U.S. Capitol Historical Society

1774-1799 | 1800-1824 | 1825-1849 | 1850-1874 | 1875-1899 | 1900-1924 | 1925-1949 | 1950-1974 | 1975-Modern

1977	January	21	Jimmy Carter, Democrat, became the 39th President after having defeated President Ford. Carter's Vice President was Walter F. Mondale.
1979	January	1	Carter announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with China.
			Carter established FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to help during times of federal disaster.
	March	26	Carter helped to bring about the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
	November	4	Armed militants invaded the American embassy in Teheran, Iran; they took 53 Americans as hostages for more than a year.
1980	January	20	President Carter announced the American withdrawal from the summer Olympic games held in the Soviet Union in July, because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
1981	January	20	Ronald W. Reagan, Republican, was inaugurated as the 40^th President, having defeated President Carter. Reagan's Vice President was George H.W. Bush.
	January	20	The Iranian militants released the remaining 52 hostages, who had been held for 444 days.
	August	4	President Reagan called for a $40 billion government expenditure cut and individual and corporate tax cuts.
	September	25	Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman Supreme Court Justice, was appointed.
			Reagan's administration started the largest campaign in the battle against drug use. "Just say no to drugs" was headed by Nancy Reagan; by 1986, more than 10,000 schools developed school clubs using the campaign to educate schoolchildren on the ill-effects of drug use.
1982			America entered its worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Unemployment reached more than 10%.
1982	June	12	Disarmament Day march in New York City drew half a million protestors in the largest movement against nuclear weapons.
1985	January	20	President Reagan was inaugurated for a second term as president, having defeated Democrat Walter F. Mondale.
1986	January	28	NASA space shuttle, Challenger, exploded during take-off. President Reagan issued a national statement that night from the White House: "The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives."
1986	December	19	Attorney General Edwin Meese III appointed Lawrence Walsh as Independent Counsel to investigate the selling of arms to Iran.
1987	January	6	U.S. Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition was formed by a Senate Resolution to investigate illegal arms-sales.
1989	January	20	George Bush, Republican, was inaugurated as the 41st President after defeating Michael S. Dukakis, Democrat. Bush's Vice President was Dan Quayle.
1990	August	2	Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, seizing control of 24% of the world's oil supply.
	July		War Powers Compliance Act regarding the Persian Gulf War passed the House (H.J. 656): "United States Armed Forces stationed in Saudi Arabia and in the Persian Gulf region are now in hostilities or a situation where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances."
	October	3	East and West Germany unified. The Berlin Wall, a 26-mile wall separating East from West, was broken down. President Bush said, "Today begins a new chapter in the history of your nation. Forty-five years of conflict and confrontation between East and West are now behind us. . . . Germany is united; Germany is fully free."
1991	January	12	Senator Robert C. Byrd addressed the Senate regarding the Persian Gulf War: "War will not solve the root problems of the Middle East; we have said that, and we have known it. Only with a long-term commitment with resolve, patience, dedication, and the will to succeed, will we be able to address the complexities of the region."
	January	17	United States started an air offensive on Iraq in order to liberate Kuwait, since Saddam Hussein ignored the January 16th deadline to evacuate Kuwait.
	February	26	United States liberated Kuwait from Iraqi control. Iraq was placed under United Nations' sanctions.
	July	8	President Bush nominated Clarence Thomas as the 106th Justice of the Supreme Court. He become only the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court. During his Senate confirmation hearings, Anita Hill, a former co-worker, charged Thomas with sexual harassment. Thomas's nomination was confirmed by the Senate after a lengthy and highly publicized debate.
1993	January	20	William Jefferson Clinton, Democrat, was inaugurated as the 42nd President after defeating incumbent George Bush. His Vice President was Albert A. Gore, Jr.
1995	January	3	The Republicans won control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1954.



		25	Congress proposed the balanced budget amendment, which required the federal government to have a balanced budget by Jan. 2000 and in all future years. The amendment failed in the Senate. It is currently under reconsideration.
	April	19	Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City collapsed due to a terrorist bomb, killing 168 men, women, and children.
1997	January	20	President Clinton and Al Gore were inaugurated for a second term, having defeated Republican Bob Dole.
1998	December	19	The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
1999	February	12	The Senate voted to acquit President Clinton of the charges in his impeachment, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict.