Russell A. Rourke counselor John O. Marsh. In 1976, he became a special assistant to President Gerald R. Ford. His responsibilities included legislative liaison between the White House and Congress. After President Ford lost his bid for re-election in 1977, Rourke serve on the White House Transition Team. At the close of the Ford Administration, Rourke accepted a position as administrative assistant to Republican Congressman Harold S. Sawyer of Michigan. In May 1981, President Reagan nominated Rourke as assistant secretary for legislative affairs in the Department of Defense. In that capacity, Rourke was the principal adviser to Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger
Pope John Paul II assassination attempt Frederick Forsyth novel The Fourth Protocol, the assassination attempt is directly referenced as a badly executed plot wherein Ağca initially acts alone, but is supported by the KGB once his intent is discovered. The 1982 Tom Skerritt film "Fighting Back" featured footage of this event in its opening credits' depiction of a television news story on violent crime since 1963 from the reporters' viewpoints. The event is briefly referenced in the ending of the anime series "Chrono Crusade". Pope John Paul II assassination attempt The first attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II took place on Wednesday, 13 May 1981,