, Mr. Brady will be maintained in his present\nposition in bed for the next 10-14 days. This approach is intended\nto minimize the risk of recurrent leakage while permitting the healing\nprocess to progress. At the end of this time, Mr. Brady's activities\nwill be gradually increased. If there is evidence of additional leak-\nage at that time, further diagnostic studies will be performed in\norder to evaluate the potential need for further surgery.\nMr. Brady remains alert and continues to watch television and talk on\nthe telephone.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr. Brady's\ncondition will be released on Friday, May 1.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 1, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in satisfactory condition. Skull x-rays\nyesterday show further absorption of the intracranial air, and\nthere has been no spinal fluid leakage. Mr. Brady's temperature\nhas now been normal for the past six days as he continues on\nantibiotic coverage.\nMr. Brady has remained alert and is resting comfortably.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be released on Monday, May 4.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 5, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady is in satisfactory condition this morning following\na third surgical procedure last night, this one to prevent the\npassage of large blood clots into his lungs from his legs or pelvis.\nYesterday morning, after Mr. Brady had complained of chest discomfort,\nsequential studies through the day, including a chest x-ray, a radio-\nisotopic lung scan, and a right-sided pulmonary angiogram (dye in-\njected into the right lung artery) were performed. These studies\nconfirmed the presence of several blood clots in the right lung with\npredominant involvement of the right upper lobe area. In order to\navoid a more serious recurrence of this problem, Mr. Brady was\nimmediately scheduled for surgery. At surgery, following an incision\nin the right groin area under local anesthesia, an umbrella (resem-\nbling a bundle of bobby pins in the shape of a nose cone) was threaded\nthrough the right femoral vein and fixed in the inferior vena cava,\nthe large vein which drains blood from the lower part of the body.\nThe umbrella permits the passage of normal blood flow through it\nbut will entrap any significant blood clots which break loose from\nthe veins in the legs or pelvis. The clots in the lungs can be\nexpected to be dissolved through normal body mechanisms. Mr. Brady\nwas awake and stable throughout the surgery procedure which lasted\ntwo and a half hours. He was returned directly to his room from\nthe operating room shortly after midnight.\nMr. Brady slept well and is alert and talking this morning. Vital\nsigns, including temperature, are normal, and there is no indication\nof further intracranial leakage of air or spinal fluid.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 4, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady spent a good weekend and remains in satisfactory\ncondition. There has been no evidence of further intracranial\nleakage of air or spinal fluid. All antibiotic therapy was dis-\ncontinued on Friday, and Mr. Brady's temperature has continued to\nbe normal since that time.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr. Brady's\ncondition will be issued on Wednesday, May 6.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 8, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady continues to have a stable course and remains in\nsatisfactory condition. His temperature continues to be normal,\nand there has been no indication of further intracranial leakage\nof air or spinal fluid. He is being maintained in a reclining\nposition in bed and his activities continue to be restricted. The\nsurgical procedure earlier this week appears to have satisfactorily\ncontrolled the threat of blood clots in the lungs.\nMr. Brady is awake and alert and has been reading newspapers and\nwatching television.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr.\nBrady's condition will be released Monday, May 11.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 11, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady is in good condition after another uneventful\nweekend. A CT scan this morning shows complete absorption of\nthe intracranial air and is otherwise satisfactory. Vital signs,\nincluding temperature, remain normal. In accordance with the\nplan to steadily increase his activities this week, Mr. Brady\nwill be permitted to sit in a more upright position in bed today.\nHe is also being started on a more diversified diet. Physicians\ncontinue to monitor his progress closely.\nMr. Brady is fully alert and in good spirits.