From R. Budd Dwyer's
Final News Conference
-
"I thank the Good Lord for giving me 47 years
of exciting challenges, stimulating experiences, many happy occasions,
and, most of all, the finest wife and children any man could ever desire.
Now my life has changed, for no apparent reason. People who call and write
are exasperated and feel helpless. They know I'm innocent and want to help.
But in this nation, the world's greatest democracy, there is nothing they
can do to prevent me from being punished for a crime they know I did not
commit. Some who have called have said that I am a modern-day Job.
I
Judge Muir is also noted for his medieval
sentences - I face a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and a $300,000
fine for being innocent. Judge Muir has already told the press that he,
quote, "felt invigorated" when we were found guilty, and that he plans
to imprison me as a deterrent to other public officials. But it wouldn't
be a deterrent because every public official who knows me knows that I
am innocent - it wouldn't be a legitimate punishment because I've done
nothing wrong. Since I'm a victim of political persecution, my prison would
simply be an American Gulag.
I
I ask those that believe in me to continue
to extend friendship and prayer to my family, to work untiringly for the
creation of a true justice system here in the United States, and to press
on with the efforts to vindicate me, so that my family and their future
families are not tainted by this injustice that has been perpetrated on
me.
I
We were confident that right and truth would
prevail, and I would be acquitted and we would devote the rest of our lives
working to create a justice system here in the United States. The guilty
verdict has strengthened that resolve. But as we've discussed our plans
to expose the warts of our legal system, people have said "why bother",
"no one cares", "you'll look foolish", "60 Minutes, 20/20, the American
Civil Liberties Union, Jack Anderson and others have been publicizing cases
like yours for years, and it doesn't bother anyone".
I
At this point in time... is Bob Bolstey here?
Bob... and where's Greg... can you come up here? And where's Don Johnson...
can you come up, Don?"
I
Budd began handing out sealed envelopes...
II
-
Greg... where are you... okay, just hang onto
that right for the moment... Don, there's some things for you to do, and
there's a note in here for Joanne...
I
...he returned to the podium and pulled out a
.357 Magnum revolver...
i
-
When I... and I...
I
The crowd began shouting - "Don't do it Budd!"...
I
"Please leave the room if this will... if
this will offend you...
I
The crowd continued shouting
I
Budd warned them off:
I
i
...no, no, don't, don't, don't... this will
hurt someone...
I
...Budd stuck the gun into his mouth, fired,
and fell to the floor... the room erupted in horror... (A
man's voice can be heard saying, "keep shooting." - to the camera
man)
I
-
...then an aide of Dwyer's, spoke to the media
members still in the room:
I
-
All right... settle down. Don't panic, please...
don't panic... don't panic. Someone call... someone call the ambulance
and a doctor and the police... don't panic, please... show a little decorum,
please... dear god in heaven...
--
You've got your footage....now will you kindly
wrap up your footage...get your cameras out..please get out of the room.....You've
gotten all that can be gotten at this point....Paul please....Paul please
(Speaking to photographer Paul Vathis who continued to photograph Budd
Dwyer's body)...please wrap up your cameras and get out of the room......Oh
my god in heaven! (Looking down at the Dwyer's body) Dear god in
heaven!
-
...Photographers continued to snap pictures of
Dwyer's dead body and at least one camera continued shooting
--
 <
'
Now that's enough! That's enough!
Please leave the room now!
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