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Soviet grain embargo lifted
President Reagan lifted the Soviet Grain Embargo, which was made by President Carter in January 1980 in response to the Soviets invading and occupying Afghanistan. -
Sanctions on Poland
President Reagan ordered a series of economic reprisals in response to the "outrages in Poland". He suspended all government-sponsored shipments of agricultural and dairy products to the Polish government until there is assurance that it is all going to the Polish people. He also halted the renewal of the Export-Import Bank's line of export credit insurance to Poland among many other suspensions. -
Fifty-two American hostages in Iran released
The 52 hostages from the Iranian Hostage Crisis are released after 444 days, seconds after President Reagan's first inauguration. -
Reagan Inauguration
Reagan had two inaugurations as the 40th President. His first inauguration was right before the release of the Iranian hostages. -
Spending speech (increase defense, decrease taxes)
This speech talks about how the economy is in a horrible place which is something President Reagan has acknowledged and something we as a nation have to face and acknowledge. He mentions an economic program that he will present to Congress on February 18th. He shows a chart that he drew to illustrate his plan/idea. Two lines, one represented the increase in tax revenues and the other represented the increase in government spending. He is confident that he and his administration can achieve this. -
Reagan shot
Reagan was shot after his meeting with 5,000 members of the AFL-CIO, where several shots were fired during his departure. This happened outside the Hilton Hotel. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 air-traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. This happened because almost 13,000 air-traffic controllers went on strike due to difficult working conditions and a lack of recognition of the pressures they face. It was considered extreme and significantly slowed air travel for months. (PATCO workers) -
Sandra Day O'Connor nominated to Supreme Court
Nominated by President Reagan, who fulfilled his 1980 campaign promise to appoint the first woman to the highest court in the United States. -
Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)
President Reagan proposes to spend $1.5 trillion to strengthen our military's defense against the Soviet military buildup. -
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA)
TEFRA's purpose was to raise more revenue by closing loopholes in the tax system, introduce stricter compliance and tax-collection measures, increase excise taxes on cigarettes and telephone services, and increase corporate taxes. This was the biggest tax increase in U.S. history which quickly followed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (also known as Kemp-Roth Tax Cut), the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. -
Reagan delivers his first State of the Union
Delivered in a televised prime-time speech. President Reagan focused on domestic issues and made brief remarks on foreign affairs. He proposed a "new federalism" plan to shift the management of Medicaid from states to the federal government while shifting the responsibility of 40 federal aid programs to the state government. He also mentions his plan to revitalize "depressed urban areas" and rural towns while vowing not to raise taxes. -
Reagan addresses Parliament in England
President Reagan presents his hope for a future that would "leave Marxism-Leninism (communism) on the ash heap of history," according to History.com. Marxism-Leninism is an adaptation of Marxism developed by Vladimir Lenin, a communist. It was the formal name of the official ideology adopted by the USSR. Presented his vision and strategy to end the Cold War. -
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Proposed and initiated by President Ronald Reagan. This is an anti-ballistic missile program that was designed to shoot down nuclear missiles in space. Also known as "Star Wars". He wanted to embark on this groundbreaking research to strengthen our defense against nuclear weapons because the SDI would render them obsolete. -
Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)
Two trucks packed with explosives were driven into the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut resulting in the death of 241 U.S. military personnel and 58 French soldiers. The Marines were sent to Lebanon on August 1982 to oversee the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon. -
Invasion of Grenada
President Reagan orders U.S. forces to invade Grenada to secure the safety of the American nationals due to the threat posed to them. Approximately 1,000 Americans in Grenada, many were students. Took a little more than a week to overthrow Grenada's government. Called the first "rollback" of communist influence since the beginning of the Cold War. -
Social Security reform becomes law
The Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984 was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. This was "a set of reforms designed to pull back on some of the perceived excesses of the Continuing Disability Reviews undertaken by the SSA in wake of the mandates in the 1980 Social Security Amendment," according to the SSA. The primary purpose of the act was to protect the rights of the disabled undergoing reviews and facing illegal, harsh, and inaccurate denial decisions. -
Farm Credit Crisis
Farmers were in debt and the U.S. government ended its guarantees. Few of the factors include technology evolving, new methods of farming, irrigation, insecticides, and herbicides, changes and growth, low-interest rates caused more debt, and high prices of oil and gasoline. Reagan's administration took it seriously after criticism and large rallies had occurred. Reagan bent his philosophy to help the farmers in need. -
