Law

Chief Justices: President Harry S. Truman nominates Fred M. Vinson as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the Senate confirms his nomination and he serves for seven years until his death in 1953.

Politics

McCarthy Era: November 1946 -- Joseph R. McCarthy (1908-1957)is first elected Senator from Wisconsin, defeating progressive titan Robert Lafollette (1855-1925). Richard Nixon (1913-1994) is elected Congressmen from Whittier, CA. The Democrats lose 12 Senate seats and 55 House seats.

Government

United Nations: The first General Assembly of the United Nations convenes in London.

Government

Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) is elected president of North Viet Nam.

Government

The United Nations accepts an $8.5 million donation from John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) to purchases the site for the new UN headquarters in New York City.

Government

League of Nations: (April 18) The League transfers all its assets to the United Nations. Contract signed by W. Moderow, representative of the League, and Sean Lester, the last Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

War

Cold War: Churchill (1874-1965) delivers a speech in Fulton, Missouri, warning about Soviet expansion and coining the phrase the “Iron Curtain.” This marks the beginning of the “Cold War.”

War

The Army and Navy are permitted to manufacture atomic weapons.

War

Chinese Communists tell the U.S. to stop supplying arms to the Nationalist Chinese Party. The U.S. gives up trying to mediate the civil war in China.

Science

Carbon-12, and isotope is discovered.

Science

The Atomic Energy Commission is established.

Inventions

Printed circuits are developed.

Technology

Computer Technology: A computer begins working at the University of Pennsylvania, taking seconds to do calculations that normally take hours. It is named ENIAC, or Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Taylor Caldwell (1900-1985) publishes "This Side of Innocence."

Arts and Letters

Architecture: The “ranch-type” home becomes popular; many find the low-slung, single story homes very appealing.

Ideas

Lemaitre (1894-1966) publishes "Hypothesis of the Primeval Atom."

Nixon, Pat

Tricia Nixon Cox (1946- ), daughter of Richard and Patricia Nixon, is born February 21.

Bush, Barbara

George Walker Bush (1946- ), son of George and Barbara Bush, is born July 6.

Discovery

Byrd (1888-1957) leads an expedition to the North Pole.

Daily Life

Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-1995) of the U.S.S.R. is considered the world’s finest chess player.

Daily Life

The government lifts most price and wage controls. U.S.

Daily Life

Disasters: An Army plane crashes into the Manhattan Company in New York City; 5 people are killed.

Sports

Women’s Firsts: Women in Sports: Edith Houghton becomes the first woman hired as a major-league baseball scout.

Popular Culture

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) directs the film Notorious.

Popular Culture

Irving Berlin (1888-1989) writes the score for the Broadway musical, "Annie Get Your Gun."

Religion

Mother Frances X. Cabrini (1850-1917) is canonized; she is the first U.S. citizen to become a saint in the Catholic Church.

Religion

Women’s Firsts: Mother Maria Frances Cabrini (1850-1917) is canonized by Pope Pius XII. She is the first U.S. citizen (she was born in Italy) to become a saint.

Reform

Women''s Suffrage Movement: Women win the vote in Italy.

Reform

The strike by the United Mine Workers begins. President Truman seizes the mines after employers reject the government’s negotiated contract.

Law

Education: The Supreme Court upholds a state law permitting pupils attending parochial schools to ride on public school buses. This is the first of many cases on the separation of church and state in relation to schools.

Law

The Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is passed by Congress.

Government

McCarthy Era: Senator McCarthy (1908-1957) is assigned to the Government Operations Committee in Senate; Congressman Nixon is appointed to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Mr. Nixon is first lawyer on The Committee and is noteworthy for raising the level of "respectability" of the Committee's proceedings.

Government

McCarthy Era: Criticized for loose scrutiny of federal employees, President Truman (1884-1972) initiates a loyalty program for civil servants -- the Federal Loyalty Board Program.

Government

Congress approves economic and military assistance for Greece and Turkey.

Government

Congress enacts the Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley Labor Act) over President Truman’s veto. It limits the power of labor unions and puts restrictions on strikes, closed shop, and political activities.

Government

President Truman (1884-1972) states the principle of Soviet Containment (Truman Doctrine).

Government

Britain nationalizes coalmines, cable and radio communications, and the electrical supply industry.

Government

The Secretary of State proposes the European Recovery Program (The Marshall Plan) to give economic aid to certain war-torn European nations.

War

World War II: U.S. ratifies peace treaties with Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Rumania.

War

The National Security Act unifies all branches of the armed services into a new Department of Defense.

Science

Willard Frank Libby (1908-1980) develops radio-carbon dating (carbon-14) and uses this method to determine the age of several ancient artifacts.

Medicine

Heparin is synthesized.

Medicine

Bovet discovers synthetic drugs that produce a non-poisonous, curare-like effect.

Technology

Edwin Land (1906-1991) introduces the Polaroid camera for instant photographs.

Technology

Howard Aiken (1900-1973) produces an improved electromechanical calculator, the Mark II.

Technology

Personal Computers: Three scientists at Bell Telephone Laboratories, William Shockley (1910-1989), Walter Brattain (1902-1987), and John Bardeen (1908-1991) demonstrate their new invention of the point-contact transistor amplifier. The name transistor is short for "transfer resistance.”

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The principal approach to production (a theatricalized realism compounded of acting, which emphasized intense psychological truth, and of visual elements, which eliminated nonessentials but retained realistic outlines) is popularized. The method is made most renown by Elia Kazan (1909-2003) and Jo Mielziner (1901-1976) in the 1947 production of "Streetcar Named Desire" and the 1949 production of "Death of a Salesman."

Arts and Letters

Drama: Arthur Miller (1915-2005) publishes "All My Sons."

Arts and Letters

Drama: Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) publishes the Pulitzer Prize winning work, "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Arts and Letters

Literature: James Michener (1907-1997) publishes "Tales of the South Pacific," the basis for the Broadway show "South Pacific."

Johnson, Lady Bird

Luci Baines Johnson Turpin (1947- ), daughter of Lyndon and Claudia Johnson, is born July 2.

Carter, Rosalynn

John William “Jack” Carter (1947- ), son of James “Jimmy” and Rosalynn Carter, is born July 3.

Daily Life

Congressional proceedings are televised for the first time.

Daily Life

The wartime draft ends.

Daily Life

Transportation: The first supersonic jet flight takes place.

Daily Life

Fashion: With wartime shortages over, Christian Dior introduces "The New Look" in women's fashions, featuring calf-lenth full skirts and large hats.

Sports

Black Athletes: Baseball: Jackie Robinson (1919-1972), the first black baseball player in the major leagues, makes his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and scores the game-winning run.

Sports

John Cobb (1899-1952) establishes a world ground speed record of 394.196 mph.

Popular Culture

Reports of “flying saucers” receive widespread publicity.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In the Fay v. New York case, the U.S. Supreme Court says women are equally qualified with men to serve on juries but are granted an exemption and may serve or not as women choose.

Law

Education: The Supreme Court rules that religious instruction in public schools violates the Constitution.

Politics

McCarthy Era: 1948 -- HUAC gets Whitaker Chambers to implicate Alger Hiss as a spy. Nixon destroys Hiss's reputation in the press, reveals "Pumpkin Papers" in conference.

Politics

Southern Democrats bolt the Democratic Party in opposition to the civil rights platform.

Politics

Communists take control of the government in Czechoslovakia.

Politics

Democratic President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) is re-elected as President of the U.S. and Alben W. Barkley (1877-1956) is elected as the nation's 35th Vice President.

Government

President Harry Truman (1884-1972) signs the Marshall Plan, a major policy and financial commitment to aid in the recovery of Europe after World War II.

Government

The U.S. recognizes the new state of Israel.

Government

Burma (now called Myanmar) and Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) gain their independence from Great Britain.

War

Cold War: Communist Party leaders in the U.S. are indicted and charged with instigating the overthrow of the U.S. government.

Science

Lovell determines that meteors are natural phenomenon of the solar system.

Science

Oak Ridge National Laboratory begins to develop peaceful uses for atomic energy.

Medicine

The U.S. Public Health Service devises a simple test for diabetes mellitus.

Medicine

Yale University scientists develop a nylon respirator to replace the iron lung.

Medicine

The World Health Organization (WHO) is organized. They first meet in Geneva, Switzerland.

Education

Public Education: The Educational Testing Service is formed, merging the College Entrance Examination Board, the Cooperative Test Service, the Graduate Records Office, the National Committee on Teachers Examinations and others, with huge grants from the Rockefeller and Carnegie foundations. These testing services continued the work of eugenicists like Carl Brigham (originator of the SAT) who did research "proving" that immigrants were feeble-minded.

Arts and Letters

Literature: William Faulkner (1897-1962) publishes "Intruder in the Dust."

Nixon, Pat

Julie Nixon Eisenhower (1948 - ), daughter of Richard and Patricia Nixon, is born July 5.

Daily Life

Women''s Firsts: The first female Army officer is sworn in.

Daily Life

Crayola: To help art teachers learn about the many ways to use the growing number of Crayola products, a teacher workshop program begins to offer in-school training across the country. It continues today.

Sports

Women in Sports: The Roller Derby is broadcast live on television from New York City with women skaters.

Sports

Baseball: Stan Musial (1920-) of the St. Louis Cardinals wins the Most Valuable Player Award for the third time.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: The first woman to win an olympic gold medal is Alice Coachman (1923-…), who wins in the high jump.

Popular Culture

The first motion-picture newsreel in color is taken in Pasadena, California at the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl.

Popular Culture

Miles Davis (1926-1991) leads a nine piece combo that pioneers “cool” jazz.

Social Issues

Immigration: The Supreme Court rules that California’s Alien Land Laws prohibiting the ownership of agricultural property violates the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

Social Issues

Immigration: The United States admits persons fleeing persecution in their native lands; allowing 205,000 refugees to enter within two years.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Native Americans win the right to vote in state elections.

Reform

Women''s Suffrage Movement: Women win the vote in Belgium.

Government

President Truman (1884-1972) outlines his “Point Four” proposal for U.S. technical aid to underdevelopedcountries.

Government

President Truman (1884-1972) proposes a program of domestic litigation called the “Fair Deal.”

Government

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreement is signed.

Government

The country of Siam changes its name to Thailand.

Government

The German Federal Republic is established.

Government

Democratic President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) is inaugurated as President of the U.S. and Alben W. Barkley (1877-1956) is inaugurated as the nation's 35th Vice President.

War

Cold War: Soviets explode Hydrogen Bomb. Mainland China becomes Communist.

Medicine

First implant of intraocular lens used by Sir Harold Ridley (1906- 2001).

Medicine

The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute warn that cigarette smoking may cause cancer.

Medicine

Commercial production of ACTH begins. It is used to treat arthritis, rheumatic fever, and gout.

Medicine

Waksman (1888-1973) prepares neomycin, an antibiotic.

Medicine

Epidemic: 2,720 deaths occur from polio, and 42,173 cases are reported.

Inventions

The Atomic Energy Commission designs a breeder reactor that produces power by nuclear fusion, creating more fuel than it uses.

Technology

Computer Technology: Eckert (1919-1995) and Mauchly (1907-1980) build BINAC (Binary Automatic Computer), the first computer with self-checking devices.

Technology

The National Bureau of Standards builds an atomic clock that is accurate to within 1 second over the course of 3 million years.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: There are only 150 legitimate professional theatres serving the entire U.S.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: 70 TV stations are serving 2 million receivers in urban areas; this is same number as those attending the remaining theatres.

Ideas

Orwell (1903-1950) foresees a grim future in his satirical masterpiece "1984," a novel that introduces the “Big Brother” concept of totalitarian government.

Ideas

Maria Geoppert-Mayer (1906-1972) develops a nuclear shell theory.

Bush, Barbara

Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush (1949-1953), daughter of George and Barbara Bush, is born December 20.

Daily Life

Transportation: The first non-stop around the world flight (23,452 miles) is completed by Captain James Gallagher in 94 hours, 1 minute.

Daily Life

Fashion: Bathing suits called “bikinis” are introduced to the American fashion scene.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Ole Christiansen, a Danish toy maker, begins to manufacture toy blocks with a new twist. Christiansen creates a plastic brick that can be locked together in different configurations. The Lego, which comes from the Danish leg godt, meaning "play well," was born. The continuing popularity of the Lego brick probably stems from its ability to stimulate a child''s imagination-just six bricks fit together in 102,981,500 different ways.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Eleanor Abbott designs Candy Land while recovering from polio in San Diego, California.

Sports

U.S. wins unofficial championship of the 14th Olympic games in London with a team score of 547 points.

Popular Culture

The first Emmy Awards are presented for excellence in television.

Popular Culture

The movie "Hamlet," starring Laurence Olivier (1907-1989), becomes the first British film to win an Oscar.

Government

Three years after gaining its independence from Great Britain, India formally becomes a republic.

Government

Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) claims he has evidence that there are card-carrying members of the Communist Party in the State Department.

War

Cold War: The Soviet Union announces its possession of the atomic bomb.

War

Korean War: President Truman (1884-1972) authorizes the use of U.S. forces in Korea, following the invasion of South Korea by North Korean troops. A naval blockade of Korea is ordered.

Science

President Truman (1884-1972) authorizes the Atomic Energy Commission to produce the hydrogen bomb (H-bomb).

Science

Congress establishes the National Science Foundation.

Medicine

Although Americans spend more than $100 million annually on antihistamines, research shows that the drugs neither prevent nor cure the common cold, but merely relieve some symptoms.

Medicine

Nobel Prize for the Physiology of Medicine goes to Phillip Hench (1896-1965) (American), Edward Kendall (1886-1972) (American), and T. Reichstein (1897-1996) (Swiss) for the discovery of cortisone and its medical uses.

Inventions

The History of Toys: Silly putty is invented.

Technology

The longest vehicular tunnel, the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel in New York City, opens to traffic.

Education

Libraries: First drive-through windows are established for book returns at Cincinnati's Public Library.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: Children’s Theatres, College and University Theatres, Community Theatres, and Off-Broadway theatres experience some growth.

Ford, Betty

Michael Gerald Ford (1950- ), son of Gerald and Betty Ford, is born March 14.

Carter, Rosalynn

James Earl “Chip” Carter III (1950-), son of James “Jimmy” and Rosalynn Carter, is born April 12.

Truman, Bess

Assassination: Two Puerto Rican nationalists make unsuccessful attempts to kill President Truman (1884-1972).

Economics

U.S. bars trade shipments to Communist China.

Economics

The Ford Thunderbird is introduced.

Discovery

Archaeological discoveries in La Jolla, California, indicate that North America has been inhabited for at least 40,000 years.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: The FBI releases its “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list for the first time.

Sports

Richard Button (1929-), age 19, world figure skating champion is selected as top U.S. amateur athlete.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Althea Gibson becomes the first African-American— male or female—to play in a major United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) event.

Popular Culture

Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) writes the holiday song “Sleigh Ride.”

Popular Culture

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) writes the score to "Peter Pan," which stars Mary Martin (1913-1990) in the title role.

Religion

The National Council of the Churches of Christ is formed; it unites 25 Protestant and 4 Eastern Orthodox groups. Membership is 32 million.

Religion

Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) proclaims the first Roman Catholic dogma since 1870-that the Virgin Mary, after her death, was assumed into Heaven physically and spiritually.

Social Issues

Immigration: Bureau of Indian Affairs terminates federal services for Native Americans in lieu of state supervision.

Law

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting presidents to two terms, is ratified by two-thirds of the states and added to the Constitution.

Law

The Supreme Court upholds the Smith Act, under which eleven Communists in the U.S. are convicted.

Politics

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) again becomes the British Prime Minister.

Government

The United Nations headquarters opens in New York City.

Government

The Mutual Security Agency is set up to offer U.S. economic, military, and technical aid to other countries.

Government

A Selective Service Bill lowers draft age to 18.5 and lengthens military service to two years.

War

Korean War: During the Korean War, North Korean and Communist Chinese forces captured the city of Seoul.

War

Korean War: President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) fires General Douglas McArthur.

War

World War II: President Truman (1884-1972) declares that state of war with Germany is officially ended; the U.S.-Japanese treaty allows the U.S. to maintain military bases in Japan.

War

Korean War: North Korean and Communist Chinese forces captured the city of Seoul.

Science

The National Geographic Society estimates that there are 300 million stars in the Milky Way.

Medicine

Woodard synthesizes two steroids: cortisone and cholesterol.

Medicine

Fluoridated water is shown to reduce tooth decay by 2/3.

Medicine

Reuben L. Kahn (1887-1874) develops a “universal reaction” blood test for the early detection of several diseases.

Medicine

Antabuse, a drug that prevents alcoholics from drinking, is introduced.

Inventions

A video camera is developed that records both pictures and sound on magnetic tape.

Technology

The United States Air Force starts atomic testing in the Nevada desert.

Technology

Computer Technology: UNIVAC I (Universal automatic computer) is the first commercially successful computer. It is 14 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 8 feet high. Forty-six UNIVACS are sold to businesses at prices starting at $600,000.

Technology

An additional 70 broadcast frequencies are made available for TV in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) range.

Arts and Letters

Literature: J.D. Salinger (1919- ) publishes "The Catcher in the Rye."

Ideas

Rachel Carson (1907-1964) publishes "The Sea Around Us," which in effect launches the ecological movement.

Economics

The employment of women reaches the highest point-even more than during WWII.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Julius (1918-1951) and Ethel (1915-1951) Rosenberg are found guilty of passing atomic secrets to the Russians and are sentenced to death as spies.

Sports

Horse Racing: The first horse to win $1 million dollars is “Citation.” Winning total $1,085,760.

Sports

Boxing: The world heavyweight championship is won by Jersey Joe Walcott when he knocks out Ezzard Charles. At 37, Walcott is the oldest man to win the title.

Sports

Center fielder Willie Mays makes his major-league debut with the New York Giants. He goes on to win the 1951 National League Rookie of the Year award.

Popular Culture

The first commercial color telecast is presented by the Columbia Broadcasting Company (CBS) in New York City.

Popular Culture

Rodgers (1902-1979) and Hammerstein II (1895-1960) write the score for the King and I.

Politics

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) is elected the 34th President of the U.S. and Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) is elected the 36th Vice President on the Republican ticket. Eisenhower is the first Republican President since Hoover’s election in 1928. Republicans gain control of Congress.

Government

England’s Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Government

Immigration: Congress passes the McCarran-Walter Act (Immigration and Nationality Act) over President Truman’s (1884-1972) veto. It abolishes race as a barrier to immigration but retains the national origins quota system.

Government

Immigration: The Immigration and Nationality Act allows individuals of all races to be eligible for naturalization. The act also reaffirms national origins quota system, limits immigration from the Eastern Hemisphere while leaving the Western Hemisphere unrestricted, establishes preferences for skilled workers and relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens; and tightens security and screening standards and procedures.

Government

Native Americans: The Bureau of Indian Affairs begins selling 1.6 million acres of Native American land to developers.

Government

Puerto Rico's constitution is proclaimed, establishing a commonwealth with autonomy in internal affairs.

War

Prime Minister Churchill (1874-1965) announces that Great Britain has made an atomic bomb.

Science

Edward Teller (1908-2003) successfully tests a hydrogen bomb, the world’s finest nuclear weapon.

Medicine

Research shows that the genetic material of viruses is DNA.

Medicine

Floyd Lewis uses hypothermia (lowing a patients body temperature) in open heart surgery.

Medicine

Epidemic: In the worst polio epidemic since 1916, polio takes 3,300 lives out of 57,628 cases reported.

Medicine

Vaccines: Jonas Salk (1914- 1995) develops the first polio vaccine.

Inventions

The History of Toys: Jack Odell invents the original Matchbox car when he makes a small brass model of a Road Roller and puts it into a matchbox so that his daughter could bring it to school. Today, 100 million Matchbox cars are sold each year.

Technology

More than 2000 new television broadcasting stations open; about 65 million people watch the presidential nomination conventions.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) writes "Wise Blood," a novel about a religious fanatic.

Arts and Letters

Hemingway (1899-1961) publishes "The Old Man and the Sea."

Ford, Betty

John “Jack” Gardner Ford (1952- ), son of Gerald and Betty Ford, is born March 16.

Carter, Rosalynn

Donnell Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter (1952- ), son of James “Jimmy” and Rosalynn Carter, is born August 18.

Reagan, Nancy

Patricia “Patti Davis” Ann Reagan (1952- ), daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, is born October 22.

Economics

A complaint is filed against IBM, alleging monopolistic practices in its computer business, in violation of the Sherman Act.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Banking on the idea that children like to play with their food, Hasbro introduces Mr. Potato Head.

Sports

Racecar driver John Cobb is killed while attempting to set the water speed-record in Scotland.

Sports

The NFL buys the New York Yankees.

Popular Culture

Panty raids take place on college campuses throughout the country.

Popular Culture

Hollywood develops three-dimensional movies. Natural Vision (3-D) films must be viewed through special glasses; after brief success, the novelty wears off.

Religion

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible for Protestants is publishes; it is edited by 32 scholars who have been at work since 1937.

Reform

Peace Corps: Since the end of the Second World War, various members of the United States Congress have proposed bills to establish volunteer organizations in the Third World. In 1952 Senator Brien McMahon (1903-1952) (Dem. Connecticut) proposed an "army" of young Americans to act as "missionaries of democracy". Privately funded non-religious organizations have been sending volunteers overseas since the 1950s.

Law

Chief Justices: President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominates Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the Senate confirms his nomination in 1954 and he serves for fifteen years until his retirement in 1969.

Politics

President Eisenhower (1890-1969) gets increasing pressure to take on McCarthy (1908-1957) from friends and advisors. Business leaders recognize that McCarthy is a danger to the party.

Government

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) is inaugurated as the 34th President of the U.S. and Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) is inaugurated as the 36th Vice President.

Government

Native Americans: Congress proposes giving individual Indians the same civil status as U.S. citizens, thus ending all limitations on Indian tribes.

Government

Tito (1892-1980) is elected the first president of the Republic of Yugoslavia.

Government

Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961) of Sweden becomes the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Government

A new Cabinet-level Department of Health, Education, and Welfare is created.

Government

Immigration: Congress amends the 1948 refugee policy to allow for the admission of 200,000 more refugees.

War

Cold War: President Eisenhower (1890-1969) announces that the U.S. will not physically interfere in the affairs of countries behind the Iron Curtain.

War

Cold War: The U.S. Communist Party is ordered to register with the Department of Justice as an organization controlled and directed by the U.S.S.R.

War

Cold War: A federal jury in New York City convicts 13 Communists of conspiring to teach about how to overthrow the U.S. government.

