Photos: James Brady | 1940-2014

President-elect Ronald Reagan, right, introduces James Brady as his press secretary in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 1981. (Zeboxski / Associated Press)

Aug. 4, 2014 11:02 AM PT

President Reagan waves to onlookers seconds before a would-be assassin opened fire outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981. Reagan was hit by one of six shots fired by John Hinckley and press secretary James Brady, behind and to Reagan’s left, was seriously injured. (Mike Evans / AFP/Getty Images)

Police and Secret Service agents react during the assassination attempt on Reagan. (Mike Evans / AFP/Getty Images)

James Brady, former press secretary to President Ronald Reagan, is greeted by former First Lady Nancy Reagan in May 1999 in Washington, D.C. (Tim Sloan / AFP/Getty Images)

President Clinton helps former White House press secretary James Brady with the microphone in the Rose Garden of the White House on Aug. 6, 1998, where they called on Congress to extend the gun law named for Brady. (Greg Gibson / Associated Press)

Former President Reagan spokesman James Brady, left, in February 2000 following a dedication ceremony for the new James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House. From left are Brady, presidential press secretaries Joe Lockhart (Clinton), Jerald terHorst (Ford), Larry Speakes (Reagan), Mike McCurry (Clinton) and Pierre Salinger (Kennedy). (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

James Brady is greeted by ABC-TV national correspondent Ann Compton during his June 2009 visit to the White House Briefing Room, which is named after Brady. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

Former White House press secretary James Brady, who was left paralyzed in the Reagan assassination attempt, looks at his wife, Sarah Brady, during a March 30, 2011, news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., marking the 30th anniversary of the shooting. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)