HW 54952 0-19 (Rev. 8-20-79) Crores The man accused of shooting President Reagan, law-enforcement officials believe, may have been inspired by the plot of a movie. Officials found a letter .in John W Hinckley Jr.°s Washington hotel room after i@ Was apprehended following the assassi- nation attempt. It was written to Jodie Foster, an actress who played an impor- tant role in a movie a few years ago enti- tled, ‘Taxi Driver.” Attorney General William French Smith told White House and congressional offi- cials the letter says the-writer killed the - President. “Mr. Smith also disclosed that this sce- nario paralleled the movie, in which Rob- This story is based on reports from’ Albert R. Hunt and Robert E. Taylor in Washington and Dale D. Buss and Neil Marvell in Dallas. ert Cie “hiro plays a a cab driver who plots to kill a public. official; in the movie, this cab driver is attracted to.a. teenage prostitute played by Miss Foster. >=The Attorney General told officials “there was reason-to-believe Mr. Hinckley had a crush on Miss Foster and that he chad. written to her at least twice before. Federal law officials are Said“to“have-con- tacted the actress—who isn't implicated-in the case in any way—and may have the other letters. Mr. Smith. other officials say, believes the movie and Mr. Hinckley’s infatuation with Miss Foster were the catalyst for his actions, -rather than any political motive. In the film, the character played by Mr. De Niro undergoes a long psychological de- terioration in which he becomes increas- ingly isolated from the world around him. This fits several descriptions of Mr. Hinck- ley as a loner, a drifter, who seemed down on his luck. As a taxi driver, the De Niro character is exposed to the seamiest side of the big city where he works, where drugs, prosti- tution and crime are common. Determined to do something, he shayes his head; adopts paramilitary dress ‘and arms him- self with several guns and knives. He plots to kill a presidential candidate at a speech. ‘But he is noticed by one of the politician’s guards and flees the scene. The movie initially was released in 1976,, then ran on ABC-TV on Jan. 28, 1979, and has been on subscription television. In the -movie,.according.to United Press Interna- tional, at one point Mr. De Niro says to a woman companion: “If you don’t love me I'm going to kill the President.’ But a copy of the director’s-script at the Univer- Docld: 32989491 “Taxi Driver’ Plot May Have Inspired Man Accused of Shooting the President ; Page 95 _ sity of Southern California doesn't include any such reference. Sources said, however. that one of the letters Mr. Hinckley wrote _ Miss Foster also said, “If you don't love me, I’m going to kill the President.” The film includes a sequence in which the De Niro character storms into the house of prostitution where the girl played by Jodie Foster works, killing severai per- sons in a blood-soaked orgy of violence. He is seriously wounded. The girl's parents and newspapers treat him as a hero. Ly ‘ | | $ Federal officials wouldn't discuss the ! Jetter, but did confirm that they found one indicating he “might go out and do some- thing to get himself killed.” There were unconfirmed reports that Miss Foster, currently a student ‘at Yale University, contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier about the letters. Late yesterday, Miss Foster issued a state- ment’ through the university that said: “The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office have asked me to say nothing about Johi W. Hinckley. But I do wish to say that I have never met, spoken to or associated with him. I will have no further comnient at this time.-Inquiries should be addressed to the FBI." It also was learned yesterday that Mr. Hinckley may have hung around the Rea- gan headquarters in Arlington, Va., during “the fall election campaign. At least one Staffer apparently remembered Sééing him: asking for brochures, bumper stickers and the like, and has passed this information on to the FBI. Also, there were reports that federal officials found a picture of Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Presi- dent John F. Kennedy, in Mr. Hinckley’s hotel room as well as some written mate- rial on other assassinations. A Justice Department spokesman said Mr. Hinckley is being held in a six-by-ten foot cell at the marine base at Quantico, Va. He is isolated from other.prisoners and guarded by 25 U.S. marshals, the spokes- man said: The spokesman said he was visited yes- terday by two attorneys from the law firm of Williams and Connolly—the firm of the famed defense lawyer Edward Bennett Williams—but neither the spokesman nor the law firm could identify the lawyers. A psychologist is due to evaluate Mr. Hinckley today, in preparation for a hear- «ing here tomorrow on-his mental compet- ence. . Chasing leads to Mr. Hinckley’s recent past can be an elusive task, as shown by the information on his applications for jobs Please Turn to Page 19, Column 3 a en TS NE Exec AD Adm. _. Exec AD Inv. Exec AD LES Asst. Dir.: Adm. Servs. ... Crim. Inv. - Ident. — Intell. Laboratory . Legal Coun. __ Plon. & Insp —. Rec. Mant. —. Teck. Servs. _ . Troining —_. Public Adis. OF Telephone Rm. ... Directo’’s Sec’y The Wy Washington. ‘StareXer Datiy News (New Yorh' The New York Times — The Wall Strest Tie Atlonia Comstiute t Jourhe ne Toe Les Ang. bes ‘Tames — = acer eee < Date