War

U.S blockade of Formosa is lifted, permitting attacks by Nationalists on China’s mainland.

Science

Francis H. Crick (1916-2004) and James Dewey Watson (1928- ) discover the structure of a DNA molecule; they call it the double helix.

Inventions

Transistorized hearing aids are introduced.

Technology

Harry Truman (1884-1972) announces that the U.S. has developed the hydrogen bomb.

Technology

A way of transmitting color TV signals that can be received by both color and black and white set is introduced.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Arthur Miller (1915-1005) publishes "The Crucible."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Richard Wright (1908-1961) publishes "The Outsider."

Bush, Barbara

John Ellis “Jeb” Bush (1953- ), son of George and Barbara Bush, is born February 11.

Bush, Barbara

Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush (1949-1953), daughter of George and Barbara Bush, dies October 11 of leukemia.

Economics

Motor Company: Ford Motor Company celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Discovery

Women’s Firsts: Jerrie Cobb (1931- …) is the first woman in the U.S. to undergo astronaut testing. NASA, however, cancels the women''s program in 1963. It is not until 1983 that an American woman gets sent into space.

Daily Life

Fashion: Fashion designers become interested in men’s clothes. Bermuda shorts for the businessman are promoted and worn during the summer months.

Sports

Baseball: The New York Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 50th annual World Series. The Yankees are the first team to win 5 consecutive series titles.

Sports

Golf: Golfer Ben Hogan (1912-1997) wins the Masters Tournament and the U.S. and British Open championships.

Sports

Maureen Connolly (1934-1969), age 19, is the first woman to win a “grand slam” in tennis.

Sports

Black Athletes: Football: Willie Thrower (1930-2002) becomes NFL''s first African-American quarterback.

Popular Culture

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) (1911-1989) gives birth to baby Ricky on the TV show, "I Love Lucy." More people turned in to watch the show than did to see the inauguration of President Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969).

Popular Culture

The first three-D movie, "Bwana Devil," opens in New York.

Popular Culture

The Academy Awards are televised for the first time.

Law

Education: The Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education that “separate but equal” educational facilities are unconstitutional.

Government

The Communist Control Act deprives U.S. Communists of rights enjoyed by other U.S. citizens.

Government

U.S. signs pact with Nationalist China (now Taiwan).

Government

The Senate censures Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) with a vote of 67-22, with 7 abstentions.

War

Senate approves U.S. South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty.

War

America’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus, is launched.

Medicine

The American Cancer Society reports higher death rates among cigarette smokers.

Inventions

Kurchatov (1903-1960) develops an icebreaker powered by nuclear energy.

Technology

U.S. and Canada announce the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line of radar stations across northern North America.

Technology

Battery Technology: RCA develops a flashlight-sized atomic battery.

Technology

The U.S. authorizes construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway in cooperation with Canada.

Education

Public Education: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The Supreme Court unanimously agrees that segregated schools are "inherently unequal" and must be abolished. Almost 45 years later in 1998, schools, especially in the north, are as segregated as ever.

Arts and Letters

Literature: J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) publishes the epic fantasy trilogy "Lord of the Rings."

Arts and Letters

Literature: William Golding (1911-1993) publishes "Lord of the Flies."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) publishes "Lucky Jim."

Economics

The Atomic Energy Act allows for the development of peaceful atomic energy project by private companies, which are also allowed to own nuclear materials.

Discovery

Plant fossils are discovered in the Great Lakes.

Discovery

Temple of Mithras (Roman god, 3rd century B.C) is discovered during rebuilding in London.

Daily Life

26 comic book publishers adopt a voluntary code to eliminate obscene, vulgar, and horror comics.

Daily Life

The average American’s favorite meal is a fruit cup, vegetable soup, steak and potatoes, peas, rolls and butter, and pie a la mode.

Sports

Baseball: Hank Aaron (1934- ) hits the first of his 755 home runs.

Sports

Horse Racing: Gordon Richards (1904-1986) is the first professional jockey to be knighted.

Sports

British runner Diane Leather (1933-) is the first woman to run the mile in under 5 minutes.

Popular Culture

The first Newport Jazz festival takes place.

Government

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) resigns as Prime Minister of England.

War

Cold War: Federal employees who are “security risks” continue to be dismissed an ongoing policy since 1953.

War

Congress authorizes the President to use force, if necessary, to protect Nationalist China against Communist attack.

Science

The National Geographic Society suggests that the blue-green areas on Mars are living plants.

Medicine

Vaccines: The polio vaccine created by Dr. Jonas Salk (1914-1995) is called “safe, effective and potent.”

Technology

Electricity for public use is produced on a limited and experimental basis at a nuclear reactor.

Education

Libraries: The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County opens a new main library.

Education

Public Education: Brown v. Board: In Brown II, the Court orders that desegregation should occur “with all deliberate speed.” Unfortunately, the vagueness of this phrase, combined with the unwillingness of many states to desegregate, meant that many states were able to postpone any desegregation. Anger over these delays and a growing frustration over the continued disenfranchisement of African-Americans helped launch the Civil Rights Movement.

Arts and Letters

Marian Anderson (1897-1993) makes her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Thomas Merton (1915-1968) publishes "No Man is an Island."

Arts and Letters

Drama: Tennesse Williams (1911-1983) writes "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Bush, Barbara

Neil Mallon Bush (1955- ), son of George and Barbara Bush, is born January 22.

Economics

The Labor Movement: American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) merge.

Economics

Commercial television broadcasting begins in Britain.

Daily Life

On July 17, Arco, Idaho, becomes the first town to have all its electrical needs generated by a nuclear power plant.

Daily Life

New York also draws power from a nuclear power plant.

Popular Culture

President Eisenhower (1890-1969) approves the first filming of a news conference for television.

Popular Culture

The first McDonald’s restaurant is opened by Ray Kroc (1902-1984) in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Popular Culture

Jim Henson (1936-1990) creates Kermit the frog.

Popular Culture

Rock ‘n’ roll music is attacked as “immoral” and is thought to contribute to juvenile delinquency.

Religion

Ordination of women ministers is approved by the Presbyterian Church.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Blacks boycott city bus lines in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), boycott leader, gains national prominence for advocating passive resistance to segregation in public places.

Reform

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) encourages and supports segregation movement throughout the country.

Politics

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) are reelected as President and Vice President of the United States

Government

The Agriculture (Soil Bank) Act pays farmers to take cropland out of production in order to reduce crop surpluses.

Government

The Federal Aid Highway Act authorizes a 13-year intra and interstate highway building program to be funded by tolls paid by motorists.

Government

Morocco gains its independence from France.

Science

The neutrino, a subatomic particle with no charge, is observed.

Medicine

The National Cancer Institute proposes that increased rates of lung cancer may be due to air pollution.

Medicine

The National Academy of Science reports that any radiation, even small amounts, can cause genetic damage.

Inventions

The Hovercraft is invented.

Technology

England opens the world’s first major atomic power plant for the production of electricity.

Technology

Personal Computers: The first transistorized computer is completed, the TX-O (Transistorized Experimental computer), at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ideas

Charles T.R. Wilson (1869-1959) proposes a theory of thunderstorm electricity.

Ford, Betty

Steven Meigs Ford (1956- ), son of Gerald and Betty Ford, is born May 19.

Bush, Barbara

Marvin Pierce Bush (1956- ), son of George and Barbara Bush, is born December 22.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company goes public and, on Feb. 24, 1956, they have about 350,000 new stockholders.

Economics

A U.S. District Court makes a final judgment on the complaint against IBM filed in January 1952 regarding monopolistic practices. A "consent decree" is signed by IBM, placing limitations on how IBM conducts business with respect to "electronic data processing machines.”

Discovery

The Palace of Emperor Diocletian (Roman Emperor A.D. 285-305) is excavated in Split, Yugoslavia

Daily Life

Barnum & Bailey Circus performs its last show under canvas.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Play-doh enters the market as a wallpaper cleaner. Non-toxic and less messy than regular modeling clay, it is soon recognized that the cleaner makes an excellent toy.

Sports

Boxing: Rocky Marciano (1923-1969) retires as undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion.

Sports

Black Athletes: Mildred McDaniel's (1933-…) winning high jump in Melbourne, Australia, makes her the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

Popular Culture

Elvis Presley’s (1935-1977) record, "Heartbreak Hotel," hits No. 1 on the pop charts.

Popular Culture

Movies and movie stars are allowed to appear on TV for the first time.

Popular Culture

The Broadway musical, "My Fair Lady" gains recognition.

Popular Culture

Dizzie Gillespie (1917-1993) and his band are sent by the U.S. State Department on a goodwill tour-the first jazz musicians to be subsidized by the U.S. government.

Social Issues

Segregation: Southern Congressman call on states to resist “by all lawful means” the Supreme Court ruling against segregation in the public schools.

Government

The U.S. proposes a 10-month halt to nuclear testing as a first step toward disarmament.

Government

Stamps: The Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee is created to provide advice to the Postmaster General on the subject matter and design of US stamps.

War

World War II: U.S. occupation forces leave Japan.

War

A Senate subcommittee holds hearings on U.S. preparedness to withstand Soviet military attack.

Science

The Federation of American Scientists urges a worldwide ban on nuclear weapon testing.

Science

Space Race: In October, the Soviet Union successfully launches the first artificial satellite, called Sputnik I (the Russian word for "traveler"; in November, they launch Sputnik 2, which carries a small dog named Laika into orbit.

Medicine

Vaccines: Albert Sabin (1906-1993) begins human trials on his oral polio vaccine.

Medicine

Daniele Bovet (1896-1980) wins the Nobel Prize for his discovery of antihistamines and muscle relaxing drugs.

Medicine

Walter Grey Walter (1910-1977) invents the brain EEG topography (toposcope).

Technology

Perceptron, a bionic computer that prints, writes, and responds to spoken commands is developed.

Education

Public Education: A federal court orders integration of Little Rock, Arkansas public schools. Governor Orval Faubus sends his National Guard to physically prevent nine African American students from enrolling at all-white Central High School. Reluctantly, President Eisenhower sends federal troops to enforce the court order not because he supports desegregation, but because he can't let a state governor use military power to defy the U.S. federal government.

Kennedy, Jackie

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (1957-), daughter of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, is born November 27.

Ford, Betty

Susan Ford Vance Bales (1957- ), daughter of Gerald and Betty Ford, is born July 6.

Economics

America’s first large nuclear power plant opens in Shippingport, Pa.

Economics

American Money: Paper currency is first issued with "In God We Trust" as required by Congress in 1955.

Daily Life

Fashion: The sack dress, unfitted material that drapes the body, is the fashion of the year.

Sports

Baseball: The Dodgers leave Brooklyn for Los Angeles. The Giants leave New York for San Francisco. Major league baseball finally reaches the west coast.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Althea Gibson (1927-2003) becomes the first black person to play in and win Wimbledon and the United States national tennis championship. She won both tournaments twice, in 1957 and 1958.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: John Lennon (1940-1980) meets Paul McCartney (1942- ) on July 6, 1957.

Government

Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) becomes Soviet premier and first secretary of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union.

Government

The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) is established to ensure air safety.

War

The Defense Reorganization Act centralizes defense structure so that the U.S. can respond more quickly to a nuclear attack by the U.S.S.R.

Science

Space Race: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is established.

Technology

Space Race: Explorer I, the first U.S. earth satellite, is launched; Explorer II is launched, but fails to make orbit; the Soviet Union launches Sputnit 3; the U.S. launches Vanguard 1, which functions for 3 years.

Technology

Stereo LPs are introduced.

Technology

There are 160 electronic computers in use in Europe (1000 in U.S.)

Technology

Personal Computers: At Texas Instruments, Jack Kilby (1923-2005) completes building the first integrated circuit, containing five components on a piece of germanium half an inch long and thinner than a toothpick.

Education

Crayola: Prussian blue, the first Crayola crayon color to get a new name, becomes "midnight blue." Teachers prompted the change, as children could no longer relate to Prussian history.

Education

The Supreme Court orders states to not delay public school desegregation.

Education

The National Defense Education Act is signed; this authorizes low-interest, long-term tuition loans to college and graduate students.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) publishes "Suddenly Last Summer."

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: Television penetration reaches 85% of population.

Ideas

Bionics is a word coined to describe artificial machines or systems that work and or look like living systems.

Reagan, Nancy

Ronald Prescott Reagan (1958- ), son of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, is born May 20.

Discovery

Sir Edmund Hillary (1919- ) reaches the South Pole overland.

Discovery

Explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs (1908-1999) completes the first crossing of Antarctica by land.

Daily Life

The first parking meters are used in London.

Daily Life

Crayola: The Crayola 64 Box with its signature built-in sharpener debuts, becoming the perennial favorite of Crayola colorers for more than 40 years.

Sports

Women in Sports: Women are admitted to the international cycling championships.

Sports

Black Athletes: Willie O’Ree (1935-…) is one of the NHL hockey players in Boston Bruins.

Popular Culture

At age 14, Bobby Fischer (1943- ) wins the U.S. Chess Championship for the first time.

Popular Culture

Rock ‘n’ roll star Elvis Presley (1935-1977) begins a two-year hitch in the U.S. army.

Popular Culture

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) composes the song "Satin Doll."

Religion

U.S. churches report large increases in membership since 1950.

Religion

Judaism: The Supreme Religious Center for World Jewry is dedicated in Jerusalem, Israel.

Law

The Supreme Court rules that a person can be tried for the same offense in both state and federal courts (double jeopardy).

Government

New State: Alaska becomes the 49th state in the Union.

Government

Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) becomes the first president of France’s Fifth Republic.

Government

Fidel Castro (1926- ) becomes the leader of Cuba after having ousted the right-wing dictator, Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973).

Government

American Flag: The Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 establishes the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.

Science

International Atomic Energy Agency is formed to explore peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Science

Heat produced in a nuclear reaction is converted directly into electricity via a plasma thermocouple.

Science

Space Race: NASA selects the first 7 astronauts.

Technology

Space Race: The first spacecraft to orbit the Sun, Mechta (Luna 1) is launched by the USSR in January; Luna 2 impacts the moon in September; Luna 3 orbits the moon in October, photographing 70% of its surface.

Technology

GE demonstrates a radio-optical telescope tracking station for following and monitoring space vehicles.

Technology

Personal Computers: At Fairchild Semiconductor, Robert Noyce (1927-1990) constructs an integrated circuit with components connected by aluminum lines on a silicon-oxide surface layer on a plane of silicon.

Technology

Space Race: The U.S. launches Pioneer 4, which passes within 37,000 miles of the moon.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The San Francisco Mime Troupe created by R. G. Davis is established.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The Ford Foundation funds the regional theatre program but it cannot continue because of a lack of subsequent investments.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) publishes "Raisin in the Sun."

Arts and Letters

Drama: Eugene Ionesco (1912-1994) writes the play "Rhinoceros."

Bush, Barbara

Lives of the First Ladies: Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch (1959- ), daughter of George and Barbara Bush, is born August 18.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company establishes what today is the industry’s largest automobile leasing company known as Ford Credit. More than 40 years later, it’s still helping make vehicle ownership a more affordable reality for many.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: The Barbie doll is introduced at the American Toy Fair in New York City by Elliot Handler, founder of Mattel Toys, and his wife, Ruth.

Sports

The largest fish ever hooked with a rod and reel is landed by Alfred Dean in South Australia; the fish is a white shark measuring 16 feet and 10 inches and weighed 2,664 pounds.

Sports

Football: The American Football League is formed.

Popular Culture

Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) compose the score for "The Sound of Music."

Religion

The Dalai Lama receives political asylum from India, after fleeing Chinese repression of a Tibetan revolt.

Religion

Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) calls for Vatican Council II, the first ecumenical council since 1870.

Social Issues

Immigration: Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution prompts mass exodus of more than 200,000 people within three years.

Reform

Labor Movement: Nationwide steel strike lasts 116 days; this is the longest steel strike in U.S. history.

Law

The Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution, enabling residents of the District of Columbia to vote for President and Vice President in national elections, is passed by Congress.

Politics

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) is elected as the 35th President of the United States, and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is elected as the nation's 37th Vice President.

Politics

President Eisenhower (1890-1969) makes goodwill tours in the Far East and Latin America.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Oveta Culp Hobby (1905-1995) becomes the first woman to serve as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. She is also the first director of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), and the first woman to receive the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal.

War

Cold War: U-2 photographic reconnaissance plane is shot down over Soviet territory. Premier Khrushchev denounces U.S. spying missions.

War

U.S. warns North Vietnam and Communist China not to intervene militarily in Laos.

War

Cuban Missile Crisis: December 19, Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and their policies.

Science

Nobel Prize in chemistry goes to W. Libby (1908-1980) for developing radiocarbon dating.

Science

D. Glaser (1926-) is awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for inventing the bubble chamber.

Technology

Space Race: The world’s first meteorological satellite, Tiros I, is launched to provide pictures of cloud cover.

Technology

Airplanes: The X-15, an experimental rocket powered airplane, is flown at 2196 mph.

Technology

Personal Computers: Digital Equipment introduces the first minicomputer, the PDP-1, selling for $120,000. It is the first commercial computer equipped with a keyboard and monitor.

Technology

Space Race: The U.S. launches Discoverer XIV, its first camera-equipped spy satellite.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Harper Lee (1926- ) publishes "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Kennedy, Jackie

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999), son of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, is born November 25.

Economics

Peace Corps: John F. Kennedy launches the idea of the Peace Corps at the University of Michigan during a campaign stop in his presidential bid. Critics of the program (including Kennedy''s opponent, Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994)) claim the program will be nothing but a haven for draft dodgers. Others doubt whether college-aged volunteers have the necessary skills.

Discovery

Women’s Firsts: Jacqueline Cochran (1906-1980) breaks the sound barrier by flying an F-86 over Rogers Dry Lake, California, at the speed of 652.337 miles per hour.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Ohio Art markets the first Etch-a-Sketch, invented by Arthur Granjean in the late 1950s, and originally called L'Ecran Magique.

Daily Life

Disasters: A United Airlines plane collides with a Trans World Airlines plane in a fog over New York City; the crash kills a total of 134 people on board and on the ground.

Daily Life

Women’s transcontinental air race is won by Mrs. Aileen Saunders. She flies 2709 miles in 18 hours and 7 minutes.

Sports

Black Athletes: Rafer Johnson 91935-…) is named by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to be the recipient of the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award in 1960, the highest award for an amateur athlete in the United States

Popular Culture

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) releases the suspense thriller, "Psycho."

Popular Culture

Chubby Checker (1941-) causes an international dance craze when he records "The Twist."

Popular Culture

Popular musicals include "The Fantasticks," "Bye, Bye Birdie," and "Camelot."

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Coming together as The Fabulous Silver Beatles, later shortened to The Beatles, the name of the band is a tribute to Buddy Holly's (1936-1959) band, The Crickets, combined with beat music, a common British term for rock and roll at the time.

Religion

Three women are ordained as priests in the Swedish Lutheran Church.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Four black college students begin a series of sit-ins at a white-only lunch counter in Woolworth’s, Greensboro, South Carolina.

Reform

Peace Corps: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) first announces his idea for a volunteer organization during the 1960 presidential campaign at a late-night speech at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on October 14.

Law

The Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution, enabling residents of the District of Columbia to vote for President and Vice President in national elections, is ratified by two-thirds of the states and added to the Constitution.

Government

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) is inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States, and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is inaugurated as the nation's 37th Vice President.

Government

Space Race: President Kennedy (1917-1963) addresses Congress, challenging the nation to go to the moon before the end of the decade.

Government

Peace Corps: President Kennedy (1917-1963) signs an Executive Order which officially starts the Peace Corps, and names Sargent Shriver (1915-) to be the program's first director. Concerned with the growing tide of revolutionary sentiment in the Third World, Kennedy saw the Peace Corps as a means of countering the notions of the "Ugly American" and "Yankee imperialism," especially in the emerging nations of postcolonial Africa and Asia.

War

Cuban Missile Crisis: Fifteen hundred Cuban exiles unsuccessfully attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs; U.S. support for the attack is equally unsuccessful; President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) accepts sole responsibility for the Bay of Pigs failure.

Science

The Institute for Space Studies holds a two-month seminar on the origin of the solar system.

Medicine

The Chicago Heart Association begins recording children’s heart sounds as a means of detecting defects.

Technology

Space Race: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin becomes the first human in space and also the first human to orbit the earth in a spacecraft; later in the year, Gherman Titov spends a day in space aboard Vostok 2.

Technology

Transit 4A, a communications satellite, is the first spacecraft to use nuclear power.

Arts and Letters

Literature: "Tropic of Cancer" and "Tropic of Capricorn," two novels by Henry Miller (1891-1980), are published in the U.S. after a 30- year ban for obscenity.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The Bread and Puppet Theatre is created; the form is expressionistic and propagandistic. It uses puppets and masked actors who ritually offer bread to the audience.

Ideas

Murray Gell-Mann (1929- ) develops the Eight-Fold Way, a method of grouping subatomic particles into families.

Economics

Peace Corps: President Kennedy (1917-1963) establishes the Peace Corps to give trained manpower and technical assistance to underdeveloped countries.

Discovery

Space Race: Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space; Gus Grissom is launched in a sub-orbital flight.

Daily Life

France and England connect their electrical grids with a cable submerged in the English Channel.

Daily Life

President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) holds the first presidential news conference carried live on radio and television.

Daily Life

Disasters: A fire in Bel Air-Brentwood destroys 447 homes, including some owned by well-known Hollywood figures.

Sports

Baseball: Roger Maris (1934-1985) of the New York Yankees hits his 60th home run and sets the record for a 162-game schedule.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) is the first African-American woman to receive the Sullivan Award (1961), the highest award in U.S. amateur sports.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles play their first gig at Liverpool's Cavern Club, return to Hamburg, record backing for the singer Tony Sheridan; the single, "My Bonnie", was released in Germany, and credited to Tony Sheridan and the Beat Boys. It was the Beatles' first commercial release.

Popular Culture

Pete Seeger (1919- ) composes “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.”

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Brian Epstein (1934-1967) agrees to become the band's full-time manager.

Religion

The American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America merge to form the Unitarian Universalists

Social Issues

Immigration: The Cuban Refugee Program handles influx of immigrants to Miami with 300,000 immigrants relocated across the U.S. during the next two decades.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Over 500 Native Americans gather for the American Indian Chicago Conference to support tribal sovereignty and survival.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: This year marks the beginning of the Freedom Rides, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s only visit to Seattle where he spoke at two assemblies at Garfield High School.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In Hoyt v. Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds rules adopted by the state of Florida that made it far less likely for women than men to be called for jury service on the grounds that a “woman is still regarded as the center of home and family life.”