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's medical condition will be released Wednesday,\nMay 13.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 13, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition as his activities\ncontinue to be gradually increased. He ate dinner last night\nsitting up on the side of his bed. Mr. Brady had a transient\nmild temperature elevation last night, but there had been no\nother signs of infection. His temperature remains normal this\nmorning.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be released Friday, May 15.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMAY 15, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady continues to make satisfactory progress and\nremains in good condition. Skull and chest x-rays on Wednesday\nshowed no abnormal changes. Mr. Brady's temperature has remained\nnormal for the last 36 hours; his white blood count is normal.\nMr. Brady is undergoing physical therapy in his hospital room and\nremains in good spirits.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr.\nBrady's condition will be released on Monday, May 18.\n#\n#\n#\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 18, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Mr. James Brady remains in good condition after a quiet\nweekend. His temperature has continued to be in the normal\nrange, and he is eating well. Mr. Brady is making gradual but\nsatisfactory progress in his physical therapy program.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be Thursday, May 21.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 21, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition as he progresses into\na more active physical therapy program. He has begun a schedule\nof twice-per-day visits to the Physical Therapy Department, where\nactivities are concentrating on improving his balance and enhancing\nthe motor function of his left leg. Mr. Brady's temperature has\nremained normal, and there has been no evidence of further complica-\ntions. A follow-up CT scan yesterday was satisfactory.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr.\nBrady's condition will be released Tuesday, May 26.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 26, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition as he continues to show\nsteady neurological improvement. He resumed his twice-a-day\nphysical therapy activities this morning following a quiet Memorial\nDay weekend. Mr. Brady remains free of further medical complica-\ntions, and he is in good spirits.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr. James\nBrady's condition will be released Friday, May 29.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nMay 29, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady, who has now been diagnosed as having left lower\nlobe pneumonia, is responding satisfactorily to antibiotic therapy\nand remains in good condition. The diagnosis was established on\nthe basis of radiologic changes on a follow-up chest x-ray yesterday\nafternoon. Since the absence of sputum production has created\nuncertainty as to whether the pneumonia is of bacterial or viral\norigin, antibiotic coverage was extended yesterday to cover virus-\nlike organisms.\nMr. Brady is experiencing virtually no symptoms and remains alert\nand in good spirits. His temperature was elevated only to modest\nlevels through the evening, and he slept comfortably most of the\nnight.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be released Monday, June 1.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nJune 1, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady spent a quiet weekend and remains in good condition.\nMr. Brady's temperature was normal throughout the weekend. A\nfollow-up chest x-ray this morning shows signs of continuing resolu-\ntion of the left lower lobe pneumonia.\nMr. Brady is alert and in good spirits.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning Mr. Brady's\ncondition will be released on Thursday, June 4.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nJUNE 4, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition as he continues to\nmake satisfactory progress in his recovery. His temperature\ncontinues to be within the normal range; he remains on oral\nantibiotic therapy.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be released Tuesday, June 9.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nJUNE 9, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition and continues his\nsatisfactory progress. His temperature is in the normal range\nand he is no longer on antibiotic therapy. He continues his\nphysical therapy in his room.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady's condition will be released Tuesday, June 16.