President Reagan Timeline

  • Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released.

    Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released.

    Minutes after the inauguration of Reagan, hostages in Iran were released.
  • Reagan inaugurated

    Reagan inaugurated

    Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the President of the United States.
  • Spending Speech

    Spending Speech

    Reagan calls for large cuts to taxes and federal spending, while proceeding to increase spending towards defense.
  • Reagan shot

    Reagan shot

    Reagan is shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C. as he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement.
  • Soviet grain embargo lifted

    Soviet grain embargo lifted

    Reagan lifts the grain embargo against the Soviet Union.
  • Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike

    Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike

    Following a strike from the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization's (PATCO) strike, the Reagan administration fired the 11,345 air traffic controllers and banned them from federal service for life.
  • Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court

    Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court

    Sandra Day O’Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan.
  • Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)

    Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)

    Reagan seeks Congress' approval to build 100 B-1 Bomber missiles and 100 MX missiles to upgrade the nation's nuclear forces.
  • Reagan delivers his first State of the Union

    Reagan delivers his first State of the Union

    Ronald Reagan delivers his first State of the Union address as President.
  • Reagan addresses Parliament in England

    Reagan addresses Parliament in England

    Reagan presents his hope for a future that would leave Marxism-Leninism behind.
  • Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act

    Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act

    Reagan passes a federal legislation to cut the budget deficit through federal spending cuts, tax increases, and reform measures.
  • Social Security reform becomes law

    Social Security reform becomes law

    Under the 1983 Amendments, up to one-half of the value of the Social Security benefit was made potentially taxable income.
  • Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)

    Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)

    2 suicide bomber trucks are driven into the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. military personnel.
  • Invasion of Grenada

    Invasion of Grenada

    The U.S. and a coalition of six Caribbean nations invade the island nation of Grenada.
  • Strategic Defense Initiative

    Strategic Defense Initiative

    A proposed missile defense system intended to protect the U.S. from attack by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons.
  • Farm credit crises (Feb 1985)

    Farm credit crises (Feb 1985)

    Exports had fallen and debt for land and equipment purchases soared.
  • Embargo on Nicaragua

    Embargo on Nicaragua

    Reagan declares an embargo against Nicaragua, prohibiting all trade between the U.S. and Nicaragua.
  • Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland

    Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland

    For the first time, Reagan and Gorbachev hold a summit meeting to discuss the Cold War-era arms race to possibly reduce the number of nuclear weapons.
  • U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)

    U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)

    The U.S. government illegally sells arms to Iran to fund the contras in Nicaragua.
  • Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)

    Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)

    Reagan responds to the explosion of the Challenger by addressing the event to the American people.
  • South African sanctions

    South African sanctions

    Reagan enacts sanctions on South Africa against apartheid, and against the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act after vetoing, however, the House of Representatives overrides his veto.
  • Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland

    Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland

    The second meeting in which Reagan and Gorbachev meet to discuss the reduction of nuclear weapons to create momentum in ongoing arms-control negotiations.
  • Democrats gain seats (Midterm elections-Nov 1986)

    Democrats gain seats (Midterm elections-Nov 1986)

    Democrats gain seats in the Senate and recaptured control from Republicans.
  • Water Quality Control Act

    Water Quality Control Act

    An Act that was created to help reduce pollution of the nation's waters, in which Reagan vetoed the act, but the veto was overridden by congress.
  • Sanctions on Poland

    Sanctions on Poland

    Reagan lifts all U.S. sanctions against Poland.
  • Tower Commission concludes report (1987)

    Tower Commission concludes report (1987)

    The report concluded that CIA Director William Casey should have taken over the Iran-Contra arrangement and made Reagan aware of the risks and notify Congress as legally required.
  • Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin (1987)

    Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin (1987)

    A speech in which Reagan delivered at the Berlin Wall, telling Gorbachev to take down the Berlin Wall.
  • Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty (1987)

    Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty (1987)

    A treaty that was signed on the elimination of both the U.S. and Soviet Union's Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.
  • Reagan prohibits abortion assistance (1988)

    Reagan prohibits abortion assistance (1988)

    Reagan announces rules prohibiting abortions and abortion counseling.
  • Reagan visits Soviet Union (1988)

    Reagan visits Soviet Union (1988)

    Reagan has the Moscow Summit meeting with Gorbachev which officially ends the Cold War.
  • Reagan says farewell

    Reagan says farewell

    Reagan addresses the American people in a speech for the last time before the end of his presidency.

Looking for a timeline maker?

Create timelines for projects, roadmaps, history, lessons, legal cases, and stories with Timetoast. Timetoast is a timeline maker for work, school, research, and stories.