Law

Education: The Supreme Court rules that public schools cannot require the recitation of prayers because it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Law

The Twenty-Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, banning poll taxes, is passed by Congress.

Government

Stamps: The first U.S. Christmas stamp is issued.

Government

The Trade Expansion Act gives the President the right to reduce tariffs and to assist companies hurt by lower duties.

War

Cold War: The Soviet Union exchanges captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) for Rudolph Abel, a Soviet spy held by the United States.

War

Vietnam War: U.S. troops on a training mission in Vietnam are ordered to fire if fired upon by enemy troops. A new military command, known as the Military Assistance Command (MAC) is set up in South Vietnam.

War

Cuban Missile Crisis: In a face-to-face standoff with Cuba over Russian missils on the island 90 miles from the continental United States, President Kennedy and Nikita Krushchev bring the world to the brink of war, the Kremlin ultimately agrees to remove the missiles.

Science

Marshall Nirenberg (1927- ) discovers the genetic code (DNA structure) for amino acid.

Science

Jacques Cousteau (1910-1997) publishes "The Living Sea," a work about underwater life.

Medicine

Cadrioversion, the use of electric shock to restore a regular heartbeat, is introduced.

Medicine

Vaccines: First Oral Polio Vaccine is used.

Technology

Space Race: John Glenn (1921- ) becomes the first American to orbit the Earth three times; Scott Carpenter repleats that feat; Walter Schirra orbits six times. Mariner 2 flies past Venus, and NASA selects its second group of astronauts.

Technology

Space Race: The Soviets launch two manned spacecrafts: Vostok 3 and Vostok 4.

Ideas

Jessica Mitford (1917-1996) publishes the controversial book "The American Way of Death;" it creates a great deal of interest in low cost yet very dignified burials.

Daily Life

The World’s Fair, Century 21 Exposition, opens in Seattle. The 600-ft Space Needle with a revolving restaurant on top is a popular attraction.

Daily Life

British weather reports give temperatures in Celsius as well as Fahrenheit.

Daily Life

History of Toys: Crayola: The Company renames the flesh crayon "peach" to recognize that not everyone’s skin color is the same.

Sports

Basketball: Philadelphia basketball star Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999) scores an NBA-record 100 points in a single game.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) becomes the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Brian Epstein arranges for the Beatles to audition for Decca Records, which rejects the band on the grounds that guitar music is "on the way out"; they are later signed by EMI.

Religion

The Vatican Council II opens in Rome, called by Pope John XXIII (in 1959) to promote Christian unity.

Religion

Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) excommunicates Fidel Castro (1926).

Reform

American Protest Music: “The Death of Emmett Till” is composed by Bob Dylan (1941-) during the Civil Rights Movement.

Law

In "Gideon v. Wainwright," the Supreme Court holds that public defenders must be provided for indigent defendants in felony cases.

Government

George Wallace (1919-1998), sworn in as Alabama’s governor, promises “segregation forever.”

Government

Stamps: The Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code -- a five digit number -- began on July 1, 1963. The first number designates the state or area; the next two numbers, the area within that state or area; and the last two digits, the office itself.

Government

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is inaugurated as the nation's 36th President upon the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). No new Vice President is selected.

War

The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. agree to set up a “hot-line,” a direct telephone link between Washington and Moscow, to prevent the start of nuclear war by accident.

Medicine

Dr. Michael E. DeBakey (1908-2008) develops a mechanical heart that is implanted in the chest to help the patient’s own heart pump.

Medicine

Vaccines: John F. Enders (1897-1985), T. H Weller (1915-2005), and Frederick C. Robbins (1916-2003) develop an effective measles vaccine.

Inventions

Computers: Douglas Engelbart (1925- ) invents the mouse pointing device for computers.

Technology

Polaroid introduces color film.

Technology

Color TV is relayed via satellite for the first time.

Education

An education report in Britain indicates that children should not be allowed to leave school before age 16.

Education

Libraries: Detroit Public Library issues skates to library student assistants so they can move quickly in the 230-foot-long stacks.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Susan Sontag (1933- ) publishes "The Benefactor," a novel about people who are unable to distinguish reality from fantasy.

Arts and Letters

Soviet authorities begin a campaign to suppress “artistic rebels.”

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The Free Southern Theatre is formed with the intention of raisin cultural awareness of blacks through white tradition.

Kennedy, Jackie

Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (1963), son of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, is born prematurely on August 7 at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts and dies August 9 of the same year in Boston because his lungs were too undeveloped to sustain him.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay, is closed.

Daily Life

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) posthumously becomes the first honorary U.S. citizen.

Popular Culture

The first discotheque, the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, opens in Los Angeles.

Popular Culture

"General Hospital," the daytime soap opera, airs on ABC for the first time.

Popular Culture

"Cleopatra," the most expensive motion picture to date ($37 million), opens in New York City and in theatres nationwide.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Beatlemania as a chaotic cultural phenomenon begins in Britain on October 13, 1963 with a televised appearance at the London Palladium.

Religion

The Catholic Church approves the use of vernacular languages- English in the U.S. - in place of Latin for parts of the Mass and for sacraments.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Civil rights demonstrations occur throughout the country. Medgar W. Evers (1925-1963), Field Secretary for the NAACP, is shot an killed in Jackson, Mississippi.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The Equal Pay Act is passed by Congress, promising equitable wages for the same work, regardless of the race, color, religion, national origin or sex of the worker.

Law

The 24th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting poll taxes, is ratified by two-thirds of the states and added to the Constitution.

Politics

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is elected President of the U.S. in his own right, and Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) is elected the 38th Vice President.

Government

Stamps: The United States starts printing stamps of different designs on one sheet known as se-tenants. The Christmas issue of 1964 was the first year different designs were printed on the same pane of stamps.

Government

Lyndon Johnson (1908-1973) announces his war on poverty.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1995), of Maine, becomes the first woman nominated for president of the United States by a major political party, at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.

Government

Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensures voting rights and prohibits housing discrimination.

Science

The U.S. Navy begins its Sealab experimental program to determine if people can live and work for extended periods of time at the bottom of the ocean.

Science

British scientists leave England in large numbers for the U.S. - the “Brain Drain.”

Medicine

The first government report regarding the dangers of cigarette smoking is issued by Luther Terry (1911-1985), the U.S. Surgeon General.

Medicine

Vaccines: First vaccine for Measles is used.

Inventions

Bullet train transportation is invented.

Technology

Personal Computers: At Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, the BASIC programming language runs for the first time. Developed by professors John Kemeny (1926-1992) and Thomas Kurtz (1928 -), BASIC is an acronym for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.

Education

Libraries: Twenty-five Freedom Libraries are established throughout Mississippi by a group of librarian volunteers in the civil rights movement.

Education

Public Education: Civil Rights Movement: In response to protests, and the often violent reaction to them, Congress passed several pieces of legislation seeking to end racial discrimination. These included the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Higher Education Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Bilingual Education Act.

Education

Public Education: Despite a number of Supreme Court cases and national legislation, less than 1 percent of all black children in the south went to a desegregated school.

Arts and Letters

Architecture: Edward Durell Stone (1902-1978) designs the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. D.C.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The Black Arts Repertoire Theatre School is formed.

Ideas

Walter R. Hess (1881-1973) publishes "The Biology of the Mind."

Economics

Ford introduces its Mustang at the New York World''s Fair.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Jack Ruby (1911-1967) is found guilty of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963), alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).

Daily Life

Disasters: The most violent earthquake (8.3) in North America strikes Anchorage, Alaska.

Sports

Boxing: Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) (1942- ) becomes world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston (1932-1971) in Miami Beach.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles arrive in the U.S. for the first time, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show; they also release their first album, "Meet the Beatles."

Popular Culture

The Rolling Stones release their first album.

Popular Culture

"Mary Poppins," a film starring Dick van Dyke (1925- ) and Julie Andrews (1935- ) becomes the most successful Disney film to date.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act passes including a prohibition against employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.

Law

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, establishing Presidential succession, is passed by Congress.

Government

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) is inaugurated President of the U.S. in his own right, and Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) is inaugurated as the 38th Vice President.

Government

Capital Punishment: The death penalty is abolished in Britain.

Government

Immigration: The Immigration Act of 1965 abolishes quota system in favor of quota systems with 20,000 immigrants per country limits. Preference is given to immediate families of immigrants and skilled workers.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Patsy Takemoto Mink (1927—2002), of Hawaii, is the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years.

Government

The Maple Leaf Flag officially becomes the new national flag of Canada.

Science

Nobel Prize for Chemistry goes to R. Woodard for developing methods of synthesizing organic substances.

Medicine

Frank Pantridge (1916- 2004) installs the first portable defibrillator.

Technology

Space Race: Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov becomes the first man to walk in space.

Education

Public Education: The U.S. spends more than $26.2 billion for public school education: $654 per student.

Arts and Letters

Poetry: "Ariel," a collection of poems by Sylvia Plath (1932-1963), is published posthumously by her husband, English poet, Ted Hughes (1930-1998).

Arts and Letters

Drama: Neil Simon (1927- ) writes the play "The Odd Couple."

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The El Teatro Campesino is established by Luis Valdez for National Farm Workers Association; the purpose of the organization is to perform dramatizations that can educate farm laborers in California.

Arts and Letters

The National Endowment of the Arts is established and begins a period of development of federal public support for major regional arts institutions.

Discovery

Sandage (1926- ) discovers blue galaxies. They are similar to quasars, but do not give off radio waves.

Discovery

Space Exploration: France becomes the third country with space exploration capabilities when they launch their satellite A-1.

Daily Life

There are more than 5 million color television sets in the U.S.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Stanley Weston creates a doll for boys--G.I. Joe--based on a new television show called "The Lieutenant."

Sports

Women in Sports: Golf: The Women''s Golf Open is televised nationally for the first time.

Popular Culture

The popular game show "Jeopardy" debuts on television.

Popular Culture

Sonny Bono (1935-1998) and his wife Cher (1946- ) achieve fame with their song “I Got You, Babe.”

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Queen Elizabeth II (1926- ) awards each of the four Beatles Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles start their second North American tour at Shea Stadium, which is the first rock concert to be held in a venue of that size.

Social Issues

Immigration: “Freedom flight” airlifts begin for Cuban refugees assisting more than 260,000 people over the next eight years.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Weeks v. Southern Bell, 408 F. 2d. 228 (5th Cir. 1969), marks a major triumph in the fight against restrictive labor laws and company regulations on the hours and conditions of women's work, opening many previously male-only jobs to women.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Peaceful civil rights marchers from Selma, Alabama, and brutally attacked with billy clubs and tear gas by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge; the event becomes known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) again leads the start of a civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama; on March 25, the 25,000-person march ends its journey on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery.

Law

Civil Rights Movement: The Supreme Court upholds the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Politics

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (1952- …), of Florida, becomes the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress. She serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Government

Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) is elected prime minister of India.

Government

The Cabinet-level Department of Transportation is established.

Government

Immigration: The Cuban Refugee Act permits more than 400,000 people to enter the United States.

War

Vietnam War: The U.S. increases its military strength in Vietnam and its bombing of the North.

Science

President Johnson’s (1908-1973) Science Advisory Committee publishes "Effective Use of the Sea."

Inventions

The History of Toys: Elliot Handler, one of the co-founders of Mattel, Inc., invents Hot Wheels when he decides to add axles and rotating wheels to small model cars.

Technology

Personal Computers: Steven Gray founds the Amateur Computer Society, and begins publishing the ACS Newsletter. (Some consider this to be the birth-date of personal computing).

Technology

Space Race: Neil Armstrong (1930- ) and David Scott (1932- ), astronauts on board Gemini 8, rendezvous and dock with an unmanned target vehicle.

Technology

Space Race: Survivor I achieves a soft landing on the Moon and sends back 11,237 photographs.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Elia Kazan (1909-2003) writes the play, "The Arrangement."

Ideas

Francis Crick (1916-2004) publishes "Of Molecules and Men."

Economics

Railroad History: The Interstate Commerce Commission approves the merger of the New York Central and the Pennsylvania railroads.

Economics

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act sets the standard for all American automobiles built after 1968.

Daily Life

The Uniform Time Act establishes that daylight savings time is to be observed throughout the country from the last Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.

Daily Life

The Salvation Army celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Daily Life

Congress enacts the truth and packaging law, which requires that clear and correct statements about the ingredients in about 8000 drug, cosmetic, and food products are printed for the consumer.

Daily Life

Fashion: Miniskirts come into fashion.

Sports

Soccer: England defeats West Germany to win the World Cup in soccer.

Sports

Baseball: Astroturf, the first artificial sports surface, is installed in the Houston Astrodome.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: On July 2, 1966, The Beatles became the first musical group to perform at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo. The performance ignited a lot of protest from local citizens who felt that it was inappropriate for a rock-and-roll band to play at Budokan.

Popular Culture

"Batman" debuts on television.

Popular Culture

Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" enjoys cultish popularity in the U.S.

Social Issues

Hate Groups: Ku Klux Klan makes attacks against blacks and civil rights workers in the South.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Race riots occur in slum areas of Chicago, Cleveland, and other cities. Congress authorizes funds to assist rebuilding programs.

Law

The 25th Amendment to the Constitution, establishing presidential succession, is ratified by two-thirds of the states and added to the Constitution.

Law

Appointed by President Lyndon Johnson 1905-1973), Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) becomes the first African American to sit on the Supreme Court.

Government

The first African-American senator elected by popular vote, Edward Brooke (1919- ) of Massachusetts, takes his seat.

Government

Peace Corps: Until about 1967, applicants to the Peace Corps had to pass a placement test that tested "general aptitude" (knowledge of various skills needed for various Peace Corps assignments) and language aptitude.

Science

Kornberg (1918- ) synthesizes biologically active DNA.

Medicine

Electroencephalographs (EEG) are teamed with computers to test the hearing of infants.

Medicine

10 million children are vaccinated against measles.

Medicine

Aspirin is found to be a possible cause of ulcers.

Medicine

High blood cholesterol is determined to be a factor in heart disease.

Technology

Space Race: A fire on the launching pad kills astronauts Grissom (1926-1967), White (1930-1967), and Chaffee (1935-1967), and destroys the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a simulated launch at Cape Canaveral.

Technology

3-D holographic movies are developed, and computers are used to create music electronically.

Education

Evolution: Tennessee formally repeals the 1925 law banning the teaching of evolution made famous in the Scopes Trial

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The New Lafayette Company is formed.

Carter, Rosalynn

Amy Carter Wentzel (1967- ), daughter of James “Jimmy” and Rosalynn Carter, is born October 19.

Johnson, Lady Bird

White House Wedding: Lynda Bird Johnson (1944-), daughter of Lady Bird (1912 -) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973), marries Charles S. Robb (1939 -) in the White House.

Economics

The establishment of Ford of Europe takes place.

Economics

Women’s Firsts: Muriel "Mickey" Siebert (1932- …) becomes the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and the first woman to head one of its member firms.

Daily Life

Disasters: An oil tanker, the Torrey Canyon, is wrecked off the coast of Cornwall in England, spilling 919,000 barrels of oil into the sea.

Sports

Football: The first Super Bowl is played: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10.

Sports

Baseball: Mickey Mantle (1931-1995) of the New York Yankees hits his 500th career homerun.

Sports

Women’s Firsts: Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Althea Gibson (1927-2003) is the first African-American tennis player to win a singles title at Wimbledon.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: On June 25, 1967 The Beatles performed "All You Need Is Love" for the Our World television special. It was the first television special to air worldwide. Singing backup for the Beatles were a number of artists including Eric Clapton (1945- ), and members of the Rolling Stones and The Who.

Popular Culture

Twiggy (1949- ), a British model, takes world fashion by storm.

Popular Culture

Ira Levin (1929-2007) publishes "Rosemary’s Baby."

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Riots occur in black areas of Cleveland, Detroit, Newark, Boston, New Haven, and other cities.

Politics

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994), a Republican, narrowly defeats Democrat Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978) to become the 37th President of the United States; Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) is elected as the nation's 39th Vice President.

Government

Native Americans: Title II of the Civil Rights Act gives full civil rights to individuals living under tribal law.

Government

Civil Rights Movement: President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) signs the 1968 Civil Rights Law.

War

North Korea seizes the U.S. Navy ship Pueblo (the crew is released 11 months later).

War

Vietnam War: Viet Cong guerillas and North Vietnamese soldiers launch the Tet (New York) offensive.

War

Vietnam War: The My Lai massacre occurs in Vietnam.

Science

Geneticists reveal that some male criminals have an extra Y chromosome.

Science

James Watson (1928- ) publishes "The Double Helix," describing the DNA molecule.

Science

The discovery of a pulsar is announced.

Medicine

Surgeons experiment with animal hearts for transplants to human beings.

Medicine

Vaccines: The mumps vaccine, developed in 1966, is improved for human use.

Inventions

Computers: Hewlett-Packard introduces the first programmable scientific desktop calculator, called "the new Hewlett-Packard 911A personal computer". (This is claimed as coining the term "personal computer").

Inventions

Computers: Dr. Robert Dennard, of the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center patents a one-transistor DRAM cell and the basic idea in the three-transistor cell, which will become the standard short-term storage medium for programs and data during processing (RAM).

Technology

Space Race: Surveyor 7, the last of America’s unmanned lunar probes, lands on the moon.

Education

Higher Education: Student unrest because of the Vietnam War and other social causes creates wide confusion and changes in university life.

Education

Public Education: African American Education: African American parents and white teachers clash in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville area of New York City, over the issue of community control of the schools. Teachers go on strike, and the community organizes freedom schools while the public schools are closed.

Arts and Letters

American Theatre: The Negro Ensemble Company is formed.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Kurt Vonnegut (1922- ) publishes "Welcome to the Monkey House."

Discovery

The skull of a 28 million year old ape is discovered in Egypt.

Daily Life

The nation’s first 911-phone system goes into service in Haleyville, Alabama.

Daily Life

London Bridge is sold to an American, who rebuilds it in Arizona.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Violent crimes have increased 57% since 1960.

Sports

Hugh Porter of Britain wins the world cycling championship in Rome.

Sports

Black Athletes: The first black male champion in tennis tournament is Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) who won the 1968 U.S. Open, the 1970 Australian Open, and the 1975 Wimbledon championship.

Popular Culture

The classification of movies by “G,” “PG,” “PG-13,” and “R” begins.

Popular Culture

Mike Nichols (1931- ) directs the film "The Graduate," starring Dustin Hoffman (1937- ) and Anne Bancroft (1931-2005).

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles release a full-length musical cartoon, "Yellow Submarine."

Popular Culture

Disney’s Mickey Mouse celebrates his 40th birthday.

Religion

The foundation of the Temple of Herod is found in Israel.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Executive Order 11246 prohibits sex discriminationby government contractors and requires affirmative action plans for hiring women.

Law

Chief Justices: President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) nominates Warren E. Burger (1907-1995) as Chief Justice of the United States; he is confirmed by the Senate two weeks later and serves in that position for seventeen years until his retirement in 1986.

Politics

Large antiwar demonstrations take place, including Vietnam Moratorium Days in Washington, D.C.

Politics

Vice President Agnew (1918-1996) accuses network television and the press of biased news coverage.

Government

The Palestine National Congress appoints Yasser Arafat (1929-2004) as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Government

Women's Firsts: Golda Meir (1898-1978) is sworn in as Israel’s first female prime minister.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005), of New York, becomes the first African-American woman in Congress. Her motto is, "Unbought and unbossed." She serves in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years.

Government

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994), is inaugurated as the 37th President of the U.S.. amd Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) is inaugurated as the nation's 39th Vice President.

War

Vietnam War: President Johnson (1908-1973) announces proposed withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.

Science

A fossil skull found in Antarctica proves “without question” the theory of continental drift.

Science

The fourth or “D” ring of Saturn is discovered.

Science

The National Audubon Society begins a national campaign to ban DDT because the chemical is killing bald eagles.

Science

Ribonuclease is the first enzyme to be synthesized.

Technology

Space Race: The first manned mission (Apollo) to the Moon takes place.

Technology

Neil Armstrong (1930- ) is the first man to walk on the Moon, thus "winning" the space race for the U.S.

Education

Higher Education: Education of Women: Several traditionally all-male colleges, including Yale, Bowdoin, and Colgate, admit women students.

Education

Libraries: The Cooperative College Library Center, the first consortium of black academic libraries, opens in Atlanta.

Arts and Letters

Painting: Rembrandt’s (1606-1669) “Self Portrait” sells for $1,256,000 at Christie’s in London.

Arts and Letters

Dance: Arthur Mitchell (1934- ) establishes the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Ideas

Arthur Jensen (1923- ) stirs widespread debate by his published claim that blacks are genetically less intelligent than whites.

Hoover, Lou

Herbert Hoover Jr. (1903-1969), son of Herbert and Lou Hoover, dies April 9 from cancer.

Economics

The United States attorney general charges IBM with unlawful monopolization of the computer industry, and requests the federal courts break it up.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Sirhan Sirhan (1944- ) is convicted for the murder of Robert F. Kennedy.

Daily Life

Approximately 225 million telephones are in use throughout the world.

Daily Life

The U.S. government removes cyclamates (artificial sweeteners) from the market; laboratory experiments link these food additives with cancer.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Parker Brothers markets the first Nerf ball, a polyurethane foam ball that is safe for indoor play. By year's end, more than four million Nerf balls are sold.

Daily Life

Fashion: Pants suits become acceptable for everyday wear by women.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles begin recording their final album, entitled "Abbey Road," returning to the EMI studios in West London and the production team led by George Martin (1926- ). It proves to be a relatively smooth and peaceful production and a highly acclaimed album. Lennon announces to the other Beatles that he will be leaving the band just before that album's release but is persuaded to remain quiet in public.

Popular Culture

Katherine Hepburn (1907-2003) and Barbara Streisand (1942- ) share the Best Actress Oscar; Hepburn breaks the record as the only actress winning three such awards.

Popular Culture

The Rolling Stones release an album and a movie, both entitled Gimme Shelter.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: California adopts the nation’s first “no fault” divorce law, allowing divorce by mutual consent.

Reform

American Protest Music: “One Tin Soldier” is written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter during the Vietnam War.

Reform

American Protest Music: “Blowing in the Wind” is written by Bob Dylan (1941- ) during the Vietnam War.

Government

The Postal Service, an independent agency, replaces the Post Office Department.