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nJUNE 16, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady is making steady progress in recovering from his\ninjury. He continues in an active physical therapy program in his\nhospital room. Mr. Brady's vital signs remain normal and he is in\nexcellent spirits.\nIn view of Mr. Brady's continued uneventful course, it is anticipated\nthat medical bulletins concerning his condition will no longer be\nissued on a regular basis.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAugust 3, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady had a grand mal seizure in his room immediately\nafter breakfast this morning. The seizure was promptly treated\nwith intravenous medication and anesthesua. A subsequent CT scan\nshowed no apparent cause for the seizure and there is continued\nhealing of Mr. Brady's earlier injury. His vital signs are normal.\nHe is sleeping under anesthesia and is currently in the post-\nanesthesia recovery room. Dr. Kobrine is continuing to observe\nMr. Brady in the recovery room at this time.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAugust 4, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady is in good condition this morning after an unevent-\nful evening. The seizure problem which began yesterday morning\nhas responded satisfactorily to barbiturate anesthesia and he is\nnow responsive. Mr. Brady remains in the post-anesthesia recovery\nroom, but it is anticipated that he will be transferred back to\nhis hospital room later today. Except for a modest temperature\nelevation last evening, Mr. Brady's vital signs have remained\nstable.\nDuring yesterday's seizure acticity, physicians noted clear\nfluid, presumed to be spinal fluid, draining from Mr. Brady's\nnose. However, there has been no evidence of air leakage, and\nspinal fluid examination last night was normal. Physicians\ncontinue to monitor Mr. Brady carefully for any further fluid\nleakage.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAugust 5, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition, having experienced\nno further seizure activity since Monday evening. His anti-\nseizure management is being converted to a two-drug regimen\nwhich includes phenobarbital and his previous anti-seizure\nmedication in somewhat higher doseage. Because this therapeutic\ntransition involves a barbiturate drug, Mr. Brady remains groggy\nthis morning. However, he is able to converse briefly and to\ntake fluids and medication by mouth.\nVital signs have been stable except for recurrence of a low-\ngrade temperature elevation last evening. A chest x-ray this\nmorning shows a small amount of post-anesthesia atelectasis\nwhich probably accounts for the low-grade fever and is expected\nto resolve uneventfully. As a precautionary measure, prophy-\nlactic antibiotic therapy has been started. Mr. Brady is expected\nto be transferred back to his hospital room later this afternoon.\nPhysicians continue to monitor Mr. Brady carefully for any\nfurther spinal fluid leakage. Significant additional leakage\nwould, physicians indicate, raise the possibility of elective\nsurgery at a later date to attempt to correct the problem.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nAugust 6, 1981\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Mr. James Brady remains in good condition following\ntransfer to his hospital room yesterday afternoon. There\nhas been no further seizure activity, and his temperature\nhas remained within the normal range, indicating satisfactory\nresolution of the post-anesthesia atelectas. Antibiotic\ncoverage is to be continued for several more days.\nMr. Brady was more alert and in good spirits last evening\nand then spent a restful night. It is expected that physical\ntherapy activities in his hospital room will be resumed\nshortly. There has been no further spinal fluid leakage,\nbut physicians continue to monitor this situation carefully.\nIt is anticipated that the next medical bulletin concerning\nMr. Brady will be released Monday, August 10, 1981.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\nAugust 11, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report that\nMr. James Brady remains in good condition and is alert and in\ngood spirits. Physicians continue to make minor doseage adjust-\nments in his anti-seizure medications in order to achieve optimum\nblood concentrations of these drugs. Mr. Brady had a small amount\nof spinal fluid leakage both yesterday and this morning, as this\nsituation continues to be monitored carefully. Physicians indicate\nthat persistent leakage of this degree would increase the likeli-\nhood of elective surgery within the next several weeks. Mean-\nwhile, Mr. Brady has been undergoing further physical therapy\nactivities in his hospital room.