Once the man hung up the telephone. The second time he did not reply, despite the President's attempts to engage him in conversation. Eventually, the police said, Mr. Harris released his hostages, one by one, and was arrested.

Neighbors and co-workers of Mr. Harris said today that he was well liked but troubled. They said he was an avid fisherman and raccoon hunter, and recalled his happy reaction to Mr. Reagan's victory in 1980.

''He called me on election night to crow that his man had won,'' said Johnny O'Bryant, a co-worker and friend of the suspect. ''He thought Mr. Reagan was just what this country needed.''

But Mr. O'Bryant and others said Mr. Harris seemed increasingly afflicted in recent months by personal setbacks - losing his job last summer at an Augusta factory where he had been a millwright, and the death in May of his father, Harry, with whom he had been very close.

''He's had a lot on him and I think he just finally snapped,'' said Mr. O'Bryant. ''I think he just got depressed, and on the spur of moment decided he wanted to tell someone about his problems.''

Mr. O'Bryant said he was involved in recent efforts by union workers to appeal Mr. Harris's dismissal on charges of coming to work under the influence of alcohol. He said they had been urging Mr. Harris to seek treatment.

Micheal G. Culbreth, industrial relations manager for Augusta Forest Industries, the company Mr. Harris had worked for, confirmed that Mr. Harris had been dismissed for work rule violations; he did not cite the specific cause.