Government

Railroad History: Congress passes the Rail Passenger Service Act creating Amtrak, which today serves more than 20 million customers annually on its national network of intercity trains and employs 23,000 people.

Government

The National Air Quality Control Act calls for a 90% reduction in automobile pollution.

Science

Lysosomes, structures in the human cell, are synthesized.

Medicine

After great success as an experimental treatment for Parkinson’s disease, L-dopa is approved as a prescription drug.

Medicine

Heart pacemakers powered by nuclear energy are used for the first time in France; the device is estimated to work 10 years before needing to be refueled.

Medicine

Vaccines: First vaccine for Rubella (German measles) is used.

Inventions

Transportation: The first jumbo jet is invented.

Inventions

Computers: Bell Labs develops Unix. (Unix will become the dominant operating system of high end microcomputers, or workstations).

Inventions

Bell Telephone invents the Picturephone.

Technology

Japan becomes the fourth country to put a satellite into orbit.

Technology

GE synthesizes a gem-quality diamond.

Education

Reports show that “Sesame Street,” a nationwide TV program, helps to improve skills of preschool children.

Education

Higher Education: The University of California charges tuition for the first time in the school’s 102-year history.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: The struggle for an end to racial discrimination continues. Nationally, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools in North Carolina were ordered to desegregate under a court ordered mandatory busing plan.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: Seattle becomes the largest city to voluntarily enter into a mandatory busing program. The Seattle School District continues mandatory busing until 1996.

Arts and Letters

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918- ) wins the Nobel Prize for literature.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Hemingway’s (1899-1961) "Island in the Stream" is published posthumously.

Discovery

Space Exploration: When an oxygen tank bursts on the way to the moon, Apollo 13 astronauts make the famous announcement, “Houston, we’ve got a problem.”

Discovery

Israeli archeologists uncover the first evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman troops in A.D. 70.

Daily Life

20 million Americans take part in activities and demonstrations against pollution to celebrate Earth Day.

Daily Life

Hospital care costs reach an average of $81 per day.

Sports

Women in Sports: Just 294,000 American high school girls take part in interscholastic sports.

Popular Culture

Women’s Firsts: Women and Sports: Horse Racing: Diane Crump becomes the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The band officially brakes up.

Popular Culture

“Doonesbury,” a satirical comic strip created by Gary Trudeau (1948-), has its debut in 30 newspapers.

Social Issues

Polution: The National Air Quality Control Act calls for a 90% reduction in automobile pollution.

Reform

Anti-War Movement: The National Guard troops fire on 1000 antiwar protestors at Kent State University in Ohio; 4 students are killed. U.S. withdraws more troops from Vietnam.

Reform

1970's Protest Music: The Coca-Cola Coke Company integrates their original song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”, sung by The Hillside Singers, in their commercial advertisements.

Law

Education: The Supreme Court upholds the busing of children to integrate public schools where state laws have allowed segregation.

Law

The New York Times publishes classified Pentagon papers about the U.S.’s involvement in Vietnam. The Supreme Court upholds the right of the Times and the Washington Post to publish the papers.

Law

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the voting age to 18, is passed by Congress, ratified by two-thirds of the states, and added to the Constitution.

Government

Idi Amin (1925-2003) becomes dictator of Uganda.

Government

East Pakistan proclaims its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

Science

C.H. Li synthesizes a human growth hormone.

Technology

Astronaut Alan B. Shepard (1923-1998) hits three golf balls on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission.

Arts and Letters

Drama: Neil Simon (1927-) writes the play The Prisoner of Second Avenue.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Philip Roth (1933- ) publishes the political satire "Our Gang."

Nixon, Pat

White House Wedding: Tricia Nixon (1946 - ), daughter of Patricia (1912-1993) and Richard Nixon (1913-1994) marries Edward F. Cox (1946 -) in the White House.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company establishes its North American Automotive Operations, consolidating U.S., Canadian, and Mexican operations more than two decades ahead of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Discovery

Women''s Firsts: Canadian Fran Phipps becomes the first woman to reach the North Pole.

Discovery

Egyptian scientists discover drawings that date back to 6000 B.C. in caves in Egypt’s western desert.

Discovery

Space Exploration: Mariner 9 orbits Mars and returns 6876 photographs of the planet’s surface.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Charles Manson is found guilty of murdering Sharon Tate and six others in California.

Daily Life

Cigarette advertisements are banned from television.

Sports

Boxing: Joe Frazier (1944- ) defeats Muhammad Ali (1942- ) (Cassius Clay) to win the world heavyweight boxing championship in New York City. It is Ali’s first lost after 31 professional wins.

Sports

Baseball: Henry "Hank" Aaron (1934- ) hits 600th career home run, the 3rd player ever to reach this mark.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in Sports: Billie Jean King becomes the first woman athlete to win more than $100,000 in a single season in any sport. She is the only woman to have won US singles titles on grass, clay, carpet and hard court.

Popular Culture

British rock musician Elton John (1947- ) achieves superstar status with his albums, "Tumbleweed Connection" and "Madman Across the Water."

Religion

The “Jesus movement” is a highly publicized part of religion in America.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Ten black activists are convicted of firebombing a Wilmington, Delaware store and draw prison terms of 29-34 years.

Reform

Women''s Suffrage Movement: Women in Switzerland are finally granted suffrage.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corporation, 400 U.S. 542 (1971): The U.S. Supreme Court outlaws the practice of private employers refusing to hire women with pre-school children.

Reform

Peace Corps: In July 1971, President Nixon (1913-1994) brought the Peace Corps under the umbrella agency, ACTION. Peace Corps would remain under ACTION until President Jimmy Carter (1924-) declared it fully autonomous in a 1979 executive order. This independent status would be further secured when Congress passed legislation in 1981 to make the organization an independent federal agency.

Law

Capital Punishment: The Supreme Court rules that the death penalty as administered in the U.S. is “cruel and unusual punishment” and therefore unconstitutional.

Law

Women's Rights Movement: The "Equal Rights Amendment" or ERA, a proposed Constitutional Amendment prohibiting sex discrimination against women, is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.

Politics

Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) is re-elected as President of the United States, as is Vice President Spiro Agnew (1918-1996).

Government

President Richard Nixon (1913-1994) becomes the first American president to visit China.

Government

Britain and China resume diplomatic relations after 22 years; Britain withdraws is consulate from Taiwan.

War

The military draft ends and all membership is on a volunteer basis.

Science

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to C. Anfinsen, Stanford Moore, and William Stein for their molecular studies of proteins and enzymes.

Science

12 western European countries agree upon the establishment of a European Molecular Laboratory. The intent of the lab is to study the molecular basis of life.

Medicine

The controversy over whether smoking causes a pregnant woman to have a smaller baby continues.

Inventions

The History of Toys: Magnavox introduces Odyssey, the first video game machine, featuring a primitive form of paddle ball. Other companies soon invested in the video game business and, by 1976, hockey, tennis, and squash were available.

Technology

President Nixon (1913-1994) orders the development of the space shuttle.

Education

Women's Rights Movement: Title IX (Public Law 92-318) of the Education Amendments prohibits sex discrimination in all aspects of education programs that receive federal support.

Education

Libraries: The Martin Luther King Memorial Library opens in Washington, replacing the old District of Columbia Central Public Library.

Education

Women’s Colleges: Women were among the leaders of the struggle for achieving civil rights for minorities, and they compared their situation once more to that of the minority groups. One response to the activism by women was the implementation of virtually universal coeducation in 1972.

Economics

Women’s Firsts: Juanita Kreps (1921- …) becomes the first woman director of the New York Stock Exchange. She later becomes the first woman appointed Secretary of Commerce.

Economics

Personal Computers: The People's Computer Company is founded.

Discovery

Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi (1915-1997) is discovered in Guam, having spent 28 years hiding in the jungle thinking World War II was still going on.

Discovery

Richard Leakey (1944-), British anthropologist, discovers a 2.5 million-year-old human skull in northern Kenya, Africa.

Discovery

Pioneer 10 is launched to explore the asteroid belt and Jupiter.

Daily Life

China gives President Richard Nixon (1913-1994) two giant pandas.

Daily Life

The FDA proposes a ban on the use of antibiotics used to fatten cattle and other animals.

Sports

The U.S. tennis team wins the Davis Cup for the 5th straight year.

Sports

Women in Sports: Women''s Rights Movement: The New York City Court of Appeals upholds a woman’s right to be an umpire in professional baseball.

Sports

Women in Sports: Congress passes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Popular Culture

Ira Levin (1929-2007) publishes "The Stepford Wives."

Religion

Women’s Firsts: Judaism: Sally Jean Priesand (1948- …) is ordained in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the first woman rabbi in the United States.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972), the Supreme Court rules that the right to privacy encompasses an unmarried person's right to use contraceptives.

Law

Women's Rights Movement: In the "Roe v. Wade" decision, the Supreme Court legalizes abortion.

Government

Conservation: The Endangered Species Act prohibits the federal government from supporting any activities or projects that may be harmful to any endangered species.

Government

Vice President Spiro Agnew (1918-1996) is forced to resign his office on Justice Department charges of corruption in ofice. Under the newly ratified 25th Amendment, Gerald Ford (1913- ) is appointed Vice President.

War

Vietnam War: President Nixon (1913-1994) orders halt to offensive operations in North Vietnam.

War

Vietnam War: The Vietnam War peace accords are signed in Paris.

Science

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology determine the structure of transfer-RNA (tRNA).

Science

The Center for UFO Studies is established in Evanston, Illinois.

Medicine

Monocytes, a type of white blood cells, are proposed as a key to conquering cancer.

Medicine

Marijuana is used as a treatment for glaucoma.

Medicine

Vaccines: Rabies vaccine is developed.

Arts and Letters

Architecture: The 110-story World Trade Center in New York City is completed and briefly becomes the tallest building in the world.

Arts and Letters

George Lucas (1944- ) directs American Graffiti, a film that causes a wave of 1950’s nostalgia.

Arts and Letters

Billy Joel (1949- ) releases the Piano Man album.

Arts and Letters

Stamps: Valentine's Day "Love" stamps are first issued.

Ideas

Personal Computers: At the Lakeside prep school in Washington State, Bill Gates (1955- ) tells a friend "I'm going to make my first million by the time I'm 25.”

Johnson, Lady Bird

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) dies at age 64.

Economics

Congress approves the Alaskan pipeline.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company is fined $7 million for violating the Clean Air Act by improperly servicing 1973 model cars during tests for emission controls.

Discovery

Pioneer 11 is launched to fly by Jupiter and Saturn.

Discovery

A “cold star” is discovered that has 30,000 times more energy than the Sun. Scientists think that this star is in the early stage of development.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: 14 states restore the death penalty.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Dungeons & Dragons is invented by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax.

Sports

Baseball: Baseball’s American League adopts the “designated hitter” rule, which allows another player to bat for the pitcher.

Sports

Football: The Miami Dolphins become the first NFL team to go undefeated and have a perfect season by beating the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.

Popular Culture

George Lucas (1944- ) directs "American Graffiti," a film that causes a wave of 1950’s nostalgia.

Popular Culture

Billy Joel (1949- ) releases the "Piano Man" album.

Religion

Presbyterians form a new church, the National Presbyterian Church.

Religion

Judaism: Conservative Jews allow women in the minyan- 10 or more adult Jews are required for communal worship.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Pittsburgh Press v. Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, 413 U.S. 376 (1973): The U.S. Supreme Court bans sex-segregated “help wanted” advertising as a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended.

Law

In "United States vs. Nixon," the Supreme Court rules that presidential executive privilege is not unlimited.

Government

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is charged with foreign and domestic abuse of its power.

Government

Stamps: The first U.S. self adhesive stamp is issued.

Government

Scandal: President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) resigns the Presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal; he is the only President to resign the office; Vice President Gerald R. Ford (1913- )is inaugurated as the nation's 38th President. Nelson A. Rockefeller (1908-1979) becomes the nation's 41st Vice President.

Science

The National Academy of Sciences urges a ban on genetic experiments with bacteria, especially those involving E. coli, a helpful type of bacteria that lives in the intestines.

Medicine

High-energy neutrons, produced in cyclotrons, are used to treat cancer.

Medicine

A government report indicates that moderate drinkers live longer than nondrinkers. It also states that heavy drinkers have higher rates of mouth, throat, and liver cancer.

Medicine

Vinyl chloride, commonly used in making plastics, is shown to cause cancer.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: The Boston school committee rejects a court-ordered busing plan for desegregation.

Education

Women's Rights Movement: The Women’s Educational Equity Act, drafted by Arlene Horowitz and introduced by Representative Patsy Mink (D-HI), funds the development of nonsexist teaching materials and model programs that encourage full educational opportunities for girls and women.

Education

Public Education: In Milliken v. Bradley, a Supreme Court made up of Richard Nixon's appointees rules that schools may not be desegregated across school districts. This effectively legally segregates students of color in inner-city districts from white students in wealthier white suburban districts.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Peter Benchley (1940-) publishes "Jaws," a novel about a huge shark that terrorizes a Long Island Beach resort.

Arts and Letters

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918- ), Nobel Prize winner in literature, is deported from the Soviet Union.

Economics

The U.S. ends all price and wage controls.

Economics

The U.S. is hit by a recession.

Discovery

Large quantities of historical manuscripts, philosophical works, and medical texts more than 2000 year old are discovered in ancient tombs in China.

Sports

Baseball: Hank Aaron (1934- ) hits the 715th home run of his career, breaking Babe Ruth’s record.

Sports

Baseball: Little League Baseball Inc. bars foreign teams from future Little League World Series and accepts female players into the league.

Sports

The U.S. Olympic Committee adopts a bill of rights for athletes.

Sports

Baseball: Black Athletes: Frank Robinson (1935- ), of the Cleveland Indians, is the first black manager in professional baseball.

Sports

Women in Sports: Football: The inaugural season of the first women''s professional football league kicks off with seven US teams.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: A jam session between John Lennon (1940-1980) and Paul McCartney (1942- ) is recorded on March 31, 1974, when McCartney visits Lennon in Los Angeles, California.

Popular Culture

"Happy Days" premiers on television.

Popular Culture

The popular rock groups of the time are Chicago, Steeley Dan, Yes, Jefferson Starship, Santana, The Eagles, and Utopia.

Popular Culture

Mel Brooks produces "Blazing Saddles," a parody of westerns.

Religion

Pope John Paul VI (1912-1978) opens the Holy Year of the Roman Catholic Church, the 25th since 1450 (The first Holy year was proclaimed in 1300).

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Housing discrimination on the basis of sex and credit discrimination against women are outlawed by Congress.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur, 414 U.S. 632 (1974), determines it is illegal to force pregnant women to take maternity leave on the assumption they are incapable of working in their physical condition.

Government

Native Americans: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act give Native Americans more control in administering federal programs and services to their people.

Government

Scandal: John Mitchell (1913-1988), H. R. Haldeman (1926-1993), and John Ehrlichman (1925-1999) are convicted of obstruction of justice in the Watergate affair.

War

Civil war begins in Lebanon when gunmen kill 4 Christian Phalangists who retaliate by killing 27 Palestinians.

War

Vietnam War: The Vietnam War ends with South Vietnam’s surrender to North Vietnam.

Medicine

Heart valves in pigs are used to replace defective valves in human hearts.

Medicine

The National Cancer Institute links cancer with pollution.

Technology

Personal Computers: Bill Gates (1955-) and Paul Allen (1953- ) write to MITS, saying they have a BASIC language for the Intel 8080 processor. They propose licensing it for use on the Altair in exchange for royalty payments. (They then spend the next eight weeks writing the software).

Education

Native Americans: Native American Education: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act gives Native Americans more control in administering federal programs and services to their people.

Ideas

E. O. Wilson publishes "Sociobiology: The New Synthesis," which argues that genes control social behavior patterns.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

Lives of the First Ladies: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Dall Boettiger Halsted (1906-1975), daughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, dies December 1 from cancer.

Economics

Insurance companies drop malpractice insurance coverage for doctors because the losses in suits are so high.

Discovery

University of California astronomers discover a new galaxy that is at least 10 times larger than the Milky Way and about 8-million light years away from earth.

Discovery

Paleontologists discover the oldest American fossil- a 620-year-old marine worm.

Discovery

Viking 1 and 2 are both launched and scheduled to land on Mars one year later.

Daily Life

The Metric Conversion Act suggests that a voluntary change be made to the metric system.

Daily Life

The National Association of Broadcasters agrees to assign a two-hour period of time to programs suitable for family viewing.

Sports

Women in Sports: Chris Evert (1954- ) wins $40,000, the highest prize in the history of women’s tennis, on the Virginia Slims Tour.

Sports

Basketball: The European basketball league finishes its first season; Israeli Sabres finishes in first place out of 5 teams.

Sports

Baseball: An arbitrator’s ruling leads to a modification of the reserve clause and the start of free agency. Baseball salaries begin to skyrocket.

Sports

Women in Sports: Title IX goes effect on June 21.

Popular Culture

"The Jeffersons" debuts on television; it is the first sitcom about an African American family.

Popular Culture

The film "Jaws" breaks box office records across the U.S. and causes a nationwide “Jawsmania.”

Popular Culture

The film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo''s Nest" is the first movie since 1934 to win the top four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director.

Popular Culture

"A Chorus Line" opens on Broadway.

Politics

James Callaghan (1912-2005) succeeds Harold Wilson as the British Prime Minister.

Politics

Jimmy Carter (1924 - ) is elected as the 39th President of the United States and Walter F. Mondale (1928- ) is elected the nation's 42nd Vice President.

Government

The U.S. celebrates the 200th anniversary of its independence. Six million people view the parade of tall ships from 31 countries on the Hudson River.

Government

The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. sign a treaty that limits the size of underground nuclear explosions. Some on-site inspection of compliance is approved for the first time.

Government

U.S. intelligence agencies are charged with unlawful investigation and surveillance of citizens.

Government

The U.S. vetoes the admission of Vietnam to the UN, reasoning that the Hanoi government has failed to account for 800 U.S. servicemen still mission in action.

Science

The chronon is selected as the smallest unit of time.

Science

The 143 members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) develop methods to standardize weather data.

Medicine

Vaccines: A malaria-causing organism is cultured in the lab-this is the first step in developing a vaccine.

Medicine

Lyme arthritis, a new infectious form of arthritis, is discovered near Lyme, Connecticut. The disease is thought to be spread by virus-carrying insects.

Technology

Personal Computers: The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs (1955- ) and Steve Wozniak (1950- ); the price is: US$666.66.

Arts and Letters

Women’s Firsts: Sarah Caldwell (1924- …) becomes the first woman to conduct at New York's Metropolitan Opera House.

Arts and Letters

Literature: Kurt Vonnegut (1922- ) publishes "Slapstick."

Economics

Consolidated Railroad Corporation (Conrail), a private government-financed corporation, takes control of the freight service of six bankrupt Northeast railroads.

Economics

Personal Computers: In November, The trademark "Microsoft" is registered.

Discovery

Pioneer 10 travels through Saturn’s rings and heads toward a 1987 examination of Pluto.

Discovery

Viking 1 and Viking 2 land on Mars and begin sending back information about the planet’s surface.

Daily Life

Transportation: A Pan-American airliner completes the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight (8,088 miles in over 13 hours of travel).

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Nolan Bushnell sells his video game company, Atari, to Warner Brothers. Atari''s popular Pong and Super Pong video tennis games soon gave way to a home video cartridge system that ran full-color games, from baseball to Pacman.

Popular Culture

Barbara Walters (1929- ) becomes the first female network television news anchor.

Popular Culture

Stevie Wonder (1950- ) releases the immensely popular album, "Songs in the Key of Life."

Popular Culture

"Rocky," a film starring Sylvester Stallone (1946- ), wins the Oscar for Best Picture.

Popular Culture

Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), humorist, publishes 'Life is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank."

Popular Culture

Women's Firsts: Barbara Walters (1929- ) becomes the first female network television news anchor.

Religion

6 women in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada are ordained as priests in the Anglican Church.

Reform

Women win 13 of 32 Rhodes Scholarships awarded to Americans; this is the first time since the scholarships were made in 1902 that women are eligible recipients.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: General Elec. Co v. Gilbert, 429 U. S. 125 (1976), the Supreme Court upholds women’s right to unemployment benefits during the last three months of pregnancy.

Government

President Carter (1924- ) makes “human rights” a part of U.S. foreign policy.

Government

Jimmy Carter (1924 - ) is inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States and Walter F. Mondale (1928- ) is inaugurated as the nation's 42nd Vice President.

Government

The Justice Department investigates alleged illegal bribery by South Korean officials to influence members of Congress.

Government

President Carter (1924- ) pardons most Vietnam War and draft evaders.

Government

Congress creates a new cabinet-level Department of Engineering.

Science

Methanogens are identified as a totally separate and previously unknown form of life that existed about 3.5 million years ago.

Medicine

After extensive hearings, the FDA declares that laetrile is not a vitamin and is of no value in treating cancer.

Medicine

The FDA claims that saccharin may cause cancer.

Inventions

Computers: Bally completes designs of a home computer.

Technology

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are launched on a journey that will bring them near Jupiter and Saturn in 1979 and 1980.

Economics

High oil consumption in the U.S. makes energy conservation necessary (energy crisis).

Economics

Personal Computers: The first Computer Shack franchise is opened in Morristown, New Jersey. 112 people visit in the first day.

Discovery

Astronomers aboard NASA’s Airborne Observatory discover rings around Uranus.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Gary Gilmore (?-1977) becomes the first person executed in the U.S. since the death penalty was reintroduced.

Daily Life

Disasters: The greatest aviation disaster in history kills 542 people when two planes collide on a runway in the Canary Islands.

Daily Life

Travel bans on U.S. citizens to Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, and North Korea are lifted.

Daily Life

Personal Computers: Total shipments of personal computers worldwide during the year total 48,000.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Kenner Toys introduces a line of Star Wars action figures, capitalizing on the popularity of George Lucas''s blockbuster film. They dominate the action figure market.

Sports

Baseball: The St. Louis outfielder Lou Brock (1939- ) sets the new base-stealing record of 893.

Popular Culture

The film "Saturday Night Fever" helps popularize disco dance music.

Popular Culture

George Lucas (1944- ) directs "Star Wars," a film that signals the beginning of a new, more polished science-fiction genre of films.

Religion

John Neumann (1903-1957) is made a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; he is the first American male to be selected.

Religion

Americans explore forms of spiritualism: 6 million are active in transcendental meditation; 5 million practice yoga; 3 million follow the charismatic movement; 3 million involved in mysticism; and 2 million in Eastern religions.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church prohibits ordination of women as priests.