Plot of ‘Taxi Driver’ May Have Been Used As Basis for Attack Continued From Page Two . in October at The Denver Post and Rocky either newspaper considered him enough of a prospect to pursue his Oct. 20 applications. “We have searched our memories trying to recall him. and can't. There are no notations on his application.” says a personne] executive at the Post. ‘He was a faceless, nameless one of about 1,500 a year who walk in. He was just one of those great masses; the application was never nrocessed."" If it had been, untruths would have ap- peared quickly. At The News. he lied in saying he was a spring. 1980, graduate of Texas Tech, although at The Post, he told the truth and said he only attended the Lubbock university. He told The News he attended Yale for a month last fall. but the directur.of Yale's news bureau says, “We have spent 12 hours going through records, and we can find no such naine.” For job experience, he listed Taylor Publishing Co. in Dallas, where he Says he worked in the Summer of 1978. But a spokesman-says he never heard of him or | the Mr. Atkins that John Hinckley Jr. listed as his supervisor. Mr. Hinckley also listed Ellis Photography in Los Angeles as a former employer, but Mrs. Richard Law- Fence -Ellis; whose husband operated that business"in 1976, says, “He never worked for us.” It's possible, however, he might _ have applied. ‘We remember a young man coming up and looking for a job. and it [ kind of looked like him, but I can't be posi- tive." Mr. Hinckley’s other past job was listed as bartender at Taylor Supper Club in mee a Denver suburb, now a coun: “western club. Bo Cottrell, operator of the club at the time (October 1976 to Feb. Tuary 1977), says, “‘At first I was sure he didn’t work here, but now I've seen his pic- ture, I can’t be positive. I know he wasn't a bartender, though." The jub applications add little to the record of what kind of person he is. He noted at The Rocky Mountain News,that he | had no physical defects and no driving vio- lations. that his hobbies were sports and reading and that he wanted “any writing job" that would pay $1 an hour. At The Post, where the job he sought was “writing. proofreading or circulation,” ! he listed his specia? skills and abilities as “writing, proofreading and circulation.” Mr. Hinckley’s final days in Denver were spent at the Golden Hours Motel in a $74.20-a-week roo €, the help says, three nieals a day at a nearby Mc- Donald's. He was there 16 days, ending March 23, when he left, owing $50. It was the same amount he received March 11 when he went to G.I. Joe's Pawn Shop and hocked a ypewiiler ant aay While not much is known abcut his per- sonal likes, he did have a reputation in Denver for liking rock ‘n rol} music. and had recently been a fan uf and attended a -concert by his current favorites. « punk Docld: 32969491 HW 54952 i rock pruup called the Kamikaze Klones, ad such songs as “Death Can Be d “Psycho Killer.” And John Hinekley Jr-had a fondness for fas' , according to D' waf- whos ford. who with her husband managed the Westernaire a) in Lubbock, where Mr. Eunckley lived from May 1976, through May 1979. “One time we went into the apartment to fix a drain, and he bad fast-food pack- ages and ice-cream cartons all over the floor. He must have never cooked, because his steve and icebox were sparkling clean.” says Mrs. Swafford, who added that Mr. Hinckley always paid his rent on aeom talks with the Swaffords and other acquaintances of Mr. Hinckley from Texas Tech University In Lubbock, it’s ap- - ‘parent that above ail, the young man liked being alone. “You had to initiate conversation with _him every time,”’ says Kevin Crowley, who lived six doors down from Mr. Hinckley on the second floor of the 24-unit Westernaire building. “He liked to sit by the pool, alone. He didn’t have any parties, as I re- member, and attended only a few. if he did | come, he'd grab a beer and go back to his Teresa Early, copy chief for the Texas” Tech student newspaper, The Universi Daily, says Mr. Hinckley never graduated m the school, though on-a university form last spring he said he expected to graduate in May 1980; when he enrolled in a class at Texas Tech again last summer, Mr. Hinckley listed