House of Cards (TV Series)

Chapter 43 (2016)

Charles Gibson: Charles Gibson

Quotes 

• Charlie Gibson : There has been an attempted assassination of the president. President Frank Underwood has been shot. It occurred about ten minutes ago during a campaign event at Hammond University in Washington, D.C. We do not yet know how severely the president has been wounded. He is en route to Jefferson Memorial Hospital. We don't know how serious his condition may be. Footage of the assassination attempt is still making its way to us, and we expect to have that shortly. Witnesses are reporting that there was a quick succession of gunshots, four or five, a lone gunman whose identity we are still trying to determine. We've been told the gunman was killed, as well as at least one Secret Service agent, but we don't have definitive confirmation of that yet. We don't yet know who the gunman may be or who the agent is.

  [Claire is told the bad news] 

  Charlie Gibson : I'm hearing now that the president received at least one gunshot to the abdomen, possibly more, that he clutched his stomach, that he fell instantly to the ground. And there were screams, people panicking, that it has been very chaotic at that scene. We have very little information at this time, other than shots were fired, the president wounded, but as I say, he is alive. We've gotten no official statement from the White House as of yet, either the president's precise condition or the whereabouts of Vice President Blythe. He is believed to be at the White House. We cannot confirm that, nor do we know if he will take over as Acting President, assuming the duties of the presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. That would seem likely, however, if the President's wounds are as serious as we believe them to be. This is a difficult moment for the country. It is not the first time that a president has been shot, in my lifetime, or in many of yours. But even for those of us who have experienced this before, it is no less of a shock. It is no less terrifying. It is the moment when our nation's resilience, when our collective strength, the moment when all of that is tested the most. And we can only imagine how difficult it must be for the First Lady.

• Charlie Gibson : It was in fact two shots: One that grazed the torso just beneath the right arm and the second, which entered the abdomen, possibly into his liver. Obviously, it was that shot that did the greatest damage. The President is currently reported to be in critical condition. The Secret Service agent that was killed protecting the President was Edward Meechum. He is the head of the President's detail, and we can confirm that now. After being shot and before he died, he killed the assailant, whose identity is still unknown. We're waiting now on a press conference from the White House from Press Secretary Seth Grayson, and we expect to have that beginning in just a few moments.