Government

Congress extends ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to 1982.

Government

The U.S. and Communist China establish full diplomatic relations.

Government

President Carter (1924- ) invokes the Taft-Harley Act to end the coal strike.

Government

Stamps: A new 15-cent stamp goes into use after its approval by the Postal Rate Commission.

Government

Electrification: Congress passes the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), which spurs the growth of nonutility unregulated power generation.

Science

Chromosomes are discovered in parts of the cell other than the nucleus.

Science

The Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University conducts controlled fusion experiments.

Medicine

Vitamin C is proposed as a cancer-fighting drug.

Medicine

The AMA concludes a 14-year study that shows that cigarette smoking causes heart disease and may cause cancer.

Technology

Texas Instruments introduces magnetic bubble memories for computers.

Education

Higher Education: Civil Rights Movement: In Regents of California v. Bakke, the Supreme Court considered whether affirmative action programs violated the Equal Protection Clause. Without a clear majority, the Court held that it was permissible to use race as a factor in school admissions, but that the rigid racial quotas used by the University did violate the 14th Amendment.

Education

Public Education: Education of Women: The federal judge in Ohio rules that high school girls should not be prevented from participating with boys on the same sports teams.

Education

Public Education: The so-called "taxpayers' revolt" leads to the passage of Proposition 13 in California, and copy-cat measures like Proposition 2-1/2 in Massachusetts. These propositions freeze property taxes, which are a major source of funding for public schools. As a result, in twenty years California drops from first in the nation in per-student spending in 1978 to number 43 in 1998.

Education

Native Americans: Native American Education: Higher Education: The federal Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act provides the

Education

basis for a system of higher education on or near Indian reservations, which allows young people to go to college without leaving their families.

Arts and Letters

Literature: John Irving (1942-) publishes "The World According to Garp."

Economics

The Ford Motor Company celebrates its 75th anniversary. Celebrations were very much in order, and they took place at World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan as well as at locations throughout the world.

Discovery

James Cristy, discovers Charon, a moon of Pluto.

Daily Life

Education: The Federal Communication Commission studies children’s television to see if the TV industry is showing a reasonable amount of children’s shows, including educational programming.

Daily Life

Crayola: The first box of Crayola markers is introduced in 8 bright, bold colors.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Lillian Greene-Chamberlain, the first African-American woman distance runner in international events is named as the first woman to be director for Physical Education and Sport Programs for UNESCO.

Popular Culture

Dolly Parton (1946- ) wins the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award for the song “Here You Come Again.”

Popular Culture

"Star Wars" is all-time leader in worldwide film rentals; it takes in $202 million and passes revenue records previously set by "Jaws."

Social Issues

Stem-Cell Research: Widespread controversy surrounds claims that a human being has been cloned.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act bans employment discrimination against pregnant women.

Government

Dictator Idi Amin (1928-2003)of Uganda is overthrown.

Government

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-1989) returns to Tehran after 15 years of exile; Iran is proclaimed an Islamic Republic.

War

President Sadat (1918-1981) of Egypt and Prime Minister Begin (1913-1982 ) of Israel sign a peace treaty at the White House, ending 30 years of war.

War

Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928-1979) is executed by the military.

War

Vietnamese forces capture the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing Pol Pot’s (1928- ) Khmer Rouge government.

Science

MIT researchers discover that DNE molecules spiral to the left, not to the right as was previously believed.

Medicine

Doctors in Maryland use a metal cylinder to replace a section of a woman’s spine removed earlier because of cancer.

Education

The new Cabinet-level Department of Education is established.

Economics

Congress approves a $1.5 billion federal loan guarantee plan for the Chrysler Corporation; this is the largest government bailout of a U.S. company.

Economics

The Department of Energy sues nine large U.S. oil companies for allegedly over-charging customers nearly $1billion since 1973.

Discovery

A black hole is discovered in the center of the Milky Way.

Daily Life

Disasters: A nuclear power accident occurs at Three-Mile Island, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Daily Life

Because of a major shortage, gasoline sales on odd-even days are instituted in many states.

Popular Culture

Elton John (1947- ) is the first rock star from the West to tour the U.S.S.R.

Religion

Pope John Paul II (1920- ) visits Poland; this is the first time a pope has visited a Communist country.

Religion

Mother Teresa (1910-1997), of India, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work among the sick and the poor.

Politics

Third Parties: U.S. Representative John B. Anderson of Illinois loses the Republican nomination for President to Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), who defeats Democratic President Jimmy Carter (1924- …). Anderson runs as an Independent, and gains 6 percent of the popular vote but no electoral votes.

Politics

Ronald W. Reagan (1911-2004) is elected the 40th President of the U.S. and George H. W. Bush (1924- ) is elected the nation's 43rd Vice President.

Politics

Voters in Quebec reject separatism.

Government

Immigration: The Refugee Act redefines criteria and procedures for admitting refugees.

Government

President Carter (1924- ) signs Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax; this is possibly the largest tax ever imposed on an industry.

Science

Volunteers at Duke University emerge from a pressure tank after 28 days, setting a world record for simulating a dive 2132 feet below sea level.

Medicine

Vaccines: New York Blood Center scientists report finding a successful, experimental vaccine against hepatitis B.

Technology

In California more than 17,000 wind machines, ranging in output from 20 to 350 kilowatts, are installed on wind farms.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: By the late 1980s, the rising Latino population increased the complexity of desegregation issues, and there was growing objection to busing as a solution for segregation.

Education

UNESCO reports that almost 1/3 of the world’s population are illiterate.

Arts and Letters

Painting: The Museum of Modern Art in New York city shows “Pablo Picasso: A Retrospective.” It is the first time the near 1000 items, representative of the artists work in various media, are shown together.

Clinton, Hillary

Chelsea Victoria Clinton (1980- ), daughter of William and Hillary Clinton, is born February 27.

Economics

Chrysler Corporation receives government-guaranteed $400 million loan.

Economics

Gold bullion prices soar to record heights on international markets, reaching $835 an ounce on London’s market.

Economics

Government supported United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation is created to develop synthetic energy sources.

Discovery

A major diamond field is discovered in Western Australia.

Daily Life

Disasters: The U.S. declares a state of emergency at the Love Canal in Niagara Falls, N.Y., an area contaminated by toxic chemical waste.

Sports

In a major upset, the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeats the Soviets 4-3 at Lake Placid, New York.

Sports

Women in Sports: The Women's Sports Foundation establishes the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: On December 8, 1980, John Lennon (1940-1980) is murdered in front of his New York City apartment by a mentally deranged fan, Mark David Chapman (1955-), forever crushing any hope of a Beatles reunion.

Religion

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) reaffirms his opposition to divorce at the synod of Roman Catholic bishops in Rome. The Vatican also condemns euthanasia.

Law

Women’s Firsts: Sandra Day O'Connor (1930- …) is appointed by President Reagan (1911-2004) to the Supreme Court, making her its first woman justice.

Government

Ronald W. Reagan (1911-2004) is inaugurated as the 40th President of the U.S. and George H. W. Bush (1924- ) is inaugurated as the nation's 43rd Vice President. Ronald Reagan is the oldest President to take office (69 years and 349 days).

Government

Chilean President Augusto Pinochet (1915-) is sworn in for an eight-year-term as president.

War

52 American hostages seized from the American Embassy in Tehran are released after 444 days in captivity.

Science

Amid growing debate over genetic engineering, the German drug firm Hoechst invests $50 million in DNA research at Massachusetts General hospital in Boston.

Science

The first test-tube baby is born in London.

Medicine

Scientists identify the virus that causes the fatal condition called A.I.D.S. (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Medicine

Vaccines: First vaccine for Hepatitis B is used.

Technology

The space shuttle is launched.

Technology

The first sun-powered aircraft flies across the English Channel. Earlier attempts failed because of cloudy skies.

Technology

Personal Computers: IBM introduces its model of the personal computer (PC), destined to revolutionize office automation and move corporations away from mainframe computers.

Arts and Letters

Literature: John Updike wins the National Book Critics Circle Award, American Book Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for "Rabbit is Rich."

Arts and Letters

Painting: Italy begins a $3 million restoration of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

John Aspinwall Roosevelt (1916-1981), son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, dies of a heart attack on April 27.

Bush, Laura

Barbara Pierce Bush (1981- ), daughter of George W. and Laura Bush, is born the first of fraternal twins on November 25.

Bush, Laura

Jenna Welch Bush (1981- ), daughter of George W. and Laura Bush, is born the second of fraternal twins on November 25.

Reagan, Nancy

President Ronald Reagan (1911-2204) is shot in the chest by John Hinckley (1955- ) as he leaves a Washington hotel.

Economics

Honolulu has the highest cost of living of any American city. Rising prices are driven by wealthy tourists and development financed by Japanese investors.

Daily Life

African elephants are decimated by poachers of ivory, now selling at $34 per pound.

Popular Culture

The Rolling Stones play for 2 million fans in a smash U.S. tour. Scalpers command as much as $500 for a pair of $15 seats.

Popular Culture

Barbara Mandrell is named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association amid a popular resurgence of country music.

Popular Culture

Film star Meryl Streep receives wide-spread critical acclaim for her portrayal of the mysterious Sarah in "The French Lieutenant’s Woman."

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The three surviving Beatles reunite for the first time since the break-up for George Harrison's (1943-2001) tribute to fallen Beatle John Lennon (1940-1980) "All Those Years Ago".

Religion

Pope John Paul II is shot and seriously wounded as he greets worshippers in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that excluding women from the draft is constitutional.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Kirchberg v. Feenstra, 450 U.S. 455, 459-60 (1981), overturns state laws designating a husband “head and master” with unilateral control of property owned jointly with his wife.

Government

President Reagan (1911-2005) proposes that the U.S. and the Soviet Union reduce their nuclear arsenals by one-third.

Government

Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) begin in Geneva, Switzerland.

Government

President Reagan (1911-2005) orders reinstatement of the U.S. military draft registration for 18-year olds.

Government

A government survey of income tax returns shows the IRS is twice as likely as taxpayers to make mathematical errors.

Medicine

Medical history is made at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City when doctors successfully implant a permanent artificial heart designed by Dr. Robert K. Jarvik in 61-year old Barney Clark.

Technology

The space shuttle Columbia lands safely after orbiting the earth for 7 days.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: In the Bob Jones University v. U.S. case, the Court held that racial discrimination in education violated a “fundamental national policy” and permitted the IRS to withhold tax exempt status from private schools with discriminatory policies.

Education

Evolution: A federal judge in Arkansas rules it unconstitutional to require schools to teach “creationism” if they teach the theory of evolution.

Economics

The AT&T Bell System telephone monopoly agreed to divest itself of 22 Bell System companies and split itself into seven “Baby Bells.”

Economics

Personal Computers: Apple Computer becomes the first personal computer firm to reach $1 billion in annual sales.

Economics

The Dow Jones industrial average tops the 1000 level for the first time as Wall Street is bullish over sliding interest rates.

Discovery

Paleontologists in Antarctica make the first discovery of mammal fossils on the continent.

Daily Life

EPCOT Center- The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow- opens at Disney world in Florida.

Daily Life

Under a geodesic dome called Spaceship Earth, EPCOT offers educational exhibits of the future.

Sports

Football: National Football League players go on strike against the league’s 28 teams, demanding a share of the gate and TV revenues. They settle 2 months later, receiving relatively little of what they asked for.

Sports

Women in Sports: The NCAA adds nine women's national collegiate championships during the 1981-82 school year. Lacrosse is one of the original sports. Massachusetts wins the championship over Trenton State, 9 to 6.

Popular Culture

Critics and audiences rave over "Cats," the British musical that makes its Broadway debut. Andrew Lloyd Webber based the show on poet T.S. Eliot’s "Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats."

Religion

Ending some 450 years of absolute separation between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, Pope John Paul II and the Archbishop of Canterbury join in an emotional religious service. As a result Britain and the Vatican resume diplomatic relations.

Reform

Peace Corps: At this time, the Peace Corps began branching out past its traditional concerns of education- and agriculture-related projects. For the first time, a large number of conservative and Republican volunteers joined the contingent of overseas volunteers, and the organization continued to reflect the evolving political and social conditions in the United States.

Politics

President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) refers to the Soviet Union as an “Evil Empire.”

War

Terrorism: Simultaneous suicide truck-bombings destroy both the French and the United States Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, killing 241 US servicemen, 58 French paratroopers and 6 Lebanese civilians.

Medicine

Health care officials assure a nervous public that there is little risk of catching AIDS via blood transfusions.

Technology

Apple Computer unveils a new computer device called a “mouse”; it allows users to point an arrow in order to access computer functions rather than entering complicated instructions on a keyboard.

Education

Public Education: A blue-ribbon panel publishes A Nation at Risk, finding that the nation's educational standards “are being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity,” threatening the nation’s future.

Arts and Letters

The Nobel Prize for literature goes to Britain’s William Golding (1911-1993), author of "The Lord of the Flies."

Arts and Letters

American playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) dies.

Economics

Cable television increasingly threatens the former monopoly of broadcast TV.

Economics

Video rental stores begin to attract an increasing amount of business.

Economics

Solar Electric Generating Stations (SEGs) producing as much as 13.8 megawatts are developed in California and sell electricity to the Southern California Edison Company.

Discovery

Women’s Firsts: Dr. Sally K. Ride (1951- …) becomes the first American woman to be sent into space.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: A Japanese company, Nintendo, brings the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a home video game system, to the United States. With fifty-two colors, realistic sound, and high-speed action, it catches the attention of retailers who were initially skittish due to Atari''s collapse.

Daily Life

Fifty million households tune in to the last episode of M*A*S*H.

Sports

For the first time in its 132-year history, the America’s Cup, yachting’s most prestigious prize, leaves the U.S. It is won by an Australian vessel that comes from behind in 4 races to beat the defending Liberty.

Religion

The National Council of the Churches of Christ issues a new Bible that no longer refers to God in masculine terms only. God is called either “Father”, “Mother”, or “The One.” References to “mankind” are replaced by “humankind”or “humanity.”

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: Chanting the theme of “Jobs, Peace, and Freedom,” some 250,000 Americans converge on Washington to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1963 civil rights march.

Law

The Supreme Court holds that exhibiting a publicly financed nativity scene does not violate the First Amendment.

Politics

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) is re-elected as President of the U.S., as is George H. W. Bush (1924 -) as Vice President.

Government

The United States and the Vatican reestablish diplomatic relations after 117 years.

Government

Great Britain agrees to return Hong Kong to China in 1997 when Britain’s 99-year lease on the crown colony runs out.

Government

Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Commission votes to end use of numerical quotas in employment promotions of African Americans.

Medicine

Nonsmokers can get cancer by inhaling smoke from smokers’ cigarettes declares the Surgeon General.

Technology

The compact disc (CD), developed by the Dutch company Phillips and Japan’s Sony, is hailed as the music-recording medium of the future.

Arts and Letters

Literature: George Orwell’s classic novel "1984" becomes a best seller once again; his grim forecasts about totalitarianism have not come to pass.

Economics

Crayola: The Crayola® brand becomes part of Hallmark Cards, Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., the world’s leader in social expression.

Sports

Women in Sports: Dorothy Hamill wins the first of four straight World Professional Figure Skating championships.

Sports

The Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games open with Hollywood glitz – an enormous symphony, a huge marching band, gospel singers, break dancers, and 84 pianists. The U.S. dominates the games, which are boycotted by the Soviet Union and some other Communist nations in retaliation for the U.S. boycott of Moscow’s 1980 games.

Popular Culture

Michael Jackson (1958-) is nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and "Thriller" becomes the best-selling album ever.

Popular Culture

Bruce Springsteen (1949-) stirs millions with "Born in the U.S.A.," an album featuring a song of the same name, reflecting his bittersweet view of U.S. society.

Religion

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops says that capitalism fails to provide a just economic system. Bishops cite homelessness and hunger in a wealthy nation and ask the government to play a bigger role in correcting the problems.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In Roberts v. U.S. Jaycees, 468 U.S. 609 (1984), sex discrimination in membership policies of organizations, such as the Jaycees, is forbidden by the Supreme Court, opening many previously all-male organizations (Jaycees, Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions) to women.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Hishon v. King and Spaulding, 467 U.S. 69 (1984): The U.S. Supreme Court rules that law firms may not discriminate on the basis of sex in promoting lawyers to partnership positions.

Law

The Supreme Court bars a moment of silence in public schools, declaring it fosters religious activity in schools, which was declared unconstitutional in 1962.

Government

Congress passes the Gramm-Rudman bill, requiring a balanced budget for the federal government by 1991.

Government

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes head of the Soviet Union, replacing Konstantin Chernenko.

Government

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) is inaugurated as President of the U.S., as is George H. W. Bush (1924 -) as Vice President.

Government

In his State of the Union message, President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) begins his second term by calling for reform in federal income tax policy.

Science

The world’s largest particle accelerator goes into operation in Batavia, Illinois.

Medicine

Obesity is called a major killer, particularly among those who are more than 20% overweight, a category that includes 34 million Americans.

Arts and Letters

Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300th birthday is marked by performances in his hometown of Leipzig, Germany, and dozens of other cities in Europe and the U.S.

Ideas

Tipper Gore (1948- ), wife of Tennessee Senator Albert Gore (1948- ), tries to clean up rock lyrics, urging warning labels on “offensive” albums. Rocker Frank Zappa (1940-1993) speaks out in opposition, calling it censorship.

Economics

Coca-Cola markets a controversial new formulation of its soft drink, but after sales plummet it brings back the original, now dubbed “Coke Classic.”

Discovery

Divers find the hull of the luxury liner Titanic, which hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic in 1912. The vessel was in 12,00 feet of water.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: U.S. journalist Terry Anderson is kidnapped in Beirut; he was released 2,454 days later on December 4, 1991.

Daily Life

The cold snap of the century hits the U.S. citrus crop.

Daily Life

Women’s Firsts: Native Americans: Wilma Mankiller (1945- …) becomes the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in sports: Libby Riddles (1956-), is the first woman to win the Iditarod.

Popular Culture

45 of the world’s top recording artists get together and record "We Are the World" to raise money for world hunger.

Popular Culture

Pop star Madonna captures a vast audience and makes her first movie, "Desperately Seeking Susan."

Social Issues

Philadelphia police try to subdue the radical group Move by dropping a bomb on its headquarters, causing extensive fires and 11 deaths.

Law

Chief Justices: President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) nominates William H. Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; he is confirmed by the Senate after considerable debate by a vote of 65-33. He serves in this position for nineteen years, until his death in 2005.

Government

Conservation: The federal government makes the environmental danger from toxic wastes a priority by enacting a $9 billion clean-up law.

Government

New federal legislation weakens the existing gun control law.

Government

President Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989) flees the Philippines.

Government

Immigration: The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) legalizes illegal aliens residing in the U.S. unlawfully since 1982.

War

President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) authorizes and air attack on Libya for its terrorism, specifically the bombing of a West Berlin disco popular among American GI’s. Libyan assets are frozen, and U.S. trade with Libya is banned.

Medicine

After 620 days, the first artificial heart recipient dies.

Technology

Airplanes: Voyager, a lightweight experimental airplane, circles the Earth non-stop without refueling. Its 25,000 miles trip takes 9 days and uses 1500 gallons of fuel.

Education

Studies show that 13% of American adults are illiterate.

Economics

Manufacturing in the U.S. declines as a percentage of the gross national as industrial firms transfer production to lower wag countries; service industries increase in the national economy, creating 10 million jobs in 7 years.

Discovery

Disasters: The U.S. shuttle Challenger explodes 72 seconds after lifting off, killing all seven crew members aboard, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe (1948-1986).

Daily Life

Disasters: The worst nuclear power plant accident in history occurs at Chernobyl, near Kiev, U.S.S.R.

Daily Life

Holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Artist Xavier Roberts introduces his Cabbage Patch Kids into the mass market. Each of the dolls comes with an adoption certificate and unique name. Although more than three million of the dolls are produced, supply cannot keep up with demand. Cabbage Patch Kids become the most successful new dolls in the history of the toy industry.

Sports

Women in Sports: Basketball: The three-point field goal is introduced in women''s basketball.

Popular Culture

The world’s largest shopping mall achieves success in Alberta, Canada. The West Edmonton Mall boasts 836 stores and 20 movie theatres, plus restaurants and rides.

Religion

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) pays a historic visit to Rome’s main synagogue, a gesture seen as a step toward the Vatican’s recognition of Israel.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a hostile or abusive work environment can prove discrimination based on sex.

Government

President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty in Washington to eliminate short and medium range nuclear weapons.

Government

The Reagan administration proposes the government’s first trillion-dollar budget.

Science

University of California astronomers witness the birth of a galaxy containing 1 billion stars for the first time.

Science

A human growth hormone is transplanted in pig embryos to increase the size and value of hogs for slaughter, a procedure that stirs ethical and scientific debate.

Medicine

Surgeon Ben Carson (born September 18, 1951) leading a 70-member medical team in Germany, was the first to separate occipital craniopagus twins.

Technology

Expanded possible uses of superconductors make the news as a very promising scientific and technical revolution.

Arts and Letters

Painting: Van Gogh’s “Irises” is auctioned for a record $53.9 million at Sotheby’s in New York City. He painted it only days after entering a mental asylum in France.

Reagan, Nancy

First Lady Nancy Reagan (1921- ) undergoes a mastectomy after a biopsy reveals cancerous cells.

Economics

The Dow Jones industrial average plunges 508 points – 22.6%- on “Black Monday,” by far the largest one-day loss in history.

Economics

Japan’s Honda Motors sells 100,000 Acuras in the U.S., spurring Toyota and Nissan to bring out their luxury Lexus and Infiniti models.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company purchases the Hertz Corporation’s rental car business.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: Engineer Scott Stillinger invents the Koosh Ball in an effort to teach young children how to catch. He tied rubber bands together to make a small, easy-to-catch ball. The name "koosh" comes from the sound the ball makes as it lands in a person's hand.

Daily Life

At least 36 states pass laws against the breed of dog known as a “pit-bulls.” Owners are required to keep these dogs on leashes at all times while in public.

Sports

Al Unser wins his 4th Indianapolis 500 auto race.

Popular Culture

Aretha Franklin (1942-) becomes the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Popular Culture

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is re-released by Disney on its 50th anniversary.

Popular Culture

The 10th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death spurs TV specials, books, and the releases of new collections of his music.

Religion

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) visits 9 U.S. cities in a 10-day tour.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a voluntary affirmative action plan for public employees to correct sex discrimination.

