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Jimmy Carter was elected president after defeating Gerald Ford. -
Star Wars premiered in theaters and became a major pop culture phenomenon. -
A nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station partially melted down, raising concerns about nuclear energy safety. -
Mount St. Helens erupted violently, causing massive destruction and loss of life. -
52 American hostages held in Iran for 444 days were freed the same day Ronald Reagan became president. -
Ronald Reagan was shot outside a Washington, D.C. hotel but survived. -
The space shuttle Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch, killing seven astronauts. -
A reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, spreading radioactive material across Europe. -
The Reagan administration admitted to secretly selling arms to Iran and sending profits to Contra rebels in Nicaragua. -
George H. W. Bush won the presidential election. -
The Berlin Wall separating East and West Germany was opened, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War. -
The U.S. launched Operation Desert Storm against Iraq after Iraq invaded Kuwait. -
After police officers were found not guilty in the beating of Rodney King, violent riots broke out in Los Angeles. -
The first U.S. Olympic team made up of NBA players began competition at the Barcelona Olympics and dominated other countries. -
Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the presidential election. -
Google was officially founded, becoming one of the world’s largest tech companies. -
Bill Clinton was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. -
Terrorists hijacked four airplanes, crashing them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.