Some networks ran the conference live, remember?
"ABC news is going to stop the film here, out of respect for our viewers, due to the graphic nature, but we can tell you that he fired the gun and committed suicide."
I still hear the words in my head, something along those lines. More impactful was everyone in my house, the look of shock on mom and dad's faces, jaws ajar. it wasn't until years later that I morbidly discovered the actual video - Far less impactful later. I was only 11 at the time, but I remember it well. That 357 looked HUGE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Budd_Dwyer