Obsessive Love

"On March, 30, 1981,

less than two hours before John W. Hinckley, Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan, he

scrawled a final plea to Jodie Foster, the actress with whom he was obsessed:


Dear Jodie,

There is a definite possibility that I will be killed in my attempt to get Reagan.

It is for this very reason Iam writing you this letter now.

As you well know by now I love you very much. Over the past seven months I've left

you dozens of poems, letters and love messages in the faint hope that you could

develop an interest in me...

Jodie, I would abandon this idea of getting Reagan in a second if I could only win

your heart and live out the rest of my life with you...

I will admit to you that the reason I'm going ahead with this attempt now is because

I just cannot wait any longer to impress you. I've got to do something now to make

you understand, in no uncertain terms, that I am doing all of this for your sake! By

sacrificing my freedom and possibly my life, I hope to change your mind about me.

This letter is being written only an hour before I leave for the Hilton Hotel.

Jodie, I'm asking to please look into your heart and at least give me the chance,

with this historical deed, to gain your respect and love.

I love you forever,


John Hinckley"




(in Lewis, M. & Haviland-Jones, J.M. (Ed)2000; Handbook of Emotions, NY: Guilford Press, p.654; imagem: Donald David)