-
Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released
With the completion of negotiations signified by the signing of the Algiers Accords on January 19, 1981, the hostages were released on January 20, 1981. That day, minutes after President Reagan completed his 20‑minute inaugural address after being sworn in, the 52 American hostages were released to U.S. personnel. -
Reagan inaugurated
The first inauguration of Ronald Reagan as the 40th president of the United States was held on Tuesday, January 20, 1981, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the first inauguration to be held on the building's west side. -
Spending speech (increase defense, decrease taxes)
Reagan proposes increased defense spending and decreased taxes and domestic spending in a speech to Congress. -
Reagan shot
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John W. Hinkley, Jr., while leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel after giving a speech. The President was hit under his left arm by a bullet that ricocheted off his limousine. Once the sound of shots rang in the air, Secret Service agent Jerry Parr shoved Reagan into his limousine, and then, after noticing the President had been shot, directed the car to the George Washington University Hospital. -
Soviet grain embargo lifted
Reagan lifts a grain embargo imposed on the Soviet Union by President Carter. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
On August 5, following 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
Reagan nominates Sandra Day O'Connor to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart, making O'Connor the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court. -
Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)
Reagan declares that the United States will produce the B-1 bomber and MX missiles as part of military buildup. -
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
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
The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, also known as TEFRA, is a United States federal law that rescinded some of the effects of the Kemp-Roth Act passed the year before. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
Reagan urges development of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), an attempt to create a high-technology anti-ballistic missile shield to protect the United States from nuclear attack. -
Social Security reform becomes law
President Reagan signs the Social Security Reform Bill into law. -
Invasion of Grenada
U.S. forces invade the island nation of Grenada to overthrow the military government that had carried out a government coup days before. Grenada, a small country, was no match for U.S. military force, and the U.S. forces subdued the opposing forces within a few days. -
Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)
Early on a Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, housing American and French service members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon, a military peacekeeping operation during the Lebanese Civil War. -
Farm credit crises (Feb 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
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
Reagan and Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev hold a summit meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the first such meeting between the U.S and Soviet heads of state since 1979. -
Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God." -
South African sanctions
The Reagan administration announces limited economic sanctions against South Africa after the South African government declares martial law. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
The Reykjavík Summit was a summit meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, held in Reykjavík, Iceland -
Democrats gain seats (Nov 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)
Reagan informs Congress that the United States secretly sold arms to Iran in violation of federal laws prohibiting arms deals with Iran. The administration denies that the sales were part of an attempt to secure the release of American hostages held by Iranian-backed forces. -
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 concludes report (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 (1987)
Gorbachev, tear down this wall", also known as the Berlin Wall Speech, was a speech delivered by United States President Ronald Reagan in West Berlin on June 12, 1987. -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty (1987)
Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Washington, D.C., and sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. -
Reagan prohibits abortion assistance (1988)
Reagan prohibits federally funded family-planning centers from providing assistance to women seeking abortions. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union (1988)
The Moscow Summit was a summit meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. -
Reagan says farewell
Reagan delivers his farewell address.