Complex sentence: His plans had been known in advance to many of his patients, who were universally supportive when contacted by the press; he was equally candid with the press, describing the situation to one reporter as... a ghastly mistake.
Split into simpler sentences: His plans had been known in advance to many of his patients, who were reported as universally supportive. He was equally candid with the press, describing the situation to one reporter as... a ghastly mistake.