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Fifty-two American hostages held in Iran released
52 hostages were taken by a group of militarized Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line. They were held for 444 days before being released. -
Reagan inaugurated
Reagan takes Oath of Office as the 40th President of the United States. -
Spending speech (increase defense, decrease taxes)
Reagan proposed increased defense spending, decreased taxes, and domestic spending in a speech to Congress. -
Reagan shot
John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Reagan. -
Soviet grain embargo lifted
Reagan ended the Soviet grain embargo that Carter authorized during his presidency. -
Reagan and air-traffic controllers strike
The PATCO workers' refusal to return to work, the Reagan administration fired the 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order and banned them from federal service for life. -
Sandra Day O’Connor nominated to Supreme Court
Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman, to the highest court in the United States. -
Military buildup (B-1 Bomber and MX missiles)
Reagan initiated a large build-up of the American military with the intention of defeating the Soviet Union in an arms race. -
Sanctions on Poland
Reagan imposes economic sanctions on Poland following that government's imposition of martial law. -
Reagan delivers his first State of the Union
President Ronald Reagan delivered his first state of the union address in a televised time speech. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
Reagan urges the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative, an attempt to create a high-technology anti-ballistic missile shield to protect the United States from nuclear attack. -
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). It was designed to reduce the federal budget deficit through a combination of tax increases, spending cuts, and tax reform measures. -
Social Security reform becomes law
President Reagan signs the Social Security Reform Bill into law. It provided for an increase in SSI benefit rates. -
Suicide bombers attack U.S. Marines in Lebanon (1983)
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. -
Farm credit crises (Feb 1985)
Farm credit crises pose a serious 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 a 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 in Switzerland
Reagan and Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev hold a summit meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the first such meeting between the U.S and Soviet heads of state since 1979. -
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. -
Space Shuttle Challenger explosion (Reagan Speech)
President Reagan gives a speech about the space shuttle explosion. -
South African sanctions
The Reagan administration announces limited economic sanctions against South Africa after the South African government declares martial law. -
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Iceland
The Democrats win control of the Senate, the first time during Reagan's tenure that both houses of Congress are in Democratic hands. -
U.S. illegally sells arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair)
Reagan informs Congress that the United States secretly sold arms to Iran in violation of federal laws prohibiting arms deals with Iran. -
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 (1987)
The Tower Commission releases its report, finding no criminal acts on the part of the White House but remaining critical of the administration. -
Berlin Wall Speech in West Berlin (1987)
Raegan gave a speech about tearing down the Berlin wall which had become a symbol of Soviet oppression. -
Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty (1987)
Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Washington, D.C., and sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. -
Reagan prohibits abortion assistance (1988)
Reagan prohibits federally funded family-planning centers from providing assistance to women seeking abortions. -
Reagan visits Soviet Union (1988)
Reagan visits the Soviet Union for the first time. -
Reagan says farewell
Reagan delivers his farewell address.