Former White House Press Secretary James Brady dead at 73

Former White House Press Secretary James Brady has died, his family said in a statement Monday. Brady was 73.

The former Reagan White House spokesman was shot in the head during an assassination attempt on the president in 1981, and though he was initially pronounced dead from the wound he survived. Brady went on to become a leading champion of gun control, culminating in 1993 with the signing of the landmark Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, or Brady Bill, for short.

"Jim used his many talents and can-do attitude to make a difference in the lives of others," Brady's family said in a statement. "We believe with all our hearts that he did."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up