Diary Entry - 01/18/1982
Key Facts
The United States' attaché in Paris is gunned down and killed as he leaves for work.
In the worst Thunderbirds accident in their history, four Thunderbirds crash while practicing for an airshow.
Voters in Finland elect Mauno Koivisto president succeeding Urho Kekkonen who resigned in October 1981.
The day started off as not bad. Met with 2 leaders of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They gave me a book & told me of their anti-drug program. Then Mike Mansfield, our Amb. to Japan & their trade minister Abe came in. We had a good visit. Abe may very well be P.M. of Japan in a couple of years. I think we’re getting our trade relations on a better footing. Then the day turned bad. Lt. Col. Ray, our attaché in Paris was gunned down & killed as he left for work. I called Mrs. Ray—but what can one say? The other attaches & their wives were with her. I told her we were meeting with the French govt. to see if we couldn’t provide some kind of security & we’re reviewing our own efforts. A Tex Saunders called—said he’d been a grip on some of our “Death Valley Days” shows. He’s in town for his son’s funeral. His son is an A.F. Lt. who was knocked off the bridge & killed by the 737 that crashed in the Potomac. I talked to his widow. In a meeting preparing for press conference (in Cabinet Room) I was handed a note. The Thunderbirds—our Air Force precision team practicing for an air show out in Nevada. All 4 planes crashed—no survivors. We prayed. Supposed to have dinner here with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reynolds at 8:25 P.M. We called—they thought our date was for Feb. 1.
