On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John W. Hinckley Jr. as he left a Washington hotel. National Security Adviser Richard Allen and other key members of the cabinet met shortly afterward in the White House Situation Room to manage the crisis and keep the government on course. Presciently, Allen decided to forgo normal practice for the Situation Room and made an audio tape of the historic proceedings with the consent of all present. Allen appeared on National Public Radio's (NPR) Morning Edition to talk about the events and play selections from the tapes. Users can listen to the interview and the tape excerpts at the Morning Edition site. It provides a fascinating and clear account of the dramatic hours following the assassination attempt and the debates and personality clashes within the inner circle of the Reagan White House.