Embargo on Nicaragua
The embargo was created due to the Nicaraguan Government's aggressive activities, military buildup, and close ties to Cuba and the Soviet Union. In the declaration, President Reagan calls upon the Government of Nicaragua to make changes to maintain peace in Central America. -
U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)
The Irangate was a secret U.S. arms deal that traded missiles and other arms to free some seven Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon. Unfortunately, they also used funds from the arms deal to support the armed conflict in Nicaragua. The difficulty in making this decision was because after Democrats gained control of Congress, they passed the Boland Amendment which restricted the activities of the CIA and DoD in foreign conflicts. Reagan faced no charges and was a popular President. -
Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland
The Geneva Summit of 1985 was a two-day meeting as well as the first meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The discussion was primarily about the possibility of reducing the number of nuclear weapons. The 19th and 20th. -
Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)
This speech was not planned and was unexpected. President Reagan set aside his scheduled State of the Union address and instead delivered an Oval Office address to comfort the people, his people, as the nation mourned the loss of the seven heroes that died in the Challenger explosion. He speaks about bravery and addresses both the children and families of the seven heroes. He addressed the tragedy from a larger view while maintaining its significance. The speech was broadcasted on tv and radio. -
South African Sanctions
The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 was passed by the House overriding President Ronald Reagan's veto with a vote of 313 to 83. They are against sanctioning racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against nonwhites. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
The Reykjavík summit of 1986 was also two days long. The 11th and 12th. They met at Hofdi House. The purpose was to continue discussions about curbing their intermediate missile arsenals in Europe. Led to the U.S.-Soviet treaty banning intermediate-range nuclear forces. -
Democrats gain seats
Democrats winning control of the Senate was a major blow to President Ronald Reagan, who pleaded for the victory of Republicans. Democrats were guaranteed at least 54 seats in the new Senate. They will most likely take control of all committee chairmanships and gain the power to halt President Reagan's efforts to reshape the nation's judiciary. Most likely to clash with President Reagan about military spending and arms control. -
Water Quality Control Act
This act was the sixth one to be vetoed by President Reagan but overridden by Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats are critical of the President's veto. President Reagan is said to have vetoed the bill because it would increase domestic spending and frustrate his efforts to cut the Federal budget deficit, but he also believes that cleaning the nation's water is a national priority of the highest order. -
Tower Commission concludes report
The head of the commission was a Republican and former Senator, John G. Tower. The report was particularly harsh on the President's aid and placed direct blame on Donald T. Regan, the White House chief of staff. Pushed for the President to read and learn the mistakes made by his and his subordinates and face the consequences accordingly. Few major points are that the President did not intend to mislead the public and was not fully informed or made away of "the serious legal and political risks". -
Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin
President Reagan's challenge to Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin wall gave shape to increasing international pressure on Moscow to make good on its promises of openness and reform. The wall had long become a symbol of Soviet oppression but came down two years later on November 9, 1989. It was delivered just 100 yards away from the Berlin Wall. His words that day became some of the most unforgettable words of his presidency: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty
They signed the INF, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, Treaty in Washington, D.C. This treaty eliminated a whole category/class of nuclear weapons that threatened Europe in the 1980s. Also restricting the deployment of both intermediate and short-range land-based missiles worldwide. -
Reagan prohibits abortion assistance
President Reagan prohibits the use of federal money for Medicaid abortions for the poor, coverage of abortions in health insurance plans for government workers, research on abortion, and population control programs abroad that promote abortion. Known as the Pro-Life Act of 1988. This act protects the rights of unborn children unless the mother's life would be physically endangered by carrying the fetus to term. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union
The Moscow Summit was an important step n the process of putting the U.S.-Soviet relations on a more productive and sustainable basis. The summit lasted five days. It reinforced their previous agreements and conversations while strengthening their relations. -
Reagan says farewell
Reagan did a farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office for the last time. He speaks about the difference he, they, made and the changes that have been made during his years of presidency. A farewell is a wish of happiness or welfare at parting, which is definitely President Reagan's intention in his farewell speech to the nation. He declared that America rediscovered its commitment to world freedom during the years of his presidency.
