Brady's death in 2014 was eventually ruled a homicide, caused by the gunshot wound he received 33 years earlier on March 30, 1981.

[2] Brady began his career in public service as a staff member in the office of Republican Illinois senator Everett Dirksen.

[4] After Connally withdrew his candidacy, Brady became the director of public affairs and research for the Reagan–Bush Committee, then spokesperson for the Office of the President-elect.

[5] When ABC News anchorman Frank Reynolds, a personal friend of Brady, was later forced to retract the report, he angrily said on-air to his staff, "C'mon, let's get it nailed down!

"[8][9] Although Brady survived, the wound left him with slurred speech and partial paralysis that required full-time use of a wheelchair.

[10] Kobrine, his neurosurgeon, described him as having difficulty controlling his emotions while speaking after the shooting, saying "he would kind of cry-talk for a while", and having deficits in memory and thinking, such as failing to recognize people.

[11] Brady was unable to work as White House press secretary but remained in the position until the end of the Reagan administration with Larry Speakes and Marlin Fitzwater performing the job on an "acting" or "deputy" basis.

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

[22] Season 1, Episode 4, "In Control" of the television series The Americans takes place on the day of Reagan's assassination attempt, as the main characters try to figure out what is happening.