Reagan

Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released

Jan 20, 1981

Moments after President Reagan completed his 20‑minute inaugural address after being sworn in, the American hostages were released to U.S. personnel.

Reagan inaugurated

Jan 20, 1981

Reagan being sworn into presidency.

Spending speech (increase defense, decrease taxes)

Feb 18, 1981

Reagan proposes increased defense spending, and decreased taxes and domestic spending in speech to Congress.

Reagan shot

Mar 30, 1981

John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate President Reagan.

Soviet grain embargo lifted

Apr 24, 1981

Reagan ended the Soviet grain embargo that Carter enacted during his presidency.

Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike

Aug 5, 1981

The PATCO workers' refusal to return to work, the Reagan administration fired the 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order, and banned them from federal service for life.

Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court

Aug 19, 1981

Reagan appoint the first woman to the highest court in the United States.

Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)

Oct 2, 1981

Reagan initiated a large build-up of the American military with the intention of defeating the Soviet Union in an arms race.

Sanctions on Poland

Dec 28, 1981

Reagan imposes economic sanctions on Poland following that government's imposition of martial law.

Strategic Defense Initiative

Mar 23, 1982

Reagan urges development of the Strategic Defense Initiative, an attempt to create a high-technology anti-ballistic missile shield to protect the United States from nuclear attack.

Reagan addresses Parliament in England

Jun 8, 1982

Reagan becomes the first U.S. President to address the combined Houses of Parliament, taking Britain's side in the Falkland Islands conflict with Argentina.

Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act

Sep 3, 1982

Reagan signs the Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA).

Social Security reform becomes law

Apr 20, 1983

President Reagan signs the Social Security Reform Bill into law.

Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon

Oct 23, 1983

U.S. Marines in the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut, are attacked by suicide bombers.

Invasion of Grenada

Oct 25, 1983

U.S. forces invade the island nation of Grenada to overthrow the military government that had carried out a government coup days before.

Farm credit crises

Feb 6, 1985

Farm credit crises pose serious a threat to U.S. agriculture. The Reagan administration eases rules on a loan-guarantee program, but rejects provisions for additional funding.

Embargo on Nicaragua

May 1, 1985

The Reagan administration announces trade embargo against Nicaragua in an attempt to undermine the Sandinista government. This embargo was later found to be in violation of international law.

Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland

Nov 19, 1985

Reagan and Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev hold a summit meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the first such meeting between U.S and Soviet heads of state since 1979.

Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)

Jan 28, 1986

Reagan gives a speech about the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Reagan delivers his first State of the Union

Feb 4, 1986

Reagan delivers his first state of the union on national T.V.

South African sanctions

Oct 2, 1986

The Reagan administration announces limited economic sanctions against South Africa after the South African government declares martial law.

Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland Democrats gain seats

Nov 4, 1986

The Democrats win control of Senate, the first time during Reagan's tenure that both houses of Congress are in Democratic hands.

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

Nov 13, 1986

Reagan informs Congress that the United States secretly sold arms to Iran in violation of federal laws prohibiting arms deals with Iran.

Water Quality Control Act

Feb 3, 1987

Congress overrides Reagan's veto of the Water Quality Control Act, allowing the EPA to regulate pollutants in U.S. waters.

Tower Commission concludes report

Feb 26, 1987

The Tower Commission releases its report, finding no criminal wrongdoing on the part of the White House but remaining critical of the administration nonetheless.

Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin

Jun 12, 1987

Reagan gave a speech about the Berlin Wall tearing it down.

Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty

Dec 9, 1987

Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Washington, D.C., and sign the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Reagan prohibits abortion assistance

Jan 29, 1988

Reagan prohibits federally funded family-planning centers from providing assistance to women seeking abortions.

Reagan visits Soviet Union

May 29, 1988

Reagan visits the Soviet Union for the first time.

Reagan says farewell

Jan 11, 1989

Reagan delivers his farewell address.