an expected graduation date of last December. , ; During the summer session at Texas Tech in 1978, Mr. Hinckley wrote a:puper “\ on Adolf Hitler's “Mein Kampf" for Asso. ciate Professor Otto "s class on mod- ern German history. The effort marked ‘Mr. Hinckley in Mr.’Nelson'’s mind-because very few students manage to struggle iproueh the volume, much less write about t. Mr. Hinckley apparently took a liking to political extremism during his years at Texas Tech. In March 1978, he joined the ~National Socialis ica, a Chi- white-supremacy group splin- National Socialist_Whi trea from the People’s Party. That month, Mr. Hinckley joined NASP members in St. Louis for a motorcade honoring the anniversary of the a, Page 96 birth of gj 5 founder, George Lincoln Rockwel@Pcording to_Kevin Gately. a sergeant um the party’s.paramilitary wing. The new recruit kept in touch with the NASP chapter in Houston while attending Texas Tech, Mr. Gately said. But Mr. Hinckley was expelled from the group in November 1979, “because we thought he was either deranged or could become an agent provocateur of violence,’” explained Mr. Gately. ‘‘He continually talked about shooting people or blowing up things. and tried to get people to join him in these things.” Mr. Hinckley attended Texas Tech's spring and summer sessions last year. ac- cording to Miss Early at the university daily. Mr. Hinckley didn’t register for classes in the fall. But he was around Lubbock long enough to buy two .22-caliber revolvers in Septem- ber from Snidley Whiplash's pawn shop. Owner William Brockett said he doesn't re member Mr. Hinckley. but confirms that the purchase was made. “I didn't even place the face when I saw (Mr. Hinckley} on TV,” he said.
rr res eS _HW sTbesidep der dinshays -{ ny’s 1980 annual report, ‘We are beginning -|-Chairman,- ,| auditors were meeting in Denver with sev- “ % By Gsorce GetscHow And BRENTON R. SCHLENDER Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL In 1974, John W. Hinckley Sr. moved his family and the tiny oil and gas concern he founded from Dallas to Denver in search of the peace and quiet of the Colorado Rockies. The move proved propitious. According to friends and business associates, the Hinckley family grew to enjoy its new home in Evergreen, Colo., an affluent and pictur- esque town of more than 2,000 people about 3% miles west of Denver. And after strug- gling for a few years, Mr. Hinckley’s com- pany, Vanderbilt Energy Corp., began to flourish: As Mr. Hinckley declared in the compa- to gain momentum now.” He closed his let- ter to shareholders with a verse from Prov- erbs 16:3, ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” But the serenity and good fortune that Mr. Hinckley and his company had discov- ered was shattered Monday by news that John Warnock Hinckley Jr., was accused of shooting President Reagan. The tragedy sent shock waves through the little-known oil and gas company, the full consequences of which may not be known for years. Already, major-changes are in the works. Yesterday, Mr. Hinckley Sr. temporarily re- ‘linquished his post as Vanderbilt's chair- man, president and chief executive officer. Clarence M. Netherland, the 62-year-old vice “Hamed acting chairman, and Rike E. Wootten, a 48-year-old director, was named acting president. A company spokes- man said the length of their new assign- ments is “indefinite.” In a sepatate area, Vanderbilt Energy is under investigation by the Energy Depart- ment for about 2 million of alleged over- charges, federal officials said. Barely a few hours before the attempted assassination Monday, Energy Department eral officials of Vanderbilt Energy, includ- ing Scott Hinckley, the brother of the ac- assailant, according to federal offi- cials. John Hinckley Sr. didn’t attend the meeting, these sources said. Energy Department officials said they were told by the Federal Bureau of Investi- gation and other sources investigating the shooting that there apparently wasn’t any connection between the overcharge allega- tions and the assassination attempt. The overcharge investigation is continuing, ac- * cording to agency officials. Meanwhile, the senior Mr. Hinckley’s de- parture has created an atmosphere of uncer- tainty around Vanderbilt, an impression the company is anxious to dispel}. In a prepared statement yesterday afternoon, Vanderbilt Calm'Worldof Hinckley Family and Firm Shattered by Allegation Son Shot Reagan departure from the company and manage- ment reshuffling could prove crucial to Van- derbilt’s business. “‘Nobody likes uncer- tainty,” acknowledges Mr. Netherland. “Prospects can be lost, deals can pass you up, word can get around and then every- thing drifts the other direction. We don’t want that at all.” For example, a group of British investors who had scheduled a meeting with