1981

Ronald Reagan becomes 40th president

American hostages held in Iran released

1982

Space shuttle Columbia completes first flight

Barney Clark becomes first recipient of an artificial heart

1985

Reagan and Gorbachiev have first U.S.-USSR summit in six years

1986

Space shuttle Challenger explodes on lift-off killing all seven crew members

AIDS reaches epidemic levels

1987

Wall Street crashes with the Dow plummeting a record 508 points

1988

Much of the U. S. suffers the worst drought in 50 years

George Bush becomes the nation's 41st president

U. S. Destroyer in the Gulf shoots down an Iranian airliner

1989

The largest oil spill in history from the Exxon Valdez hits Alaska

A large earthquake strikes San Francisco

U. S. troops invade Panama

1990

President Bush signs a bill barring discrimination against those with physical or mental disabilities

Operation Desert Shield troops leave for the Gulf

1991

Iraq is defeated by allied forces after takeover of Kuwait

Unemployment is the highest since 1986