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Star Wars Movie Premier
Star Wars, first released on May 25, 1977, was one of the defining motion pictures in cinema history, and, for many people who lived during the era of bewilderment and cynicism following U.S. Pres. -
Jimmy Carter Elected President
Carter, a Democrat from Georgia, took office following his narrow victory over Republican incumbent president Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election. His presidency ended following his landslide defeat in the 1980 presidential election to Republican Ronald Reagan, after one term in office -
Three Mile Island Meltdown
The Three Mile Island accident, a partial nuclear meltdown that occurred at Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979, was the worst commercial nuclear power plant accident in U.S. history. It was caused by a combination of equipment failures, design flaws, and operator errors. While a partial meltdown occurred, the accident did not cause any significant off-site radiation releases or health impacts. -
Mount. St. Helens Eruption
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, in Washington, was a cataclysmic event that resulted in 57 deaths, widespread devastation, and significant ecological changes. The eruption, which began on May 18, 1980, was preceded by months of increased seismic activity and the formation of a large bulge on the volcano's north flank. The eruption itself involved a large landslide, a devastating lateral blast, and a massive ash plume that spread across the Pacific Northwest -
Assassination Attempt on President Reagan
On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States, was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C., as Reagan was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton hotel. Hinckley believed the attack would impress the actress Jodie Foster, with whom he had developed an erotomanic obsession after viewing her in the 1976 film Taxi Driver. -
Iran Hostages Released
The Iranian hostages were released on January 20, 1981, following a 444-day captivity that began with the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The release occurred minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration as president, ending the crisis that had plagued President Jimmy Carter's administration -
Iran/ Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra affair was a US government scandal where officials secretly sold weapons to Iran to facilitate the release of American hostages and then diverted the profits to fund the Contras, anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua, despite Congressional prohibitions. This involved violating an arms embargo against Iran and circumventing the Boland Amendment, which prohibited further funding of the Contras. -
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
The Chernobyl disaster, which occurred on April 26, 1986, was a catastrophic accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). A steam explosion and fire released a significant amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere, contaminating vast areas of the Soviet Union and beyond. The accident resulted in immediate deaths, long-term health effects, and extensive environmental damage -
Challenger Shuttle Explosion
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members aboard. The cause was a failure of the O-ring seals in the solid rocket boosters, which were damaged by cold weather. This led to a breach in the external tank, which then ignited and caused the shuttle to disintegrate. -
George H.W. Bush Elected President
George H.W. Bush was elected President of the United States in the 1988 election. He defeated Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis on November 8, 1988, and was inaugurated on January 20, 1989. He served as President from 1989 to 1993. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and division between East and West Germany, began on November 9, 1989, and culminated in German reunification on October 3, 1990. It marked a turning point in European history, signaling the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe -
Start of the Persian Gulf War
The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991; and Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991 and came to a close with the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991. -
Original U.S.A. Olympic Basketball Dream Team
The "Dream Team," the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball team, was a collection of top NBA players who dominated the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, winning all eight games with an average margin of 44 points. This team is widely considered one of the greatest basketball teams of all time -
Rodney King Decision & L.A. Riots
The Rodney King riots, sparked by the acquittal of LAPD officers in the beating of Rodney King, led to a significant shift in how the LAPD was perceived and functioned. The riots highlighted concerns about racism and police brutality, ultimately pushing for police reforms and a consent decree with the federal government. -
Bill Clinton Elected President
Clinton was elected president in the 1992 election, defeating the incumbent Republican Party president George H. W. Bush, and the independent businessman Ross Perot. He became the first president to be born in the Baby Boomer generation and the youngest to serve two full terms. -
Launch of Google
Google was officially launched on September 4, 1998, when Google Inc. was incorporated in Menlo Park, California. The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin to develop and market Google Search. The domain name google.com was registered on September 15, 1997. -
Bill Clinton Impeached by the House of Representatives
Yes, Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, on two articles of impeachment: perjury and obstruction of justice. These charges stemmed from his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and his testimony in the Paula Jones lawsuit. While impeached, he was later acquitted by the Senate. -
World Trade Center/Pentagon/Shanksville, PA Attacks
On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, striking the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These coordinated attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people.