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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. -
The first Star Wars movie, initially titled Star Wars and later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, premiered in the United States on May 25, 1977. It was a surprise blockbuster hit, leading to a wider release and its eventual place as the first film in the original Star Wars trilogy. -
The Three Mile Island partial nuclear meltdown was a severe accident that occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station on March 28, 1979, in Unit 2. A series of equipment failures and operator errors led to a loss of coolant, resulting in a partial core meltdown. While a full meltdown was averted, the event prompted significant changes in nuclear power plant safety regulations and operations. -
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was a catastrophic event in US history, triggered by a massive landslide and subsequent lateral blast. This eruption resulted in the destruction of extensive forests, damage to infrastructure, and the tragic loss of 57 lives. The event also produced a massive ash cloud that spread far beyond the immediate area, causing darkness and disruption in surrounding communities. -
The crisis was a pivotal episode in the history of Iran–United States relations. On January 20, 1981, after the signing of the Algiers Accords, the hostages were released. 8 American servicemen and 1 Iranian civilian killed during an attempt to rescue the hostages. -
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. as he left the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., following a speaking engagement. Hinckley fired six shots, hitting Reagan, White House Press Secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy. Reagan was wounded in his left underarm, but survived the shooting after a swift reaction and prompt medical attention. -
The Iran-Contra affair was a US administration scandal where weapons were secretly sold to Iran to secure the release of American hostages, with profits then diverted to fund the Contras, anti-government rebels in Nicaragua, which violated a congressional ban on supporting the Contras. This complex situation involved a web of secret operations, lies to Congress, and the misuse of taxpayer money. -
The Challenger shuttle explosion, which occurred on January 28, 1986, was a catastrophic event that resulted in the death of all seven crew members aboard. The explosion happened 73 seconds after launch, during the ascent phase of the STS-51L mission, when a failure in the solid rocket boosters caused the external fuel tank to ignite. -
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which occurred on April 26, 1986, was a severe nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. A steam explosion and fire destroyed the reactor, releasing a large amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere, contaminating a wide area across Europe. -
Bush, a Republican from Texas and the incumbent vice president for two terms under President Ronald Reagan, took office following his landslide victory over Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election. -
The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, was a pivotal event marking the end of the Cold War and the division of Germany. It was triggered by growing discontent in East Germany, leading to protests and the opening of borders, which ultimately facilitated German reunification. -
The Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991), was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. -
The Rodney King case involved a videotaped beating of King by L.A.P.D. officers, followed by a trial where the officers were acquitted. This acquittal sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots, a six-day period of violence, looting, and arson in South Central Los Angeles. The riots resulted in dozens of deaths, thousands of injuries and arrests, and billions of dollars in property damage. -
The 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team, dubbed the "Dream Team," was the first U.S. Olympic team to include active NBA players. They dominated the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, winning every game with an average margin of 44 points and securing the gold medal. The team's roster included a collection of NBA stars, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, along with many other Hall of Fame players. -
Clinton, a Democrat from Arkansas, took office following his victory over Republican incumbent president George H. W. Bush and independent businessman Ross Perot in the 1992 presidential election. Four years later, he won re-election in the 1996 presidential election. -
Google was formally launched on September 4, 1998, after being founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The domain google.com was registered on September 15, 1997. They incorporated the company in Susan Wojcicki's garage in Menlo Park, California. -
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. -
On September 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked and used in a coordinated terrorist attack, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, one struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a fourth crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.