© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Looking Back, Malloy Recalls His Own Panic

Pete Souza
/
White House

Governor Dannel Malloy was quick to say that he didn't, and doesn't, want to make what happened in Newtown about him.

Still, on that day, Malloy was at the center of the story.  

It fell to him to let parents and family members know that their loved ones were gone. And, two days later, President Obama asked him for his help keeping the families company. That's when Malloy said he felt his own panic.

Listen to him describe it below:

"I actually had a panic attack – not debilitating," the governor said, "but, I mean, I probably started sweating, and I got very nervous. Because much of what I had been thinking, when I had time to think since I had done that was, 'Geez, these people must hate me.' And it was a relieving, and healing, experience for me to go now spend time with folks who I had seen, made eye contact with, remembered, and talk about what had happened on Friday, and how they were doing, and understanding that there was no transference of blame to me for doing what I needed to do. It made me feel better."

I spoke with Malloy in his office last week in advance of today's anniversary. You can hear more from that interview here.

Jeff Cohen started in newspapers in 2001 and joined Connecticut Public in 2010, where he worked as a reporter and fill-in host. In 2017, he was named news director. Then, in 2022, he became a senior enterprise reporter.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content