Time Line
Additional dates on legislation, U.S. Supreme Court cases, films, television shows, plays, literature, popular
music, and sports can be found in other appendixes.
1980
International events:(Mar. 24) Archbishop Oscar
Romero is killed by gunmen while celebrating
mass in San Salvador; at his funeral six days later,
forty-two people are killed amid gunfire and
bombs. (Apr. 7) The United States severs diplo-
matic relations with Iran and imposes economic
sanctions in response to Iran’s capture of fifty-two
American hostages on November 4, 1979. (Apr.
15-Oct. 31) About 125,000 Cubans enter the
United States, arriving in boats departing from
Mariel Harbor; many of the exiles had been re-
leased from Cuban jails and mental health facili-
ties. (Aug. 7-14) Lech Wauòsa leads the first of
many strikes at the Gdansk shipyard in Poland;
the strikes will spur the formation of Solidarity, an
independent trade union. (Sept. 22) Saddam
Hussein, prime minister of Iraq, invades Iran, set-
ting off an eight-year war between the two coun-
tries. (Nov. 20) The Gang of Four, a group of Chi-
nese Communist Party leaders, is tried for its role
in the Cultural Revolution.
Government and politics:(Feb. 2) The National
Broadcasting Company (NBC) breaks the news
that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
has set up Abscam, a sting operation in which FBI
agents posed as Arab businessmen and offered
American politicians money to perform favors for
a nonexistent Arab sheik. (Mar. 3) Pierre Tru-
deau returns to office as prime minister of Can-
ada after a nine-month absence. (May 20) In a ref-
erendum, Quebec voters reject a proposal for the
province to become independent from Canada.
(Jul. 16) Former California governor and actor
Ronald Reagan is nominated for president at
the Republican National Convention in Detroit.
(Aug. 14) At the Democratic National Conven-
tion in New York City, President Jimmy Carter ac-
cepts his party’s nomination for another term in
office. (Nov. 4) Reagan carries forty-four states to
defeat Carter in the presidential election.
Military and war:(Apr. 24-25) Operation Eagle Claw,
a commando mission in Iran to rescue American
hostages, is aborted after mechanical problems
ground the rescue helicopters; the failed rescue
operation results in the deaths of eight American
servicemen.
Society:An advertisement featuring fifteen-year-old
model Brooke Shields—in which she whispers
“You know what comes between me and my Cal-
vins? Nothing!”—is banned from the airwaves.
Mattel introduces black and Hispanic Barbie
dolls. (Jun. 1) Comedian Richard Pryor is badly
burned as he tries to freebase cocaine.
Business and economics:3-M introduces a new prod-
uct, Post-it note, and begins selling it throughout
the United States. By the end of the year, the un-
employment rate in the United States exceeds 10
percent. (Dec. 12) Apple Computer makes its ini-
tial public offering, trading its stock at twelve dol-
lars per share.
Transportation and communications:Japan passes
the United States as the world’s largest auto-
maker. (Jun. 1) Cable News Network (CNN), the
first all-news network, goes on the air.
Science and technology:(Mar. 1) The Voyager 1 space
probe sends the first high-resolution images of
Saturn back to scientists and confirms the exis-
tence of Janus, one of Saturn’s moons. (May 18)
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, killing
fifty-seven people and causing three billion dol-
lars in damage. (Jun. 16) In its ruling inDiamond
v. Chakrabarty, the Supreme Court allows patents
to be issued on living organisms.
Environment and health:RU-486, the abortion pill,
is released in France. The U.S. Food and Drug Ad-
ministration (FDA) warns pregnant women to re-
strict or eliminate caffeine consumption. (Sept.
22) Procter and Gamble Company announces a
recall of its Rely brand tampons after federal stud-
ies conclude their use increases chances of toxic
shock syndrome.
Arts and literature:The Covenant, a novel by James A.
Michener, andCrisis Investing: Opportunities and
Profits in the Coming Great Depression, by Douglas R.
Casey, are the year’s best-selling fiction and non-
fiction books. (Apr.) Norman Mailer’sThe Execu-
tioner’s Song, playwright Lanford Wilson’sTalley’s
Folly, andSelected Poemsby Donald Justice are
among the year’s Pulitzer Prize winners. (Dec. 17)