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Ronald Reagan succeeds Jimmy Carter as President.
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Super Bowl XV: The Oakland Raiders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 27–10
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Rupert Murdoch buys The Times and The Sunday Times for £12 million.
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After 19 years hosting the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time.
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Daylight saving time is introduced in the USSR.
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A jury of architects and sculptors unanimously selects Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from 1,421 other entries.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the first recognized cases of AIDS.
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The first woman, Sandra Day O'Connor, is nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States.
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MTV (Music Television) is launched on cable television in the United States.
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Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated during a parade by army members who belong to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization; they opposed his negotiations with Israel.
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Luke and Laura marry on the U.S. soap opera General Hospital; it is the highest-rated hour in daytime television history.
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Muhammad Ali loses to Trevor Berbick; this proved to be Ali's last-ever fight.
