James Brady

Former White House Press Secretary, Gun Control Advocate. On March 30, 1981, Brady suffered a serious head wound when he was among four people shot during an assassination attempt on then President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley. Although he survived, the wound left him with slurred speech and partial paralysis that required the full-time use of a wheelchair. Unable to fulfill his duties at the White House, he remained in the position until the end of Reagan Administration. As a result of his shooting, Brady along with his wife Sarah, lobbied for stricter handgun control and assault weapon restrictions. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, also known simply as “the Brady Bill”, was named in his honor. In 1996, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton, the highest civilian award in the United States