James Brady is a political aide, best known as the White House Press Secretary under Ronald Reagan. He is also noted for serving as Phyllis Schlafly's campaign manager during her run for Congress in Illinois in 1970. His injuries sustained in that 1981 assassination attempt against Reagan left him permanently disabled. As a result, he became a proponent of gun control.
In 1989, Brady's wife Sarah became the leader of the Brady Campaign and served as its leader until 2012.
The Brady Bill, a bill requiring private businesses selling firearms to submit all customers to a background check taking up to 5 days, was named after him when it was passed in 1993.
The press briefing room in the White House is named in honor of Brady.