Politics

George H. W. Bush (1924-) is elected 41st president of the U.S., and J. Danforth Quayle (1947 -) is elected as the 44th Vice President.

Government

Congress passes and President Reagan (1911-2004) signs a bill establishing the cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs.

Government

Immigration: The Civil Liberties Act provides compensation of $20,000 and a presidential apology to all Japanese-American survivors of the World War II internment camps.

War

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver L. North and Vice Admiral John M. Poindexter of the National Security Council are indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States for their role in the Iran-contra affair.

Technology

Fax machines emerge as an integral business tool around the world. The advent of cheap machines that can transmit documents over telephone lines begins to change the way the business world communicates.

Arts and Letters

Opera: Climbing attendance at Broadway theatres is led by the success of "The Phantom of the Opera" and the Tony-winning "Madame Butterfly."

Arts and Letters

Literature: Toni Morrison (1931-) wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book "Beloved," a novel about a runaway slave who kills her daughter rather than let her be raised as a slave.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr. (1914-1988), son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, dies August 17.

Economics

Rodeos become big business as U.S. corporations begin to underwrite large cash prizes for competitors.

Economics

The Ford Motor Company continues its record-setting-trend when the company’s worldwide earnings reach 5.3 billion, the highest to date for any automotive company.

Daily Life

Tokyo’s Disneyland becomes Japan’s favorite play land. It resembles its American counterpart but with a Japanese style; visitors are greeted by a smiling “Mickey-San.”

Daily Life

“No Smoking” signs go up on Northwest Airlines.

Daily Life

“Hypermarkets” become the rage. These mega-size retail stores are as big as 5 football fields and sell everything from bananas to bedroom sets. Kmart and Walmart set up dozens of these “malls without walls.”

Sports

In the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, U.S. diver Greg Louganis repeats his 1984 triumphs by taking 2 gold medals.

Sports

Professional tennis player Steffi Graf (1969- ) of West Germany wins the Grand Slam by taking titles at Wimbledon and the Australian, French, and U.S. Opens

Sports

Women in Sports: Congress enacts the Civil Rights Restoration Act over President Ronald Reagan's veto. It prohibits sex discriminations throughout educational institutions receiving federal funds, restoring Title IX.

Sports

Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Olympic medalist (winter games): Debi Thomas (1967-…) wins the bronze in figure skating.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lennon (1940-1980), McCartney (1942-) , and Harrison (1943-2001) are also inducted separately in later years (1994, 1999, and 2004, respectively).

Popular Culture

Superman marks the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in Action Comics. A birthday exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution is one of the many tributes to the enduring supermyth.

Religion

Dissident Roman Catholic Archbishop Marcel LeFebvre (1905-1991) defies papal orders by consecrating 4 bishops in Switzerland. The Vatican excommunicates him.

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the U.S Constitution protects the right of protestors to burn the U.S. flag.

Law

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, requiring an election of Representatives and Senators before a raise in pay for these positions can take effect, is passed by Congress.

Politics

Thousands of Chinese students and workers demonstrate in Tiananmen Square to protest government policies.

Government

Iran breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain over Salman Rushdie’s (1947-) novel Satanic Verses.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (1952- …), of Florida, becomes the first Hispanic woman elected to congress. She serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Government

George H. W. Bush (1924-) is inaugurated as the 41st president of the U.S., and J. Danforth Quayle (1947 -) is inaugurated as the 44th Vice President.

War

More than 100,000 Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan almost 10years after the USSR invaded the country.

Science

The University of Cincinnati scientists report that even minor exposure to lead can stunt growth in children and make them lose their balance.

Medicine

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of eye cataracts, says Johns Hopkins University.

Arts and Letters

Chinese art draws thousands to U.S. museums when the exhibit “Masterworks of the Ming and Qing: Painting from the Forbidden City” tours 5 U.S. cities.

Discovery

The space shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth after launching the Galileo spacecraft on a 6-year exploration voyage to Jupiter.

Daily Life

Disasters: The oil tanker Exxon Valdez runs aground and spills 240,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound.

Daily Life

Fears of nuclear contamination rise after Soviet nuclear submarine sinks off the Norwegian coast following a fire on board.

Sports

Baseball: Pete Rose (1941- ), Cincinnati Reds manager, is banned from baseball for life for betting on games.

Popular Culture

The comic book hero Batman becomes a national phenomenon with the release of the movie "Batman," starring Michael Keaton (1951-) and Jack Nicholson (1937- ).

Popular Culture

The centennial of silent film star Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) is marked by film festivals worldwide in his honor.

Religion

Women’s Firsts: In Boston, the Reverend Barbara C. Harris (1930- …) becomes the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: In Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U.S. 490 (1989), the Supreme Court affirms the right of states to deny public funding for abortions and to prohibit public hospitals from performing abortions.

Government

Civil Rights Movement: Discrimination against people with disabilities is banned under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Government

Douglas Wilder (1931- ) of Virginia becomes the first elected African American governor in the United States.

Government

Independence from the Soviet Union is declared by a newly elected parliament in Lithuania.

Government

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931- ) is elected the first executive president of the Soviet Union; at the same time, the Soviet parliament rules that Lithuania’s declaration of independence is invalid.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Dr. Antonia Novello (1944- …) is sworn in as U.S. Surgeon General, becoming the first woman (and first Hispanic) to hold that job.

War

Manuel Noreiga (1938- ) surrenders to U.S. forces.

Technology

NASA reports a major manufacturing flaw in the main mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope that renders its pictures fuzzy and disappointing.

Technology

The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis, with a 5-member crew, completes a secret military mission.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: The public strongly opposes bilingual education.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

Elliot Roosevelt (1910-1990), son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, dies on October 27 of congestive heart failure.

Economics

General Motors unveils the Saturn, a compact car aimed at a young market.

Economics

In an important court decision, Eastman Kodak is ordered to pay Polaroid more that $900 million for patent infringements.

Economics

American Money: A security thread and micro printing are introduced, first in $50 and $100 notes, to deter counterfeiting by advanced copiers and printers.

Daily Life

South African resistance leader, Nelson Mandela (1918- ), is released from prison after more than 27 years.

Sports

Women in Sports: Jennifer Capriati (1976- ), age 13, becomes the youngest player ever to reach the final of a professional tennis tournament.

Sports

Football: The New England Patriots and 3 of its players are fined for demeaning a female sports reporter.

Sports

Women in Sports: The number of women playing college sports has jumped to 160,000.

Popular Culture

"The Simpsons" premier on television.

Popular Culture

Rap music engenders controversy as an album by 2 Live Crew is ruled obscene by a Florida court.

Popular Culture

Russians get their first taste of American-style fast food when a McDonald’s opens in Moscow. Line are long until the prices are doubled.

Popular Culture

"A Chorus Line" closes after 15 years, the longest run in the history of the Broadway theatre.

Government

Lithuanians vote overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union.

Government

Women’s Firsts: On January 2, Sharon Pratt Dixon (1944- …) is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC, becoming the first black woman to serve as mayor of a major city.

War

Persian Gulf War: A divided Congress gives President Bush (1924- ) the go-ahead on the Persian Gulf War.

War

Persian Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm is launched against Iraq.

War

Persian Gulf War: Kuwait is liberated in the Gulf War.

Science

European scientists produce a significant amount of energy from controlled nuclear fusion for the first time.

Medicine

Alzheimer’s emerges as a major U.S. public health issue. Some 4 million Americans suffer from the incurable disease that claims 100,000 lives yearly. Symptoms are gradual loss of memory, speech, and orientation.

Medicine

The Bush administration initiates a study to find ways to cut the rapid rise in health care costs.

Technology

Computers continue to be miniaturized. Hewlett-Packard introduces a hand-held model that weighs less than a pound.

Technology

During a 6-day flight, the space shuttle Atlantis puts the Gamma Ray Observatory into orbit.

Arts and Letters

New York City’s Carnegie Hall celebrates its centennial.

Arts and Letters

The 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death spurs musical tributes around the world; the largest takes place at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

James “Jimmy” Roosevelt (1907-1991), son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, dies August 13.

Bush, Barbara

President Bush (1924- ) is hospitalized for 2 days for an irregular heartbeat.

Economics

Japan again assumes the title of the world’s largest automaker, turning out almost 10 million cars compared to the 6 million produced by the U.S.

Economics

Both Pan Am and Eastern Airlines go out of business.

Discovery

A radar image of the planet Venus taken by the Magellan spacecraft shows huge volcanoes and large craters.

Sports

Basketball: Led by superstar Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls capture their first National Basketball Association championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sports

Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson discloses that he has the HIV virus that causes AIDS and retires from basketball.

Sports

Women in Sports: Basketball: The women''s Final Four of college basketball is televised live for the first time. Tennessee edges Virginia 70-67 for its third NCAA title in the first OT game in the tournament''s 10-year history.

Popular Culture

Rap music, reflecting inner-city social conditions, extends its influence to mainstream America through artists such as MC Hammer (1962- ), 2 Live Crew, and Run DMC.

Popular Culture

Country star Garth Brooks (1962-) is the dominant solo performer on the concert and recording scene.

Religion

Pope John Paul II (1920-2205) names 22 new cardinals, including 2 Americans – Archbishops Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia and Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles.

Social Issues

Racism: Four white policemen are indicted by a Los Angeles, California grand jury for the beating of a black motorist, Rodney King. The brutal beating, captured on videotape by an amateur, is widely seen on TV.

Reform

Civil Rights Movement: The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 strengthened existing civil rights laws. However, the acquittal of the white police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King triggered the largest and most violent race riots in many years.

Law

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, requiring an election of Representatives and Senators before a raise in pay for these positions can take effect, is ratified by two-thirds of the states and added to the Constitution.

Politics

Democrat William J. Clinton (1946- …) is elected the 42nd President of the U.S. and Albet A. Gore (1948-) is elected the 45th Vice President.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Carol Moseley-Braun (1947- …), of Illinois, becomes the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

Government

The European Community recognizes Croatia and Slovenia as separate states, effectively ending the Yugoslav Federation, founded in 1918.

Government

Mongolia’s new non-communist constitution takes effect.

Government

Stamps: Full-scale production of U.S. self-adhesive stamps begins.

Government

The Energy Policy Act establishes a permanent 10 percent investment tax credit for solar and geothermal powergenerating equipment.

War

The El Salvador government signs a peace treaty with guerilla forces, formally ending 12 years of civil war.

Technology

Dell Computer brings out a trend-setting 3.5-pound laptop, accelerating the use of these small computers.

Arts and Letters

Women''s Firsts: Poetry: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mona Van Duyn (1921-2004) is the first woman chosen as U.S. poet laureate.

Arts and Letters

UNESCO begins a 5-year project to photograph the world’s cultural and natural wonders before they are further harmed by war or environmental problems.

Economics

U.S. unemployment soars to 7.8%, its highest rate since 1983.

Discovery

A sculptured head of a giant bird that was one of the main Mayan gods is discovered in what was the ancient Mayan city of Nakbe.

Discovery

Archeologists uncover Ubar, a 5000-year-old trading city famous for its frankincense, under the desert sands in Oman.

Discovery

Pioneer 10 continues to send back deep-space data 20 years after its launch. 5 billion miles out, the probe still has 7 functioning instruments.

Discovery

U.S. launches the Mars Observer, an unmanned spacecraft designed to orbit and study Mars.

Discovery

Space Exploration: Women’s Firsts: Mae Jemison (1956- …) becomes the first black female astronaut.

Daily Life

Crayola: Crayola multicultural crayons, an assortment of skin tone-based colors that let children more accurately color themselves, are introduced.

Daily Life

Crayola: Crayola brings washability — an all-new innovation to crayons — with the first crayons that wash off walls.

Sports

Women in Sports: "A League of Their Own," a movie by director Penny Marshall about the first year of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, is a box office hit, due in large part to the many women who went to see female sports role models on the screen.

Sports

Europe hosts both Olympics, with the XVI Winter Games in Albertville, France and the XXV Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Popular Culture

Johnny Carson (1925-2005) retires as host of NBC’s "The Tonight Show" after nearly 30 years.

Popular Culture

A young Elvis Presley (1935-1977) is portrayed on a postage stamp; some $20 million worth are kept by collectors.

Popular Culture

The hit TV show "Murphy Brown" becomes controversial when the campaigning Vice President Dan Quayle (1947- ) says it undermines U.S. moral values by presenting its star as a single mother.

Religion

Bible Lands Museum opens in Jerusalem, Israel, with the purpose of dramatizing the people and events of the Bible in its original environment.

Religion

The Church of England allows the ordination of women priests.

Religion

Bloody religious conflicts erupt in India after Hindus desecrate a historic Muslim mosque.

Social Issues

Racism: A jury in Los Angeles acquits four police officers accused of beating Rodney King, Jr.; the verdict leads to massive rioting and looting.

Social Issues

Native Americans: New Mexico observes Columbus Quincentenary, welcomes Cristobal Colon XX.

Politics

Fidel Castro’s daughter wins political asylum in the U.S.

Government

Czechoslovakia peacefully splits into the Czech Republic and Slovakia; the playwright, Vaclav Havel (1936-), is elected President of the Czech Republic.

Government

Congress passes the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Janet Reno (1938- …) becomes the first woman U.S. attorney general.

Government

William J. Clinton (1946-) is inaugurated as the 42nd President of the U.S. and Albert A. Gore (1948-) is inaugurated as the 45th Vice President.

War

Women’s Firsts: Sheila Widnall (1938- …) becomes the first secretary of a branch of the U.S. military when she is appointed to head the Air Force.

War

Terrorism: Terrorists bomb the World Trade Center on February 26, killing five.

Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration says second hand smoke causes 6,000 U.S. deaths yearly.

Medicine

The measles epidemic in the U.S. is finally over.

Technology

The blurry Hubble Space Telescope is brought into focus by astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Endeavor, whose astronauts fit new optics and devises that corrected the $3 billion observatory.

Arts and Letters

Women’s Firsts: Literature: Toni Morrison (1931- …) becomes the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature.

Hoover, Lou

Allan Henry Hoover (1907-1993), son of Herbert and Lou Hoover, dies November 8.

Clinton, Hillary

The President and First Lady Hillary Clinton (1947- ) push for national health care reform, but the controversial bill succumbs to political pressure.

Economics

Western Europe’s economic slump is the worst in 20 years.

Economics

Ford Motor Company: FMC accomplishes another great fear when five of the United States’ eight top selling vehicles were Fords.

Discovery

Archeologists in Israel uncover a stone monument with text in Aramaic mentioning King David and his descendents-the only known reference to him outside the Bible.

Daily Life

Disasters: Four federal agents are killed in Waco, Texas, after trying to serve an arrest warrant for weapons charges against Branch Davidian sect leader David Koresh (1959-1993), starting a 51-day standoff.

Daily Life

Disasters: The siege at Waco, Texas ends when the FBI moves into the Branch Davidian compound with tear gas and cult members set fire to the compound killing over 80 people.

Daily Life

Holidays: All 50 states join in the observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Daily Life

The History of Toys: H. Ty Warner begins to market understuffed plush bean bag toys called Beanie Babies.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in Sports: Basketball: Ann Meyers becomes the first woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Sports

Tennis’s top-ranked player Monica Seles (1973- ) is stabbed in the back by an obsessed German fan of Steffi Graf (1969- ) and has to leave the tennis tour.

Popular Culture

The 1993 Oscar for the best picture goes to "Schindler’s List."

Popular Culture

Tom Hanks (1956- ) is awarded the best actor award for his portrayal of an AIDS victim in the movie entitled "Philadelphia."

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The Family and Medical Leave Act goes into effect.

Politics

The first multi-racial elections are held in South Africa.

Government

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect.

Government

Rudolph Giuliani (1944- ) is inaugurated as New York City’s mayor.

War

Puerto Rico: Sep 7, U.S. Marines began training on a Puerto Rican island amid talk in Washington of a U.S.-led intervention in Haiti.

Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration extends approval of Prozac, the best selling anti-depressant drug, to treat bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Education

Libraries: The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History opens as a special branch of the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System.

Education

Public Education: Immigration: Proposition 187 passes in California, making it illegal for children of undocumented immigrants to attend public school. Federal courts hold Proposition 187 unconstitutional, but anti-immigrant feeling spreads across the country.

Education

Women's Rights Movement: Education of Women: Congress adopts the Gender Equity in Education Act to train teachers in gender equity, promote math and science learning by girls, counsel pregnant teens, and prevent sexual harassment.

Kennedy, Jackie

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, widow of President Kennedy, noted for her glamour and style, dies in New York City.

Reagan, Nancy

The disclosure that Ronald Reagan has Alzheimer’s disease heightens concern about the degenerative illness that afflicts 4 million elderly Americans.

Discovery

Archaeologists in Colorado find an 8000-year-old skeleton in a cave, the first confirmation that humans lived at high elevations in prehistoric America.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Byron De La Beckwith (1920-2001) is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Medgar Evers, 30 years after the crime in Jackson, Mississippi.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Four Muslim fundamentalists are found guilty in the World Trade Center bombing in New York.

Sports

Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan (1969- ) is clubbed on the leg by a group of men including the husband of her rival skater Tonya Harding (1970- ).

Sports

Baseball: The year without a World Series: the longest and costliest strike in baseball history begins on August 12, 1994, and lasts until the following spring.

Popular Culture

The entertainment industry’s wedding of the year unites megastar singer Michael Jackson (1958-) and Lisa Marie Presley (1968- ), Elvis’s daughter.

Popular Culture

"Forrest Gump" is Hollywood’s biggest money-maker, attracting moviegoers with its positive vision of life.

Religion

The Church of England (Anglican) ordains women as priests for the first time.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: The Violence Against Women Act funds services for victims of rape and domestic violence, allows women to seek civil rights remedies for gender-related crimes, provides training to increase police and court officials’ sensitivity and a national 24-hour hotline for battered women.

Government

The United States and Vietnam established full diplomatic relations.

Government

The U.S. federal government begins a partial shut down of government services after the U.S. Congress cannot pass a budget.

Government

President Bill Clinton (1946-) becomes the first U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland.

War

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC.

Science

The Hale-Bopp comet is discovered by Alan Hale (1958- ) and Thomas Bopp (1949- ).

Science

Dr. Jonas Salk (1914-1995), the medical pioneer who developed the first polio vaccine, dies.

Technology

Colonel Eileen Collins (1956- ) becomes the first woman to pilot the space shuttle when the Discovery blasts off.

Technology

The shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir dock, forming the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit Earth.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: In the Hopwood v. University of Texas Law School court case, the 5th Circuit holds that “educational diversity is not recognized as a compelling state interest.”

Economics

Ford Motor Company: FMC initiates Ford 2000, a restructuring plan that begins with the merging of North American and European automotive operations and the creation of the global management team. Ford 2000 aims to combine the power, resources, and reach of a world company with the immediacy, intimacy, agility, and spirit of a small one.

Daily Life

Terrorism: Poisonous gas is released in a Tokyo subway station by two members of the Japanese cult Aum Sinrikyo, killing 12 people and sending over 5,000 people to hospitals for treatment.

Daily Life

Terrorism: A car bomb destroys the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people, including 19 children, in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Sports

Baseball: Major League Baseball players agreed to end the sport’s longest strike in history after a judge ordered a preliminary injunction against team owners.

Sports

Boxing: Boxer Mike Tyson (1966- ) is freed from an Indiana prison where he served three years for sexual assault.

Popular Culture

Hot Air Balloons: Steve Fossett (1944- ) becomes first person to cross the Pacific Ocean solo in a balloon.

Law

Gay Rights Movement: In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court rejects a Colorado measure banning laws that protect homosexuals from discrimination.

Law

Famous Trials: Rwanda's first genocide trial opens for the 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis.

Politics

William J. Clinton (1946 - )is re-elected President of the U.S., as is Albert A. Gore (1948 - ) re-elected Vice President.

Politics

Russia votes in its first independent presidential election. Boris Yeltsin (1931- ) eventually wins in a runoff.

Government

The United States and the world's other major nuclear powers sign a treaty to end all testing and development of nuclear weapons.

War

Moslem-Croat authorities take control of the last Serbian-held district in Sarajevo, enabling the city to become united after four years of fighting.

Science

Dolly, the first sheep cloned from adult cells, is born.

Education

Higher Education: Education of Women: The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, votes to admit women.

Education

Public Education: Civil Rights Movement: Leading the way backwards again, California passes Proposition 209, which outlaws affirmative action in public employment, public contracting and public education. Other states jump on the bandwagon with their own initiatives and right wing elements hope to pass similar legislation on a federal level.

Education

Women's Rights Movement: Education of Women: United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996), affirms that the male-only admissions policy of the state-supported Virginia Military Institute violates the Fourteenth Amendment.

Economics

American Money: In the first significant design change in 67 years, U.S. currency is redesigned to incorporate a series of new counterfeit deterrents.

Daily Life

Terrorism: A shooting that killed 16 children and 1 teacher in a school in Dunblane, Scotland, occurs.

Daily Life

Terrorism: A pipe bomb explodes in an Atlanta park during the Olympic Games.

Sports

The 100th Boston Marathon is won by Moses Tanui of Kenya.

Sports

Women in Sports: Spalding Sports introduces the first baseball glove specifically designed to fit a woman's hand.

Popular Culture

Chess champion Garry Kasparov (1963- ) beats the IBM computer, Deep Blue, winning the six-game match.

Politics

In Scotland, voters approve the establishment of a parliament to run their domestic affairs, after 290 years of union with England.

Government

Representatives from more than 150 countries gather at a global warming summit in Kyoto, Japan, and over the course of ten days forge an agreement to control the emission of greenhouse gases. President Bush pulls the U.S. out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2001.

Government

Yasser Arafat (1929-2004) returns to Hebron for the first time in 30 years, as Israel hands over control of the West Bank city to the Palestinians.

Government

North and South Korean representatives meet for the first time in 25 years for peace talks.

Government

Tony Blair (1953- ) becomes Prime Minister of Britain, ending 18 years of conservative rule. At 44, he is the youngest prime minister in 185 years.

Government

After 156 years of British colonial rule, Hong Kong is returned to China.

Government

British prime minister Tony Blair (1953-) and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams meet—the first time in 76 years that a British leader and an IRA ally meet.

Government

Stamps: U.S. Postal Service introduces linerless coil self-adhesives (Linerless coils mean there is no backing paper on the stamps).

Government

Women’s Firsts: Madeleine Albright (1937- …) is sworn in as U.S. secretary of state. She is the first woman in this position as well as the highest-ranking woman in the United States government.

Government

William J. Clinton (1946 - )is inaugurated President of the U.S., as is Albert A. Gore (1948 - ) inaugurated as Vice President.

