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Hillary Rodham Clinton wins a seat for the United States Senate from New York. It is the first time a former FIrst Lady wins public office.
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An American spyplane collides with a fighter plane of China and makes an emergency landing in Hainan, China. The U.S. crew is detained for ten days.
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The United States State Department issues its report in the War on Terror. It states that there are seven nations that a State-Sponsors: Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
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The United Nations passes Resolution 1441 in a unanimous Security Council vote. It forces Saddam Hussein and Iraq to disarm or face serious consequences.
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NATO invites additional members of the former Soviet bloc to join its membership. Seven nations are included in the invitation; Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
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A tragedy at NASA occurs when the Space Shuttle Columbia explodes upon reentry over Texas. All seven astronauts inside are killed.
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The War in Iraq begins with the bombing of Baghdad after additional measures and mandates from the United Nations and the United States coalition fail to gain concessions or the removal of Saddam Hussein from power.
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The U.S. coalition siezes control of Baghdad in the Iraq conflict.
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Saddam Hussein, former leader of Iraq, is captured in a small bunker in Tikrit by the U.S.
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Mars rover MER-B confirms to NASA that the area of their landing was once covered in water.
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In the first Space Shuttle flight since the tragedy of 2003, Discovery goes into orbit on a mission that returns to earth safely on August 9.
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The population of the United States reaches the milestone of three hundred million, taking only forty-two years to gain one hundred million people
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The first female speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Representative Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, California, is sworn into office.
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A terror plot to blow up JFK International Airport in New York City is thwarted when four terrorists are arrested and charged with its plan.
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The fifty star flag of the United States of America becomes the longest flying flag in history after flying over forty-seven years.
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Michael Phelps gets his 8th gold medal, surpassing Mark Spitz with only 7 gold medal wins.
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John McCain chooses Sarah Palin, 1st term Governor of Alaska, as his running mate, making the contest between Barack Obama and himself
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Barack Obama wins the election over John McCain. Being the first African American to be President.
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Barack Obama takes the oath of office for President of the United States, becoming the first African-American president in the history of the nation.
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The H1N1 virus, named the Swine Flu, is deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.
