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Social Security reform becomes law
The act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement. -
U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)
Between 1981 and 1986, senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to the Khomeini government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was the subject of an arms embargo. The administration hoped to use the proceeds of the arms sale to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. -
52 American Hostages held in Iran released
The Iran Hostage Crisis began on Nov. 4th, 1979 when Iranian students seized the U.S embassy in Teheran minutes after Reagan's inaguration the 52 US captives were released and the 444-day crisis was over. -
Reagan Inaugurated
The first inauguration of Reagan was held at the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC -
Spending Speech
The President addressed the nation about the economy expressing his desire to decreased federal spending and taxes. -
Reagan shot
Reagan was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. -
Soviet grain embargo lifted
President Reagan ended the U.S embargo on grain sales to the soviet union that had been imposed by Jimmy Carter following the invasion of Afghanistan. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
President Ronald Reagan begins firing 11, 359 air-traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. -
Sandra Day O'Connor nominated to Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Reagan which 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 missles)
President Reagan seeks congress' approval to build 100mx land-based missiles and 100 B1 bombers under a $180.3 billion program to upgrade the nation's nuclear forces. -
Reagan delivers his first State of the Union
Ronald Reagan delivers his first State of the Union address as president of the United States, remarking on the historical significance of the tradition -
Reagan addresses Parliament in England
The first speech by an American president to a meeting of both houses of the British Parliament -
Sanctions on Poland
President Reagan ordered a series of economic reprisals against the Polish government. -
Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act
(Tefra) A United States federal law that rescinded some of the effects of the Kemp-Roth Act passed the year before -
Strategic Defense Initiative
The SDI was first proposed by President Ronald Reagan in a nationwide television address proposing a US strategic defense system against potential nuclear attacks -
Suicide bombers attack US Marines in Lebanon
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. -
Invasion of Grenada
Reagan cited the threat posed to American nationals on the Caribbean nation of Grenada by that nation's Marxist regime and ordered the US forces to invade and secure their safety. -
Farm credit crises (Feb 1985)
For the period of 1985-88 the federal government paid more than $50 billion directly to farmers. During this period, government payments were made. -
Embargo on Nicaragua
The United States embargo against Nicaragua was declared by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan. It prohibited all trade between the U.S. and Nicaragua. -
Reagan, Gorbachev hold summit in Switzerland
The two leaders met for the first time to hold talks on international diplomatic relations and the arms race. -
Democrats gain seats (Nov 1986)
Democrats won the national popular vote for the House of Representatives by a margin of 7.7 percentage points, making a net gain of five seats. Despite Democratic congressional gains, in the gubernatorial elections, the Republican Party picked up a net of eight governorships. -
South African Sanctions
The law imposed sanctions against South Africa and stated five preconditions for lifting the sanctions that would essentially end the system of apartheid, which the latter was under at the time. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
The Reykjavik Summit was a summit meeting between US President Roland Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. -
Water Quality Control Act
The bill would provide aid, totaling $18 billion through 1994, to state and local governments for the construction of sewage treatment plants. -
Tower Commission conclude report
Concluded that CIA Director William Casey, who supported the Iran-Contr arrangement, should have taken over the operation and made the president aware of the risks, and notified Congress as legally required. -
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. -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty
Reagan and Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty in Washington DC. The final treaty eliminated an entire of nuclear weapons, restricting the deployment of both intermediate and short-range land-based missiles worldwide. -
Reagan Prohibits abortion assistance
Prohibited most of the nation's family planning clinics from providing advice or other assistance that would help women obtain abortions. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union
The Moscow Summit was a summit meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev -
Reagan says farewell
President Ronald Reagan published a letter to the American people announcing his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.