War

Terrorism: Timothy McVeigh (1968-2001) is found guilty of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Science

Scottish scientists announce the successful cloning of a sheep, Dolly.

Science

The comet Hale-Bopp makes its closest approach to Earth in the skies over the northern hemisphere; the comet’s next pass is predicted for the year 4397.

Science

The first joint U.S.-Russian space walk is made by Jerry Linenger and Vasily Tsibliyev from space station Mir.

Science

The U.S. Air Force releases The Roswell Report, closing the case on the 1947 Roswell, N.M. incident concerning UFOs and alien bodies.

Technology

Queen Elizabeth II launches the first royal website.

Technology

IBM’s computer, Deep Blue, beats the world chess champion, Garry Kasparov (1963).

Education

Children''s Books: The first volume of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer''s Stone" is published.

Economics

Under international pressure, three of Switzerland’s biggest banks create a fund worth 100 million Swiss francs for Holocaust victims and their families.

Economics

The Dow Jones industrial average falls 554.26 points, forcing the stock market to shut down.

Discovery

Linda Finch completes Amelia Earhart''s (1898-1937) attempted around-the-world flight.

Discovery

The U.S. Pathfinder probe lands on Mars.

Discovery

The Mars rover Sojourner rolls onto the Martian surface.

Daily Life

History of Toys: Crayola: New crayon colors are issued commemorating eight true blue heroes nominated by kids. The new colors include: outer space, mountain meadow, fuzzy wuzzy brown, brink pink, shadow, banana mania, torch red and purple heart.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Timothy McVeigh (1968-2001) is found guilty of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Sports

Women in Sports: The NBA hires two female referees, Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer, the first to work regular-season games in a major men's pro sports league.

Sports

Black Athletes: Tiger Woods (1975- ) becomes the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament and the first of African descent to win a major golf title.

Sports

Baseball: Inter-league play begins in baseball, ending a 126-year tradition of separating the major leagues until the World Series.

Sports

The Women''s National Basketball Association makes its debut.

Sports

Boxing: Boxer Mike Tyson (1966- ) bites Evander Holyfield''s (1962- ) ear during their heavyweight title fight, earning a 16-month suspension.

Religion

39 members of the Heaven’s Gate religious cult commit suicide in California, believing that they would then “board” a spacecraft traveling with the Hale-Bopp comet.

Social Issues

Native Americans: Corporation for Public Broadcasting establishes Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc., (NAPT) to promote, produce and distribute Native American television and radio programming.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Elaborating on Title IX, the Supreme Court rules that college athletics programs must actively involve roughly equal numbers of men and women to qualify for federal support.

Government

President Clinton (1946-) becomes the first sitting U.S. president to testify as a defendant in a criminal or civil suit.

Government

Tony Blair becomes the first British prime minister to speak to the Irish parliament.

Government

Stamps: U.S. Postal Service issues its first semi-postal.(Semi-postals are postage stamps which are used to raise funds for a charity).

Government

The U.S. House of Representatives approves two of four proposed Articles of Impeachment against President Bill Clinton (1946 …); the House Judiciary Committee approves a final Article of Impeachment against President Clinton. He is later acquitted of all charges by the Senate.

War

The remains of a Vietnam War serviceman buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers are identified as those of Air Force pilot Michael J. Blassie.

War

Terrorism: Terrorists bomb U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, some 224 are killed and more than 5,500 are injured.

War

Terrorism: U.S. cruise missiles hit suspected terrorist bases in Afghanistan and the Sudan.

War

The “Good Friday Accord” is reached, suspending hostilities in Northern Ireland.

Science

Nineteen European countries sign an agreement that bans human cloning.

Education

Public Education: A California multi-millionaire named Ron Unz manages to put a measure on the June 1998 ballot outlawing bilingual education in California. It passes.

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the first of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Discovery

Space Exploration: John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, returns to space at age 77.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: The mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Ramzi Yousef, is sentenced to life in prison.

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, is sentenced to four life terms plus 30 years for his series of bombings that killed three and injured 23.

Daily Life

History of Toys: Crayola: The Crayola 64 Box is reintroduced in its original packaging, complete with built in sharpener. A 1958 Crayola 64 Box becomes part of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.

Daily Life

Women’s Firsts: During Operation Desert Fox in Iraq, Lt. Kendra Williams (1972- …), USN, becomes the first U.S. female combat pilot to bomb an enemy target.

Sports

Women in Sports: According to a survey conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education, 40% of athletes at Division I schools in 1997-98 were women, a 5% increase from 1996-97. Women also received 40% of athletic scholarship budgets, up 14% from the previous year.

Sports

Women in Sports: Tara Lipinski (1982) wins the Olympic figure skating gold medal.

Sports

Women in Sports: The U.S. women’s hockey team wins the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Sports

Baseball: Mark McGwire''s (1963-) 62nd home run breaks Roger Maris''s record of 61 homers set in 1961.

Sports

Baseball: Baltimore Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr., sits out a game, ending his consecutive game-playing streak. Ripken played 2,632 consecutive games over 16 seasons.

Popular Culture

The movie "Titanic" surpasses "Star Wars" as the highest grossing U.S. film of all time.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America agrees to pay $34 million to settle an E.E.O.C. lawsuit contending that hundreds of women were sexually harassed.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth; The Supreme Court balances employee and employer rights. It rules that employers are liable for sexual harassment even in instances when a supervisor’s threats are not carried out. But the employer can defend itself by showing that it took steps to prevent or promptly correct any sexually harassing behavior and the employee did not take advantage of available opportunities to stop the behavior or complain of the behavior.

Government

Former wrestler Jesse Ventura (1951- ) is sworn in as Minnesota’s governor.

Government

Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee is arrested and charged with stealing classified information.

War

NATO begins air strikes over Serbia in an attempt to force the Serbs to stop hostilities against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

Science

Scientists announce the creation of Element 114.

Education

Women's Firsts: The Citadel in South Carolina graduates its first female cadet, Nancy Mace.

Education

14 students (including the 2 student shooters) and 1 teacher are killed, and 23 others are wounded at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the second and third books in the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

Kennedy, Jackie

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999), son of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, dies tragically July 17 in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard.

Economics

The U.S. Mint begins distribution of the 50 State Quarters.

Economics

The Dow Jones industrial average closes above 10,000 for the first time.

Discovery

Space Exploration: Women’s Firsts: Lt. Col. Eileen Collins (1956- …) is the first woman astronaut to command a space shuttle mission.

Daily Life

Disasters: Kansas and Oklahoma are hit by an outbreak of more than 55 tornadoes, including one measured at F5 on the Fujita scale.

Sports

Basketball: B lack Athletes: Michael Jordan (1963-) announces his second retirement from the NBA. He comes back to play in 2001.

Sports

Hockey great Wayne Gretzky (1961- ) announces his retirement.

Sports

Baseball: New York Yankee David Cone (1963- ) pitches the 16th perfect game in baseball history.

Sports

Baseball: Sammy Sosa (1968- ) becomes the first player in major league baseball history to hit 60 homers in two seasons.

Popular Culture

Susan Lucci (1947- ) finally wins a Daytime Emmy on her 19th nomination.

Religion

A Protestant and Catholic cabinet convene for the first time in Northern Ireland.

Law

The Supreme Court rules unanimously that an anonymous tip does not justify a stop-and-frisk action against a person.

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court stops the presidential election recount in Florida and declares George W. Bush the 43rd President of the United States; Richard B. Cheney (1941-) is elected as the 46th Vice President.

Politics

Third Parties: Green Party candidate Ralph Nader (1934-…) takes votes that may otherwise have been cast for Gore in this election.

Politics

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (1942- ) of Connecticut is selected by Al Gore (1948- ) to be the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket.

Politics

Independent Counsel Robert Ray announces the end of the Whitewater investigation, saying there is insufficient evidence to charge President Clinton and his wife, Hilary.

Government

Immigration: INS Commissioner Doris Meissner rules that 6-year old Elian Gonzalez (1994- ) must be returned to Cuba.

Government

Finland elects its first female president.

Government

Colin Powell (1937- ) is selected to become the first African American Secretary of State and Condoleeza Rice to become the first African American National Security Advisor.

War

Terrorism: 17 U.S. sailors are killed during the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in Yemen.

Science

The first map of the human genome, which required decoding more than 3 billion biochemical "letters" of human DNA, is completed.

Medicine

The mapping of the human genome promises to open whole new avenues of medical knowledge and the treatment of such diseases as cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

Inventions

The Segway Human Transporter (a two-wheeled scooter-like vehicle using five gyroscopes and a built-in computer to remain upright) is invented.

Technology

After years of preparation for Y2K, only minor problems occur as the world "ticks" over into a new millennium.

Education

The Supreme Court rules that student-led prayers at high school football games violate the Constitutional provision against the establishment of religion by the government.

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the fourth Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

Arts and Letters

The fourth of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is published.

Coolidge, Grace

John Coolidge (1906-2000), son of Calvin and Grace Coolidge, dies May 31 at the age of 93. At this time, he is the oldest living child of an American President.

Clinton, Hillary

Hillary Clinton (1947-) becomes the first former First Lady to be elected to the United States Senate.

Economics

The Dow Jones stock average hit $11,722.98.

Economics

Population: The 2000 census reveals a population of 281,421,906.

Discovery

The International Space Station becomes fully staffed.

Daily Life

History of Toys: Crayola: Mess-free art makes moms happy! Color Wonder™, a brand new coloring and drawing technology, is launched. Colorless ink inside Color Wonder Markers pops into living color only on special paper —not walls, skin or clothing.

Daily Life

Disasters: The supersonic airliner Concorde crashes after takeoff outside Paris.

Daily Life

South Carolina passes legislation that mandates the Confederate flag be removed from the South Carolina statehouse.

Sports

Women in Sports: ABC airs a movie about the life of Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne who was born partially blind, ran in 25 marathons, and carried the torch in the International Special Olympics where she has won medals in dozens of events. “The Loretta Claiborne Story” details her life both on and off the track.

Sports

Baseball: For the first time, the Major League baseball season opens in Tokyo, Japan (Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets).

Sports

Black Athletes: Tiger Woods (1974- ) wins the PGA Championship becoming the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year.

Sports

The Summer Olympics are held in Sydney, Australia.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: The Beatles release a "best of" collection, entitled "1." The CD includes 27 number one hits by the band and, within five weeks, becomes the best selling album of the year.

Religion

The Catholic Church releases a document called "Memory and Reconcilliation," in which it seeks forgiveness for such past errors as persecution of the Jews, the Inquisition, and the practice of coercing conversions.

Religion

Pope John Paul II becomes the first Roman Catholic leader to vitit Israel.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: Vermont Governor, Howard Dean (1948- ), signs the nation's first bill allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions.

Reform

Women's Rights Movement: United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000). The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates those portions of the Violence Against Women Act permitting victims of rape, domestic violence, etc. to sue their attackers in federal court.

Politics

Vermont senator James Jeffords quits the Republican Party and becomes an Independent, giving Democrats control of the Senate.

Government

The United States, a member of the UN Human Rights Commission since its inception, loses its seat. It is restored the following year.

Government

George W. Bush is inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United Stgates; Richard B. Cheney (1941-) is inaugurated as the 46th Vice President.

War

Terrorism: Terrorists attack the United States on September 11 by flying two airplanes into the World Trade Center, and one into the Pentagon. A fourth plane, destined for the Capitol, crashes into the ground in Pennsylvania because some of its passengers made a failed but heroic attempt to recover the aircraft from its terrorist pilots.

War

A memorial honoring Japanese-American veterans and detainees opens on the edge of the Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C.

War

War on Terror: The U.S. announces plans to hold Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

War

War on Terror: The Pentagon orders combat aircraft to the Persian Gulf following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

War

War on Terror: U.S. and British forces launch a bombing campaign against the Taliban government and al-Qaeda terrorist camps in Afghanistan. Taliban forces flee from Kandahar, their last stronghold in Afghanistan.

Science

Astronomers announce the discovery of the first solar system outside our own.

Inventions

Apple Computer introduces the iPod, their portable digital music player.

Technology

Russia's Mir space station ends its 15-year orbit of the Earth, splashing down in the South Pacific.

Education

Evolution: The Kansas Board of Education reverses its 1999 ruling and restores evolution to the state's science curriculum.

Education

Higher Education: Civil Rights Movement: A federal judge rules that the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy is invalid, a ruling that later is reversed in an appeal.

Education

Public Education: Congress passes a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, called No Child Left Behind. It is the largest, most invasive measure ever taken by the federal government in public education.

Bush, Laura

Laura Welsh Bush (1946-) becomes the First Lady of the United States.

Economics

President Bush (1946- ) permanently normalizes trade relations with China.

Economics

Enron Corp., under CEO Kenneth Lay, files for bankruptcy.

Discovery

Dennis Tito (1940) becomes the first space tourist.

Discovery

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is the first vehicle to land on an asteroid (433 Eros).

Daily Life

Crime and Punishment: Timothy McVeigh, the 1995 Oklahoma City bomber, is executed.

Daily Life

Vermont''s civil unions law goes into effect, allowing legal unions between gay couples.

Daily Life

Twelve Senate offices are closed when a letter to Senator Tom Daschle is found to contain anthrax.

Sports

Women in Sports: In Brentwood Academy v. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, the U.S. Supreme Court rules 5-4 that state high school athletic associations are "state actors" and therefore subject to the U.S. Constitution’snondiscrimination requirements. The ruling will help ensure equality for female and minority students in school sports.

Sports

Baseball: October 30, just weeks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, President George W. Bush throws out the first ball of the third game of the World Series in New York’s Yankee Stadium.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications reportedly sends out of a list of 150 songs that were recommended to be pulled from airplay. Four Beatles songs were on the list: "A Day in the Life", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Ticket To Ride", and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". John Lennon's (1940-1980) "Imagine" was also listed.

Religion

Education: The Supreme Court rules that elementary schools must allow after-school activities that are religious in nature to meet in school buildings.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: The Netherlands becomes the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Politics

Women's Firsts: Nancy Pelosi (1940- ) of California becomes the first woman to lead a party in Congress.

Government

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush (1946- ) labels Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an “axis of evil.”

Government

President Bush proposes a new Cabinet department: The Department of Homeland Security.

War

War on Terror: The first al-Qaeda prisoners arrive at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

War

War on Terror: John Walker Lindh, the "American Taliban," receives a 20-year sentence.

Science

Australian scientists announce that they have "teleported" a laser beam—breaking it up and reconstructing it in another location.

Medicine

In the past 20 years (since 1981), total world AIDS cases are 38 million; total world AIDS deaths are 20 million. In the U.S., 501,669 deaths have occured due to AIDS, out of 886,575 reported cases.

Inventions

Robotic land rovers for exploration on Mars are invented by NASA.

Arts and Letters

After 17,162 performances, "The Fantasticks" ends its almost 42-year off Broadway run.

Carter, Rosalynn

Former president Jimmy Carter (1924- ) is the first U.S. president (in or out of office) to visit Fidel Castro's Cuba.

Economics

Euro coins and notes go into circulation in twelve European nations.

Economics

WorldCom files for bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Discovery

Space shuttle Endeavor is launched: Shuttle to deliver a new crew from to the international space station, Alpha, and will bring the outgoing space station crew back to Earth.

Daily Life

The color-coded terror alert system is unveiled by Homeland Security.

Daily Life

History of Toys: Crayola: The first Crayola colors named for a region of the United States are introduced to commemorate the grand opening of Crayola Works™ Creativity Studio & Store, the first-ever interactive Crayola retail experience, located near Baltimore.

Sports

Baseball: Tsuyoshi Shinjo, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, became the first Japanese player to take part in a World Series Game.

Sports

A French judge is accused of throwing the pairs skating decision to the Russians at the Olympics; the issue is resolved by awarding two medals--to the Canadian and the Russian pairs.

Sports

Baseball: Baseball's All-Star Game ends in a tie after 11 innings. Both sides run out of pitchers.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in Sports: Black Athletes: Basketball: Lisa Leslie (1972- ) becomes the first woman to dunk in a professional basketball game.

Sports

Women in Sports: Serena Williams wins the NASDAQ 100 Open Tennis Masters Series over Jennifer Capriati in Key Biscayne.

Sports

Black Athletes: Olympic gold medalist (winter games): Vonetta Flowers (1973-…) wins gold medal for bobsled.

Popular Culture

Halle Berry (1966- ) becomes the first African-American actress to win a best actress Oscar and Denzel Washington (1954- ) becomes the second African-American actor to get the best actor award.

Popular Culture

Hot Air Balloons: Steve Fossett (1944- ) becomes the first to circumnavigate the globe solo in a balloon.

Religion

Boston archbishop Cardinal Bernard Law resigns as a result of the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandals and cover-up of priest-child molestation.

Social Issues

Illegal drugs: England to Relax Marijuana Laws: Police will not arrest people who use drug in small amounts, but will vigorously pursue dealers.

Government

Capital Punishment: Outgoing Illinois governor George Ryan clears the state’s death row by commuting the sentences of 167 inmates.

Government

Iraq's interim governing council is inaugurated.

Government

The U.S. House passes the "Amber Alert" bill. It provides a system for alerting the public about missing or abducted children.

War

Millions of protesters around the world demonstrate against the threat of a U.S. war on Iraq.

War

Iraq War: President Bush (1946- ) delivers an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein: leave Iraq within 48 hours or face an attack.

War

Iraq War: Operation Iraqi Freedom is launched with air strikes on Baghdad, the beginning of the war with Iraq (March 20 in Iraq).

War

Iraq War: American Marines pull down Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad after U.S. commanders declare that his rule has ended.

War

Iraq War: President Bush (1946- ) makes a speech aboard an aircraft carrier proclaiming “major combat operations in Iraq have ended.”

War

American forces capture Saddam Hussein (1937- ) who is hiding in a hole near his hometown of Tikrit.

War

Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya announces that his country will discontinue development of weapons of mass destruction.

Science

Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal, is euthanized because of incurable lung cancer.

Science

Mars makes its closest approach to earth in 60,000 years.

Science

The most distant object ever found in our solar system, named Sedna, is discovered by astronomers at the Mount Palomar Observatory.

Inventions

Putting two "hot button" items together, the camera phone is invented.

Technology

The Space Shuttle Columbia blasts off on what is intended to be its final mission; tragically, the craft breaks apart during its final descent on February 1, killing all aboard.

Technology

NASA launches the infrared Spitzer Space Telescope.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: In the Grutter v. Bollinger case, however, the Supreme Court determines that point system by which Michigan admits undergraduate freshmen is too mechanistic and thus is unconstitutional.

Education

Civil Rights Movement: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the University of Michigan's School of Law affirmative action policy because it serves “a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body.”

Education

Children's Books: The fifth Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," is published.

Economics

American Money: U.S. currency begins to feature diferent colors, starting with the $20 note, which has subtle background colors of green, peach, and blue.

Economics

The UN Security Council approves a resolution lifting the economic sanctions against Iraq and supporting the U.S.-led administration in Iraq.

Economics

President Bush (1946- ) signs a $350 billion tax cut into law; the third largest tax cut in U.S. history.

Economics

The national do-not-call registry, formed to combat unwanted telemarketing calls and administered by the Federal Trade Commission, enrolls almost three-quarters of a million phone numbers on its first day.

Discovery

The European Space Agency launches the Mars Express probe.

Discovery

Contact with the lander Beagle 2 is lost in December.

Daily Life

The largest blackout in North American history hits the northeast.

Daily Life

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Hispanics have surpassed Blacks as the largest minority group.

Sports

Lance Armstrong (1971- ) wins his fifth straight Tour de France, tying Miguel Indurain's record.

Sports

Baseball: Red Sox switch hitter Bill Mueller becomes the first baseball player to hit grand slam home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Women in Sports: Basketball: Pat Summitt becomes the first coach in women''s basketball to win 800 career games when her Lady Vols beat DePaul 76-57. She is just the fourth coach in Division I to post 800 victories, and the first woman. Her record stands at 800-161 in 29 seasons with six national championships.

Popular Culture

Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947- ) announces his candidacy to replace Gray Davis as governor of California to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show.

Popular Culture

The Beatles: In March, 2003, the Anthology television series was released on DVD with additional bonus material.

Religion

Reverand V. Gene Robinson is elected the first openly gay bishop by New Hampshire Episcopalians.

Religion

Spain opens its first mosque (in Granada) since the Moors were expelled in 1492.

Religion

Alabama's chief justice, Roy Moore, is suspended for refusing to move a Ten Commandments monument from the state courthouse.

Reform

The Georgia legislature votes to scrap the "Confederate flag" design from its state flag.

Reform

Marriage Equality: Ontario, Canada issues the first full same-sex marriage licenses in North America.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: Belgium becomes the second nation to leagalize same-sex marriage, with some restrictions, which were lifted in 2004.

Politics

George W. Bush (1946 -) is re-elected as the President of the United States and Richard B. Cheney (1941-) is re-elected as Vice President.

Government

President Hamid Karzai (1957- ) signs the new constitution of Afghanistan.

War

Iraq War: The Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal first comes to light when graphic photos of U.S. soldiers physically abusing and humiliating Iraqi prisoners are shown on CBS's 60 Minutes II.

War

In his second State of the Union Address, President Bush (1946- ) presents case for war with Iraq.

Science

Scientists report the discovery of Sedna, the most distant object in the solar system.

Science

A small asteroid makes the closest approach to Earth ever recorded, only about 26,500 miles away.

Technology

Michael Melville (1964- ) pilots the first privately developed spacecraft, Space Ship One, into space.

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the fifth Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Arts and Letters

Pablo Picasso's (1881- 1973) "Boy with a Pipe" becomes the most expensive painting ever sold.

Arts and Letters

A version of Edvard Munch's (1863-1944) painting "The Scream" is stolen in Norway; another version had been stolen in 1994.

Reagan, Nancy

Former president Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) dies of pneumonia at his home in California, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a decade. He is the longest-living U.S. President--93 years, 120 days, breaking the record previously held by John Adams (1735-1826).

Economics

American Money: The new $50 note features subtle background colors and highlights historical symbols of Americana--specific to the $50 note are background colors of blue and red, and images of a waving American flag and a small silver-blue star.

Daily Life

Terrorism: Over 200 people are killed and over 1,400 are injured when bombs explode in Madrid train stations; Al-Qaeda takes responsibility for the attacks.

Sports

Lance Armstrong (1971- ) wins the Tour de France for a record-breaking sixth time.

Sports

The National Hockey League lockout begins. The 2004-2005 season will ultimately be canceled.

