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Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released.
Minutes after Reagan's Inauguration, the 52 hostages being held at the American Embassy in Iran were released -
Reagan Inaugurated
Reagan's first Inauguration as 40th President of the United States -
Spending Speech
Reagan proposes increased defense spending, and decreased taxes and domestic spending in speech to Congress -
Reagan Shot
Reagan is shot in the chest by John Warnock Hinckley Jr -
Soviet Grain embargo lifted
Reagan lifts a grain embargo imposed on Soviet Union by President Carter. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
Reagan orders the dismissal of 13,000 PATCO air traffic controllers out on strike, citing their violation of a federal law against industry strikes. -
Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman on 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. -
Sanctions on Poland
Reagan imposes economic sanctions on Poland following that government's imposition of martial law. -
Reagan delivers 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
Reagan signs the Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA). -
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. -
Suicide bombers attack Lebanon
U.S. Marines in the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut, are attacked by suicide bombers. -
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. -
South African sanctions
The Reagan administration announces limited economic sanctions against South Africa after the South African government declares martial law. -
Farm Credit Crises
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
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
The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded shortly after launching, killing all of the members inside the shuttle including a teacher. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland. -
Democrats gain seats
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
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
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
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 -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty
Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Washington, D.C., and sign the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. -
Reagan prohibits abortion assistance
Reagan prohibits federally funded family-planning centers from providing assistance to women seeking abortions. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union
Reagan visits the Soviet Union for the first time. -
Reagan says farewell
Reagan delivers his farewell address as he leaves presidency after serving two terms.