It happened 35 years ago today

Do you struggle with a propensity toward obsessive-compulsive personality? 35 years ago today that phenomena had profound consequences for the leader of the free world. Tom Krannawitter explains:

For those who don't remember the man who attempted to assassinate President Reagan, John Hinckley Jr., he was obsessed with the 1976 dark drama movie "Taxi Driver" and in particular then-young actress Jodi Foster, whose character was pivotal to the "Taxi Driver" story.

Hinckley stalked Ms. Foster for years. His communication to her never stopped. He was determined to inject himself into her life, even though she wanted nothing to do with him.

As his obsession with Ms. Foster grew, he started to dream that if he committed a criminal act similar to what Travis Bickle did -- the lead character of "Taxi Driver" played by Robert DeNiro -- that she would be impressed.
That is when Hinckley started to plot opportunities to shoot the President. He tried with President Carter, but his plans were foiled. Then it all came together on that fateful day late in March, 1981, with recently sworn-in President Reagan as his target.

And the last thing he did before he pulled the trigger? He wrote yet another letter to Jodie Foster expressing his sincere desire to impress her by what he was about to do.

If you want to know the bizarre lengths personal obsession can take some souls, John Hinckley Jr. makes for a revealing case study.

Read more here.