James Scott Brady (born August 29, 1940) was Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. After nearly being killed in an assassination attempt on Reagan, he became an ardent supporter of gun control.

Private life

Brady was born in Centralia, Illinois. He joined the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Early career

In 1962, Brady graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS degree in Political Science. Brady began his career in public service as a staff member in the office of Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen. During the summer of 1962, he was an Honor Intern at the US Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division.

Brady held many positions in the private sector, including faculty member at Southern Illinois University (1964-1965), Assistant National Sales Manger and Executive Mangager to the President of Lear-Seigler (1965-1966), Director of Legislation and Public Affairs for the Illinois State Medical Society (1966-1968), Whitaker and Baxter's Chicago Office Manger (1968-1969), Executive and Vice President of James and Thomas Advertising and Public Relations (1969-1973).

He then moved to the public sector. In the next few years, he served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1973-1975), Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (1975-1976), Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (1976-1977), member of the staff of Senator William Roth (1976-1977). He also served as Press Secretary to then presidential candidate John Connally.

Chaos outside the Washington Hilton Hotel after the assassination attempt on President Reagan. James Brady and police officer Thomas Delahanty lie wounded on the ground.

White House Press Secretary

U.S. President Ronald Reagan appointed Brady as his first press secretary on January 20 1981.

He was among those shot during John Hinckley, Jr.'s March 30, 1981, assassination attempt on Reagan, suffering a serious head wound that left him partially paralyzed for life. Brady retained the title of Press Secretary for the duration of Reagan's two terms in office, although he never returned to work following the shooting.

Handgun control advocate

Brady subsequently led lobbying efforts for stricter handgun control and is in the leadership of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, also known simply as the Brady Bill, was named in his honor.

He and his wife Sarah founded the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

In 1996, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton, the highest civilian award in the United States.

For the U.S. Senator with a similar name, see James H. Brady.