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\n(Santa Barbara, California)\nAugust 24, 1981\nNOTICE TO THE PRESS\nPhysicians at George Washington University Hospital report\nthat Mr. James Brady remains in good condition as he continues\nan uneventful recovery from last Thursday's surgery. Vital\nsigns, including temperature, have been normal, and antibiotic\ncoverage has been discontinued. Although Mr. Brady's post-\noperative activity continues to be restricted, he is alert\nand in good spirits.\n# # #\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\n(Santa Barbara, California)\nFor Immediate Release\nAugust 29, 1981\nBIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR JIM BRADY\nVista Mar Monte,\nSanta Barbara Sheraton,\nSanta Barbara, California\n10:08 A.M. PDT\nMR. PLANTE: Good afternoon. From the Monte Bar\nBallroom, high atop the Santa Barbara Sheraton, it's the unoriginal\namateur hour. (Applause.) Let us raise our voices in song.\n(The press corps sings \"Happy Birthday\".) (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: All right, now, Brother Bear, put your\nhand on the radio. A group of my colleagues have taken time out\nfrom their hardship duty here on the Pacific Shore to give testimony\nhere this morning. The first of them, Howell Raines, author of\n\"Whiskey Man\" but now in more effete times known as \"Drambuie Man\".\n(Applause.)\nMR. RAINES: Jim, it's very smoggy here this morning,\nor foggy, which means, of course, that the trees are causing a\nterrific amount of air pollution. You'll be glad to know that this\ntime I'm going to write a story quoting Jerry Brown and blaming it\non him instead of you. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: Thank you, Howell.\nAnd now, Jim, here is \"Jaws\" Walter Rodgers, with\nsomething we are sure you'll recognize.\nMR. RODGERS: Jim, knowing how much you and I love a\ncertain northwoods bird, and we'll keep it in the dark, the latin\nfor which is Gavea Imer, I thought I'd give you the first\ncross-country loon call. (Imitates loon.)\nMR. PALMER: Get the hook, get the hook.\nMR. RODGERS: Now, you and I both know loons aren't\ncrazy; it's just everybody else out here, but from all your looney\nfriends, happy birthday and -- (imitates loon). (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: All right. We're already getting calls,\ncards, and letters on that one, but here's John Palmer.\nMR. PALMER: Howdy, Jim. Here we are out on the banks\nof the beautiful Snake River out here -- (laughter) -- but, I tell\nyou, we've been out here a long time and we're kind of hankerin'\nto get back there to Washington, that lovely, smoggy weather there\nin Foggy Bottom. In fact, someone just described us the other day\nas all of us are \"just meaner than a junkyard dog\". Our best to\nyou, Jim. We think about you a lot. Take care. (Applause.)\nMORE\n- 2 -\nMR. PLANTE: All right, John. Now, here's Roy Coleman,\nor -- it is Roy Coleman, isn't it? Step right up here, sir.\nRay Cullen.\nMR. CULIEN: Better known, Jim, as the oldest and\nwisest field producer. (Laughter.) And I want you to know that a\ncouple of references have been made to the Pacific and even more\naccurately, the Pacific tributary of the Snake River. You'll be\nhappy to know that they're establishing a new shrine here for the\ngiant komodo dragon, and we're going to be here to dedicate it.\nOur best wishes, Jim.\nMR. PLANTE: Let's hear it for the giant komodo dragon.\n(Applause.)\nAnd here with a palm leaf in his hand, which may have\nbeen all he was wearing until a moment ago, is Dan Blackburn.\nMR. BLACKBURN: Actually, that's not quite the case,\nJim. It was a giant killer tree. I wrestled it to the ground and\nit still got away. It's headed for the ranch somewhere, but the\nPresident will be able to recognize it because I brought back part\nof its hide.\nOh, there's one key to this too. You've got to walk up\nto it and say, \"How do it know?\" Happy birthday, Jim. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: Thank you, Dan. Jim, Neil Strawser had a\nbirthday just the other day and we didn't know until Larry revealed\nto us how old he was. He's a hundred and eight. (Laughter.)\nMR. STRAWSER: No, Larry, it's 104. I am the oldest\ncorrespondent. Jim, I just wanted to say to the \"more or less\",\nI'm told, former portly one, congratulations on being \"more or less\nfour-tly-one\". (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: And now, here live -- (laughter) -- is\nBob Berkowitz.\nMR. BERKOWITZ: Jim, I almost left Cable News Network\nto go into business with your old boss, Senator Bill Roth, and Pye\nChamberlain. (Laughter.) We were going to start a combination\ntoupe and disco emporium. We were going to call it rug and roll.