Portals of Perception
Broken Hearts and Shattered Dreams
On the day of U.S. president Ronald Reagan's inauguration, Iran released the 52 American hostages held hostage for 444 days in the American Embassy in Tehran.
The Reagan administration suspends U.S. financial aid to the revolutionary Sandinista government of Nicaragua. Later in the year the U.S. government begins to support the Contras, a counterrevolutionary guerrilla force opposing the Sandinistas.
After addressing a labor convention, President Reagan is shot in the chest by would-be assassin, John Hinckley.
Irish nationalist Bobby Sands dies after a 65 day hunger strike.
Pope John Paul II is shot and wounded in St. Peter's Square by a Turkish terrorist.
In London, Prince Charles. 32, married Lady Diana Spencer, 20, at St. Paul's Cathedral in a ceremony beamed by satellite around the world and beginning a relationship that would keep tabloid writers occupied throughout the decade.
Sandra Day O'Conner is the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Walter Cronkite leaves CBS news after 19 years and is replaced as senior news anchor by Dan Rather.
Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated.
The Polish people demonstrate in support of the nation's first independent union, Solidarity.
A baffling new disease begin appearing among homosexual men, Haitians, and hemophiliacs in the United States. It is later called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The Sony Walkman is introduced.
MTV begins broadcasting.
Bruce Springsteen plays the newly opened Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
"Porky's"
"Arthur"
"The Postman Always Rings Twice"
"Bustin' Loose"
"Ragtime"
"Chariots of Fire"
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
"Friday the 13th, Part 2"
"Chariots of Fire"
"The Gods Must be Crazy"
"On Golden Pond"
"Thief"
"Superman II"
"Dallas"
"The Dukes of Hazzard"
"The Jeffersons"
"Joanie Loves Chachi"
"M*A*S*H"
"ABC Monday Night Footall"
"Too Close For Comfort"
"Three's Company"
"60 Minutes"
Best Picture Oscar: "On Golden Pond" |
Bobby Unser wins the Indianpolis 500.
The Boston Celtics beat the Houston Rockets 4-2 in the NBA Final Four
The Oakland Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10 in Super Bowl XV.
Tom Watson win's the Masters Tournament in golf.
The New York Islander's win the Stanley Cup beating Minnesota, 4-1.