Mr. Hinckley to discuss a new drilling venture, were told yesterday they'd have to deal with other company officials. A company lawyer acknowledged that Mr. Hinckley's absence “might delay the deal” and said disclosure might jeopardize it. A Vanderbilt executive acknowledged that a “routine audit’ by the Energy De- partment is under way but said the $2 mil- lion ‘is just not a realistic figure." Arnold Bjord, comptroller and treasurer. said, “The story is greatly exaggerated. It’s a routine audit and by the time it’s all over, we don’t think we'll have any violations. These are six stripper wells, and that means they produce less than 10 barrels a day, so & million. Our total oi! and gas revenues last year were only $3,578,000.” The last time the company had a similar audit five years ago it had to pay a $650 ad- justment, Mr. Bjord said. “The auditors were here yesterday morning and they met with myself and with Scotty and said they would be back in a week. I called them this -morning..and. they. said we'll wait another. two or three weeks.” Although the same Jawyer asserted that it was “‘business as usual” at company headquarters in Denver, others described it as a business under heavy siege. Six armed guards patrolled the lobby of the 26-story building in which Vanderbilt has its head- quarters, stopping strangers and searching briefcases. Vanderbilt's corporate name and address were stricken from the lobby’s di- rectory and the company’s name also was removed from the door of the company's 17th floor main entrance. Other building oc- cupants say that: Vanderbilt received sev- eral menacing phone calls and bomb threats yesterday morning. Federal agents are un- derstood to be investigating. Company officials declined to comment, but Ivonne Ellison, assistant secretary and admimstrative manager at the company, ac- knowledged that the situation was “stressful.” declared that Messrs. Netherland and Woot- | ten ‘‘will be actively involved in manage- ment of the company,” and will continue the company’s ‘‘aggressive exploration pro- gram." In addition, Scott Hinckley, Vander- bilt’s vice president, operations, will remain “very active’ in managing the company, -according to 2 company spokesman. dPMoopTYS figure how many days it would take to reach: rents ett -@ en Exec AD Adm. __. Exec AD Inv. Exec AD LES __. Asst. Dir.: Adm. Servs. ._- Crim. fnv. —.. Ident. Intell. Laboratory Legal Coun, Plon. & Insp. Rec. Mgnt. —. . Tech. Servs. Training Public Affs. Of. Telephone Rm. Director's Sec’y The Washington Post Washington Star-News —____. . Daiiy News (New York! The New York Times —WWW--—. The Wall Street Journal ——— The Avlania Constitution on. : The Los Ange hos Taines emo
, Vanderbilt's sudden emergence into the spotlight is an abrupt change for a small company that is little known even in Den- ver. According to the company's annual re- port, Mr. Hinckley Sr. and a half dozen “nervious friends and acquaintances (most of whom are still shareholders), founded the company in 1970 with assets of only $120,000. Sources say the company, traded on the national over-the-counter market since 1976, was named in honor of Vander- bilt University, Scott Hinckley’s alma ma- ter. The name also was chosen to gain atten- tion among Eastern investors. - Last year, Vanderbilt's shares ranked in the top 10% of the 2,990 issues included in the National Association of Securities Deal- ers monthly dollar-volume summary. Yes- terday, the company’s shares were quoted at $12.75 bid, off 7% cents from Monday. In its year ended Sept. 30, profit rose to $805,000, or 35 cents a share, from $503,000, or 24 cents a share.44e year before.’ Reve- nue rose to $4.9 million from $3.7 million. The company has operations in eight states and one Canadian province. Its total proven reserves are 520,368 barrels of oil and 12.9 trillion cubic feet of gas. Until the managernent changes yester- day, most analysts, traders and investors seemed confident that Vanderbilt would be able to weather the tragedy relatively un- scathed. The company’s strong cash posi- tien, rising earnings and reserves of oil and gas buoyed confidence in the company’s im- mediate prospects. “It's a company with tremendous poten- tial,’ said John Kalmbach, senior oil ana- ‘lyst for -Prescott, Ball _& Turben in New York. “They've got the acreage and the working capital and there’s no reason for them to fall to the floor.’” Such enthusiasm was dampened some- what by Mr. Hinckley'’s departure yester- day. But not everyone has lost faith in the company’s previously bright future. As Robert Isbell, a Vanderbilt investor and drilling partner put it: “It’s an unfortu- nate situation. But Mr. Hinckley isn't re- sponsible for his son’s actions. And as an investor, I have no quaims about continuing my relationship with the company.” ree >