\n(Laughter.) Happy birthday, Jim. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: And next in line, fresh from wrestling\nbubonic plague infested rodents to the ground, is agent Tim McCarthy.\n(Applause.)\nMR. MCCARTHY: Jim, happy birthday from all the Secret\nService out here, who I can assure you are all working much harder\nthan all the press out here. (Catcalls.)\nMR. PLANTE: And here's Kenny Reff, Jim.\nMR. REFF: Jim, I just wanted to let you know that the\nPresident's pledge of providing a safety net in the wake of all his\nbudget cuts has held firm. Out here, in Santa Barbara it's taken\nthe form of a volleyball net that we all play out on the beach.\nHappy birthday. Wish you could be here with us. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: We have not yet heard from the wire\nservices and they are just beginning to step up here. Here's Dean\nReynolds, Jim.\nMORE\n- 3 -\nMR. REYNOLDS: Jim, I just have to take time out from\nfiling, of course. (Laughter.) I'm sure I don't have to impress\non you the significance of this summertime. As a Cub fan you\nrealize, of course, that for the first time in baseball history we\nhave a chance to finish last twice in one season. (Laughter.)\nSeriously, I hope you get back soon. We need a good\nsense of humor, something like a news conference with jelly beans\nand lotteries. I have a suggestion that we could try out. We could\nput one chair in front of the podium that the President sits at --\nor stands at -- and then we could have all the reporters march around\nin a circle while music plays -- (laughter) -- and then when the\nmusic stops we could sit down. The guy who got in the chair asks\nthe question. (Laughter.) Anyway, that's my thought. (Applause.)\nHappy birthday, Jim. (Applause.)\nMORE\n- 4 -\nMR. PLANTE: All right. Here's the Great Santini.\nMR. RAINES: It's boom-Boom.\nVOICE: Good not great. (Laughter.)\nMS. SANTINI: Now, wait a minute. As usual, I'm\nbeing insulted here by my colleagues. But I just wanted to\ntell you that here in Santa Barbara, the truly needy have\nbecome the truly bored and we miss you. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: All right. Let's make no mistake about\nit. This testimony is almost over because here exercising her\nprerogative to end things is Helen.\nMS. THOMAS: Jim, we really miss you very much. Come\nhome. All is forgiven. (Laughter.)\nWe want to thank you, Mr. Press Secretary. Happy\nBirthday. (Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: And now here's Larry Speakes with a\nspecial announcement.\nMR. SPEAKES: Jim, one brief word from your staff here\nwho's been working hard. One thing we've found here in Santa\nBarbara is that a pool is truly a pool here. (Laughter.)\nI would like to conclude here by reading a statement\nfrom a very special friend of yours. It begins: \"Nancy and\nI join Jim Brady's family and many friends in wishing him a\nhappy 41st birthday. We continue to pray for his full and speedy\nrecovery. Jim Brady is a talented and dedicated public servant.\nHe is my friend and I am proud to have him as my press secretary.\nNancy and I salute the Bear and Sarah today and\nwe look forward to celebrating his next birthday in his office\nat the White House.\" Signed, Ronald Reagan. (Applause.)\n(The press corps sings \"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow\".)\n(Applause.)\nMR. PLANTE: Jim, from all of us, a very happy birthday\nand we're all looking forward to seeing you soon.\nSarah, are you there?\nMRS. BRADY: Hi. This is Sarah. I just want to tell\nyou how very, very much Jim appreciated this. He has the biggest\ngrin on his face you ever saw. I'm outside the room right now.\nIt was a wonderful birthday. He appreciates the cards and your\nnotes and this program was fantastic. I want to tell you also\nthat the loon call came through beautifully - (laughter) -- absolutely\nbeautifully. And when told about the press conference,he said,\n\"That was a hell of an idea.\" Thank you all so much. Good bye.\nMR. PLANTE: Thank you. (Applause.)\nEND\n10:25 A.M. PDT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nOffice of the Press Secretary\n(Santa Barbara, California)\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nAugust 29, 1981\nSTATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT\nNancy and I join Jim Brady's family and many\nfriends in wishing him a happy 41st birthday.\nWe continue to pray for his full and speedy\nrecovery.\nJim Brady is a talented and dedicated public\nservant. He is my friend and I am proud to\nhave him as my Press Secretary. Nancy and I\nsalute The Bear and Sarah today and we look\nforward to celebrating his next birthday in\nhis office at the White House.\n#\n#\n#"
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