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Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released
The hostages that were captured during the raid of the American embassy in Iran were released on the day of Ronald Reagan's inaguration. -
Reagan inaugurated
Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th president of the US -
Spending Speech
Reagan proposes increased defense spending, decreased taxes, and domestic spending in speech to Congress. -
Reagan shot
Reagan is shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. when he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement. -
Soviet grain embargo lifted
Reagan lifts a grain embargo imposed on Soviet Union by President Carter. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
Reagan administration fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order to return to work after their refusal, and banned them from federal service for life. -
Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court
Ronald Reagan appointed her to fulfill his promise of electing the first woman to the highest court in the US -
Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)
Reagan asks 100 MX land-based missiles and 100 B1 bombers under a $180.3 billion program to upgrade the nation's nuclear forces. -
Sanctions on Poland
Reagan imposes economic sanctions on Poland following that government's imposition of martial law. -
Reagan delivers his first State of the Union
Reagan calls for “New Federalism” in his State of the Union address, advocating less federal spending and more state initiative to solve social and economic problems. -
Reagan addresses Parliament in England
President Ronald Reagan presents his hope for a future that would "leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history." -
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act
Act passed to cut the budget deficit through federal spending cuts, tax increases, and reform measures. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
Proposed missile defense system intended to protect the US from attacks by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons. -
Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon
US service personnel are killed by a truck bomb at a Marine compound in Beirut, Lebanon -
Invasion of Grenada
The US invaded Grenada because of the house arrest and execution of the previous leader and second Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop, and the establishment of the Revolutionary Military Council with Hudson Austin as Chairman. -
Farm Credit Rises
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
Embargo that prohibited all trade between the U.S. and Nicaragua as a strategy intending to undermine the Sandanista government. -
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Iran-Contra Affair
A secret U.S. arms deal that traded missiles and other arms to free some Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon, but also used funds from the arms deal to support armed conflict in Nicaragua. -
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Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland
For the first time in eight years, the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States hold a summit conference. They seemed to develop a sincere and close relationship. -
Reagan's Speech about the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion
Reagan makes a speech about the explosion of the Challenger -
South African sanctions (The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986)
The law imposed sanctions against South Africa and stated five preconditions for lifting the sanctions that would essentially end the system of apartheid, which the latter was under at the time. -
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Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland (Reykjavík Summit)
Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, to continue discussions about curbing their intermediate missile arsenals in Europe. -
Democrats gain seat
The Democrats win control of Senate, the first time during Reagan's tenure that both houses of Congress are in Democratic hands. -
Water Quality Control Act
Congress overrides Reagan's veto of the Water Quality Control Act, allowing the EPA to regulate pollutants in U.S. waters -
Tower Commission Report Conclusion
Concluded that CIA Director William Casey should have taken over the operation and made the president aware of the risks and notified Congress as legally required. -
Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin
Berlin Wall Speech was a speech delivered by United States President Ronald Reagan in West Berlin. It's famous line was "Gorbachev, tear down this wall". -
Gorbachev, Reagan signed treaty
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The treaty proposed to eliminate all intermediate and short-range ground-based missiles and launchers from Europe. -
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Reagan Visits Russia (The Moscow Summit)
A summit meeting between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. -
Reagan Says Farewell
Reagan leaves office