-
Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court
She was the first woman to serve on the supreme court -
Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released.
On the day of Reagan's inauguration, 52 hostages were released after 444 days from Iran. -
Reagan inaugurated
The first inauguration of President Reagan as the 40th president of the United States. -
Spending speech (increase defense, decrease taxes)
Reagan proposed lowering taxes and reducing government spending. -
Reagan shot
President Reagan was shot ad nearly killed when he was returning to his limousine in Washington, DC -
Soviet grain embargo lifted
Reagan ends the Soviet Grain Embargo that was enacted due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
After the PATCO workers refused to return to work, Reagan fires the 11,345 people striking and bans them from federal service for life -
Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)
Reagan seeks congresses approval to build 100 MX land-based missiles and 100 B1 bombers in order to upgrade the nation's nuclear forces -
Sanctions on Poland
Reagan wanted martial law to be lifted in Poland therefore he ordered sanctions in order to send them a message. -
Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act
Designed to reduce the federal budget deficit through a combination of tax increases, spending cuts, and tax reform measures. -
Reagan delivers his first State of the Union
Reagan began the practice of inviting guests to the State of the Union address and televised it. -
Reagan addresses Parliament in England
The first speech made by an American president to both houses of the British Parliament. His hopes were for a future that would "leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history" -
Strategic Defense Initiative
Reagan announces his intention on making a national defense system that could make nuclear weapons obsolete. It was made to protect the U.S. from Soviet ICBMs. -
Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)
Terrorist bombing attacks against U.S. and French armed forces in Beirut that claimed 299 lives. -
Invasion of Grenada
President Ronald Reagan ordered U.S. forces to invade the island and to secure their safety. Grenada's government was overthrown. -
Social Security reform becomes law
Signed into law by President Reagan in order to ensure more accurate and consistent decisions under the SSDI program. -
Farm credit crises (Feb 1985)
The cost of farming grew drastically and caused a lot of families their agricultural wealth. -
Embargo on Nicaragua
Prohibited all trade between the U.S. and Nicaragua. It was done to undermine the Sandinista government. -
U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)
A secret deal with the U.S. and Iran providing them with missiles and other arms for the freedom of American hostages. -
Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland
Reagan meets with Soviet general secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss international diplomatic relations and the arms race. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
Reagan meets with Gorbachev to discuss the curbing of their intermediate missile arsenals in Europe. -
Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)
Ronald Reagan expresses his sorrow for the heroes who died in the space shuttle accident. -
South African Sanctions
Enacted by Congress in order to end apartheid by stopping all trade and direct air links between the countries. -
Democrats gain seats-
Midterm elections put Democrats back in the majority. -
Water Quality Control Act
The House Of Representatives override Reagan's veto to clean up the nation's water by a vote of 401 to 26 forcing the bill to pass -
Tower Commission concludes report (1987)
The investigation of the allegations that the administration sold arms to Iran in exchange for U.S hostages, making sure that it wouldn't happen again in the future. -
Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin (1987)
"Gorbachev, tear down this wall". One of the most memorable lines spoken during Reagan's presidency. -
Reagan prohibits abortion assistance (1988)
Reagan endorses a bill that prohibits the use of federal money for Medicaid abortions for the poor, coverage of abortions in health insurance plans for government workers, research on abortion, and population control programs abroad that promote abortion. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union (1988)
Reagan described this visit as "deeply moving". He talked to Gorbechev about improving the Soviet Union's human rights record and declared the Cold war with the Soviet Union had ended. -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty (1987)
Reagan and Gorbachev sign the INF Treaty. The final treaty eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons, restricting the deployment of both intermediate and short-range land-based missiles worldwide -
Reagan says farewell
An address delivered by Reagan reflecting on his presidency. He gives mention to his "two great triumphs" being the economic recovery of the 80's and the recovery of American morale post-Vietnam War.