Sports

Baseball: After an 86-year wait, the Boston Red Sox finally capture a World Series trophy.

Sports

Women in Sports: The National Women's Party presents the 2004 Alice Award to Billie Jean King for her contributions to women in sports.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: In Massachusetts, same-sex couples exchange marriage vows for the first time in the United States.

Law

Capital Punishment: The U.S. Supreme Court rules the death penalty unconstitutional for juveniles who committed their crimes under age 18.

Law

Chief Justices: President George W. Bush (1946--) nominates John Roberts (1955--) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and he is confirmed by the Senate.

Government

George W. Bush (1946 -) is inaugurated as the President of the United States and Richard B. Cheney (1941-) is inaugurated as Vice President.

Government

Women’s Firsts: Condoleezza Rice (1954- ) becomes the first African-American female Secretary of State.

War

Iraq War: U.S. troops begin major offensive in Anbar Province, the heart of the Iraqi insurgency.

War

Terrorism: A massive suicide bomb blast in central Beirut kills Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri and at least 15 other people. At least 135 other people were also hurt.

War

Uzbek troops kill up to 700 during protests in eastern Uzbekistan over the trials of 23 accused Islamic extremists. President Islam Karimov defends the act.

Science

The Huygens probe lands on Saturn's moon Titan

Medicine

The first human face transplant is performed in France.

Inventions

YouTube, the online video sharing and viewing community, is invented.

Technology

Sony's PlayStation 3 makes it's debut at the E3 trade show.

Technology

Apple Computer announces they will switch to Intel processors in 2006.

Education

The 6th Harry Potter book by J. K. Rowling is released: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the sixth Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Economics

Oil prices rise sharply following economic effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Economics

The world's largest bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, is formed by the merger of two Japanese banking conglomerates.

Discovery

Space Exploration: Space Shuttle Discovery is launched; this is the first Space Shuttle flight in the nearly two and a half years since the breakup of Columbia on its return from space.

Daily Life

Disasters: At least 1,383 are killed, and severe damage is caused along the U.S. Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Katrina strikes the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coastal areas. Within hours, levees give way and New Orleans is flooded.

Daily Life

The United States' 11th Circuit Court of Appeals' 2-1 decision refuses to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.

Daily Life

The Huffington Post weblog makes it's debut.

Sports

Football: The New England Patriots defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 to win their third Super Bowl in four years.

Sports

The National Hockey League cancels its 2004-2005 season becoming the first North American professional league to cancel a season due to a labour dispute.

Sports

Baseball: The Chicago White Sox sweep the Houston Astros to win their first World Series in 88 years.

Sports

Lance Armstrong wins a record seventh straight Tours de France before his scheduled retirement.

Sports

Women in Sports: the organizers of the New York City Marathon, announce they will award its women's champion $30,000 more than its men's winner for the November 2005 race. The $130,000 for the women's champion will be the biggest first prize for any marathon. This may be the first time a sports event pays more to a woman than a man in the same competition.

Popular Culture

"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is released, effectively completing the Star Wars movie saga begun by George Lucas in 1977 and shattering the opening day box-office record with $50,013,859.

Popular Culture

Microsoft releases the Xbox 360 gaming console in North America.

Religion

Pope John Paul II dies, causing widespread grief in the world; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the Papal conclave.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: Spain and Canada join Belgium and the Netherlands in legalizing same-sex marriage.

Reform

Labor Movement: New York City transit strike: New York City's Transport Workers Union Local 100 goes on strike for three days, shutting down all New York City Subway and Bus services.

Law

The Supreme Court rules that military tribunals cannot be set up to try prisoners in the absence of Congressional authorization and that prisoners are entitled to fair trials under the Geneva Conventions.

Politics

Democrats win both houses of Congress in the mid-term election on November 7.

Government

The Conservative Party of Canada becomes a minority government in Canada's Parliament, replacing the Liberals after 13 years in power. Stephen Harper becomes the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada.

Government

Women's Firsts: Michelle Bachelet (1951-) is inaugurated as first female president of Chile.

Government

Donald Rumsfeld (1932-) resigns as U.S. Secretary of Defense; Robert Gates is sworn in as the new Secretary of Defense.

Government

President Bush signs a law renewing the Patriot Act, including a signing statement stating that he does not consider himself bound by its requirement to tell Congress how the law is being used.

Government

Women's Firsts: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (1951-) is sworn in as Liberia’s new president. She becomes Africa's first female elected head of state.

War

The Israel-Lebanon war begins; a cease-fire goes into effect on August 14.

War

The F-14 Tomcat is retired from the United States Navy.

War

Iraq War: Sadr City bombing attacks kill at least 215 Iraqis.

War

Iraq War: Saddam Hussein is hanged in Baghdad.

War

Iraq War: Zacarias Moussaoui is sentenced to life in prison for terrorism in Alexandria, Virginia.

Science

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces that Iran has successfully enriched uranium.

Science

A science team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign successfully convert pig waste into crude oil.

Science

Pluto's newly discovered moons are officially christened Nix & Hydra on this date.

Science

Pluto is demoted to a 'dwarf planet' by the International Astronomical Union.

Science

Official naming of element 111, Roentgenium (Rg).

Science

NASA reveals photographs taken by Mars Global Surveyor suggesting the presence of liquid water on Mars.

Medicine

In Scotland the prohibition of smoking in all substantially enclosed public places comes into force.

Medicine

The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.

Inventions

Apple_inc. is granted the patent to their revolutionary device, the iPod. (patent # D516,576)

Technology

The 1 billionth song was downloaded on ITunes; the song was "Speed of Sound" by Coldplay.

Technology

Microsoft's official support of Windows 98 and Windows Me ends.

Technology

Nintendo launches the Wii.

Arts and Letters

Stolen on August 22, 2004, Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream was recovered from a raid by Norwegian police. The painting was said to be in a better-than-expected condition.

Arts and Letters

The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, perhaps the leading regional theatre in the country, moves into its new home, a building designed by French architect Jean Nouvel to “create a link with the history of the city.” The building deliberately resembles aging factories and grain silos along the Mississippi River.

Ideas

English-language “Wikipedia” reaches its one millionth article, Jordanhill railway station.

Bush, Laura

Laura Welch Bush (1946-) receives an award from the Kuwait-American Foundation honoring her dedication to improving the living conditions and education of children around the world.

Clinton, Hillary

Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947-) is re-elected to her second term as junior Senator from New York.

Ford, Betty

Gerald R. Ford ( 1913-2006) dies at home in California at the age of 93.

Economics

Western Union discontinues use of its telegram service.

Economics

Dubai Ports World agrees to postpone its plans to take over management of six U.S. ports after the proposal ignited harsh bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill.

Economics

The world's estimated population reaches 6.5 billion.

Economics

Construction begins on the Freedom Tower for the new World Trade Center in New York City.

Economics

The Dow closes above 12,000 for the first time.

Economics

United States population reaches 300 million people.

Economics

American Money: The new $10 note features subtle shades of color and symbols of freedom--colors are orange, yellow and red, along with images of the Statue of Liberty's torch and the words "We, the People" from the U.S. Constitution.

Discovery

The New Horizons probe is launched by NASA on the first mission to Pluto.

Discovery

Final contact attempt with Pioneer 10 by the Deep Space Network. No response is received.

Discovery

Liquid water is discovered on Enceladus, the sixth largest moon of Saturn.

Discovery

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrives at Mars.

Discovery

Space Shuttle program: STS-121 Mission - Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 18:37:55 UTC.

Daily Life

A powerful Nor'easter Winter Storm blankets the Northeastern United States dumping 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington DC up to Boston, Massachusetts. The storm dumped a record 26.9 inches of snow in New York City.

Daily Life

The largest string of firecrackers ever assembled is ignited in Buchanan, Wisconsin. It contains an estimated 10,500,000 firecrackers.

Daily Life

The Louisiana Superdome reopens after 13 months of reconstruction due to Hurricane Katrina.

Daily Life

An explosion in a coal mine leads to the death of 12 of 13 miners in the 2006 Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia.

Sports

The XX Olympic Winter Games open in Turin, Italy.

Sports

The Harlem Globetrotters extend their overall record to 22,000 wins.

Sports

Andre Agassi retires after winning 60 career titles.

Sports

The only successful drop kick in the last sixty years in the NFL was Made by Doug Flutie, the third-string quarterback of the New England Patriots, against the Miami Dolphins for an extra point after a touchdown pass by second-string quarterback Matt Cassel.

Sports

'Black Athletes: Olympic gold medalist (winter games; individual): Shani Davis (1982-…) wins gold medal for 1,000 m speed skating.

Popular Culture

The Rolling Stones made the largest show open to the public of the world in Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 1.3 million people went to the show.

Popular Culture

The Al Jazeera English global 24h news channel is launched.

Popular Culture

"The Phantom of the Opera" surpasses the record set by "Cats" for the title of longest running show on Broadway.

Religion

Pope Benedict XVI adds 15 men to the College of Cardinals, in the first consistory of his Pontificate.

Religion

Katharine J. Schori Is elected Presiding Bishop of the Episocpailiam Church USA.

Social Issues

Abortion: South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signs a bill into legislation that would ban most abortions in the state.

Social Issues

Peace Corps: Now, the Peace Corps are trying to double the number of volunteers it sends abroad by 2007. This is in accordance with Bush's (1946- ) request in 2002.

Reform

Human Rights Movement: The United Nations General Assembly votes overwhelmingly to establish the UN Human Rights Council.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: South Africa becomes the fifth country, the first in Africa, the second outside Europe, and the first republic to legalize same-sex marriage.

Politics

Some 3,700 people attend the state funeral for President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)in Washington, D.C.

Government

Women's Firsts: Nancy Pelosi is elected Speaker of the House, by a vote of 233-202, making her the first woman to hold the leadership post.

Science

A three-year study by the influential Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says global warming is very likely caused by human activity—specifically the emission and buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Report also says that the rise in temperatures and rising seas can be curtailed with quick action.

Inventions

The iPhone is invented by Apple.

Education

Children's Books: J. K. Rowling publishes the seventh and last of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows."

Education

Women's firsts: The Board of Overseers votes to name Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian, as the university’s first female president in its 371-year history.

Economics

American Money: The U.S. Mint issues a new dollage coin. The first one features President Washington. The Mint plans to introduce a new dollar coin four times a year, one for each president of the United States, from Washington to Ford.

Economics

Vietnam becomes the 150th member of the World Trade Organization.

Discovery

The Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117, begins its mission.

Daily Life

The Nobel Peace Prize 2007 was awarded jointly to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"

Sports

Baseball: The Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the second time in four years, defeating the Colorado Rockies four games straight.

Law

The Supreme Court rules, 5 to 4, that the Constitution protects an individual's right to possess a gun, but insists that the ruling "is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose."

Politics

Barack H. Obama (1941-) and Senator Joe Biden (1942-) are elected President and Vice President of the U.S., defeating Senator John McCain (1936-) and Governor Sarah Palin (1964-).

Government

President George W. Bush signs the 700 billion dollar TARP program into law.

War

War in Iraq: The U.S. suffers its 4,000th death in Iraq: A roadside bomb in Baghdad kills four U.S. soldiers, bringing the death toll of American troops to 4,000. President Bush said of the losses, "I have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I'm president, to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain, that, in fact, there is an outcome that will merit the sacrifice."

Science

An 160 square mile part of the Antarctic ice shelf disintegrates.

Education

Common Core: The Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership, receives a $2.2 million grant from the Gates Foundation to promote the adoption of national standards among governors, hosts a conference with the National Governors Association (NGA) to explore strategies to make the United States a global leader in education

Education

Common Core: The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officials (CCSSO) begin accepting grants from private organizations to write Common Core

Education

Common Core: NGA, CCSSO, and Achieve provide the Obama Administration with Benchmarking for Success outlining the state adoption of a common core of internationally benchmarked standards and assuring that state textbooks, curricula, and assessments are aligned to these standards as two of the top five priorities.

Arts and Letters

Kay Ryan (1945-), who has won the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts for her philosophical yet humorous poems, succeeds Charles Simic as U.S. Poet Laureate and will be the 16th person to hold this honor.

Economics

Oil reaches $100 per barrel for the first time.

Economics

Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy.

Economics

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the jobless rate increases from 5% to 5.5%, the biggest monthly increase in 22 years.

Economics

The U.S. economy loses jobs for the first time in 52 months: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 17,000 jobs were eliminated in January. The figures increase fears of an imminent recession.

Discovery

A new module is added to the International Space Station: The Atlantis delivers the Columbus science laboratory, a $2 billion module that will double the station’s zero-gravity research capacity, and Europe’s most recent contribution to the ISS.

Discovery

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft lands in the polar region on Mars.

Sports

The 2008 Summer Olympics begin in Beijing, China.

Sports

Women''s Firsts: Danica Patrick (1982-) wins the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race.

Religion

During his first visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI says he is "deeply ashamed" by the scandal that has rocked the Catholic church in recent years.

Social Issues

Racism: Senator Barack Obama gives a pivotal speech on race in America in which he goes a long way toward explaining the legacy of racism among African Americans.

Reform

Marriage Equality: In a 4 to 3 ruling, California''s highest court says that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. When the ruling goes into effect, California will be the second state, behind Massachusetts, to legalize same-sex marriages. The ruling is later overturned, and Connecticut becomes the second state to legalize marriage equality.

Reform

Environmental Action: At their annual meeting, members of the Group of 8, the U.S., Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, and Russia, set goals to cut in half by 2050 the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the environment. Critics say shorter-term goals should have been set.

Government

Barack H. Obama (1961-) is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States and Senator Joseph R. Biden (1942-)is inaugurated as the 47th Vice President.

Government

U.S. Senate Committee passes healthcare reform bill, hailed as a 'critical milestone' by President Obama.

Science

European astronomers discover 32 extrasolar planets, or exoplanets - planets that orbit a star other than the Sun.

Science

A new species of a giant carnivorous plant, Nepethes attenboroughii, is discovered in the central Phillipines highlands.

Science

A new kind of flying reptile fossil, Darwinopterus, lived over 160 million years ago, is found in China.

Science

A solar eclipse, the longest in history, lasts up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

Medicine

Epidemics: Concern about spreading influenza from Mexico and the United States to other countries is expressed by the World Health Organization.

Medicine

The "swine flu", the H1N1 influenza strain is the first condition deemed a global pandemic since the Hong Kong flu of 1967 - 1968.

Medicine

U.S. Scientists believe to have discovered an antibody that can miminize internal bleeding in trauma victims.

Education

Common Core: The RTTT program is announced. Applying states had to demonstrate their willingness and readiness to adopt common “college- and career-ready” standards. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative is launched, and 48 states sign a memorandum committing to the development of standards. The first draft of CCSS is released by NGA and CCSSO.

Arts and Letters

Two previously unknown works by Mozart - a concerto movement and a prelude, are performed in Salzburg, Austria.

Arts and Letters

Common Core: The American Recovery and Restoration Act authorizes the Race to the Top program (RTTT), and Secretary Duncan announces that $5 billion have been allotted for education incentives.

Discovery

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/LCROSS is launched by NASA to probe the Moon.

Daily Life

A crowd of 50,000 people participate in a memorial service at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Daily Life

A U.S. Airways plane ditches in the Hudson River - all 155 passengers survive.

Religion

The Russian Orthodox Church enthrones Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow as Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Reform

Marriage Equality: Sweden and Norway join five other nations in legalizing same-sex marriage.

Reform

Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia legalize marriage equality.

Law

President Obama nominates Solicitor General Elena Kagan as a Justice on the Supreme Court and she is confirmed. She is the youngest Justice and third woman to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States

Government

U.S. Congress narrowly passes the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (called by its detractors, "Obamacare."

Science

The Stonehenge World Heritage Site announces the discovery of a possible new henge, the biggest discovery at a major monument in over 50 years.

Science

Denisova hominin - a previously unknown type of ancient human, is identified by scientists through DNA analysis from a finger discovered in a cave near Siberia, Russia.

Science

Scientists announce the discovery of three new animal species that spent their entire lives without oxygen; the species are phylum Loricifera.

Science

The theory that Egypt's pyramids were built by free workers, not slaves, is reinforced by the discovery of new tombs near the great pyramids.

Inventions

The Instagram app is created in October by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger as a photo- and video-sharing and social networking service

Technology

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, unveils a new invention, a tablet PC called the iPad, at a press conference in San Francisco.

Education

Common Core: The second draft of CCSS is released in March. The final Common Core State Standards are published in June.

Education

Common Core: Race To The Top Stage II application revision deadline Occurs. Revisions must demonstrate each state’s implementation efforts. Thirty-one states (and the District of Columbia) have already adopted the Common Core. By December, Ten more states have adopted the Common Core.

Education

Museums: The Wittelsback-Graff Diamond, a 31.06-carat Fancy Deep Blue diamond, once part of the Austrian and Bavarian Crown jewels, is placed on display at the Smithsonian.

Arts and Letters

An auction at Christie's in New York sets a record for the most expensive work of art sold at auction when it sells Pablo Picasso's 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust' for $106 million.

Arts and Letters

Photographic negatives purchased at a garage sale prove to be early works by American photographer Ansel Adams.

Economics

The U.S. Census is conducted, showing a 9.7% increase in population totalling 308,745,538 people.

Economics

China surpasses Germany, becoming the. world's largest exporter.

Economics

In response to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, BP agrees to finance a $20 billion fund to compensate those whose livelihood has been damaged.

Economics

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded off the coast of Louisiana two days ago, sinks; the resulting oil spill becomes the largest in the history of the U.S. The well is not finally completely capped until September.

Economics

The U.S. Senate investigates Goldman Sachs, finding that they made billions of dollars at the expense of clients during the housing market collapse.

Discovery

U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavor launches from the Kennedy Space Center, successfully beginning a two-week mission to the International Space Station.

Discovery

Australian researchers discover the first plane taken to Antarctica in 1912.

Daily Life

Ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano drifts towards Europe, causing air traffic to close over Northern Norway.

Daily Life

Planes across the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia are grounded as a result of the volcanic ash coming from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

Sports

The 2010 Winter Olympics are held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Sports

Men's freestyle skiing moguls competitor, Alexandre Bilodeau, wins the first gold medal Canada has ever won on home soil at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Popular Culture

James Cameron's film, "Avatar," surpasses his 1997 film "Titanic," and becomes the highest grossing film of all time.

Religion

The Vatican approves of Australian Mary MacKillop as their first saint for canonization.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: A bill to allow same-sex civil unions is vetoed by Linda Lingle, U.S. governor of Hawaii.

Reform

Gay Rights Movement: Argentina, Iceland, and Portugal bring to 10 the number of nations that have legalized same-sex mattiage.

Politics

Politics: Michelle Bachmann announces she will seek the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States.

Government

Government: The 112th U.S. Congress is convened; Rep. John Boehner of Ohio becomes Speaker of the House.

War

War in Iraq: The last convoy of U.S. Army soldiers leaves Iraq, formally marking the end of the Iraq War.

War

War on Terror: U.S. President Barack Obama announces that Osama bin Laden, founder of the militant Islamist group Al-Quaeda was killed by American military operatives.

Science

Scientists claim that 2010 was the warmest year ever recorded, and the last decade the warmest decade in 200 years

Science

Neptune completes its first orbit of the sun since the planet was discovered in 1846.

Science

NASA reveals its Space Launch System plan, intended to replace the Space Shuttle program with its first flight scheduled for 2017.

Science

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 2010 greenhouse gas levels are higher than a worst case scenario set by climate experts in 2007.

Medicine

Researchers reveal two studies showing the antiretroviral drugs prescribed to treat AIDS can also prevent HIV infections.

Medicine

Medicine: Washington State University researchers develop an artificial bone 'scaffold' which uses 3D printers to print replacement bone tissue for injured patients.

Medicine

The world's first artificial organ transplant is achieved, using an artificial windpipe coated with stem cells.

Technology

Google's new social network service, Google+, is released to the general public.

Technology

Apple releases the i4S smart phone.

Education

Common Core: Four more states join the list of states implementing the Common Core Standards, making a total of 45 states involved in the process of creating common curriculum and testing standards

Education

The U.S. Library of Congress intends to preserve the thriller 'Silence of the Lambs' as part of its National Film Registry.

Arts and Letters

A 450-year-old painting of the Madonna and Child by Titian sets a record at Sothby’s, selling for $16.9 million.

Reagan, Nancy

Nancy Reagan hosts a National Debate among Republican Presidental candidate for the 2012 election at the Reagan Presidential Library.

Ford, Betty

Elizabeth Anne (“Betty”) Warren Ford dies on July 8 at the Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 93.

Ford, Betty

First Lady Michelle Obama, and former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Hillary Rodham Clinton attend the funeral for Betty Ford on July 12.

Economics

U.S. Census finds that 49.1 million people are living below the poverty line.

Economics

The value of Facebook is estimated at $50 billion.

Economics

A 28 billion merger between Comcast and NBC Universal is approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Discovery

A skull believed to be 20-million years old is discovered in a Uganda; the skull is believed to be from a tree-climbing ape.

Discovery

Researchers in Fairbanks, Alaska discover the remains of a 3-year-old child from the Ice Age.

Daily Life

Nintendo's new video game system, the Wii U is introduced; it has a touch-screen display designed as a bridge between portable and tablet-based games and console video games.

Sports

In Superbowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburg Steelers 31-25.

Sports

Major League Baseball history is made when Derek Jeeter of the New York Yankees hits a home run against Tampa Bay, becoming the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club.

Popular Culture

The Academy of Country Music Awards 2010 selects Taylor Swift winner of the 2010 Entertainer of the Year award

Popular Culture

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts Dr.John, Tom Waits, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love and Neil Diamond into its Hall of Fame.

Popular Culture

The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show is recorded in Chicago, Illinois.

Religion

The 14th Dalai Lama, head of the Tibetan exile movement, plans to retire within days

Religion

Pope Benedict XVI announces the launch of a new Vatican website, news.va; he also performs the first tweet ever made by a pope.

Social Issues

Equal Rights: The U.S. officially ends its Don't ask, don't tell military policy, allowing gay and lesbian personnel to publicly declare their sexual orientation.

Social Issues

Gun Violence: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is shot in a Tuscon, AZ rampage that killed 6 people and wounded 14.

Social Issues

Labor Movement: The Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds Wisconsin Act 10, a law that considerably restricts the right of public employees such as teachers, fire and police employees, public park workers, etc. to bargain collectively.

Reform

The Occupy Wall Street Movement begins in New York City as a protest against claimed unfair distribution of wealth in the U.S. Demonstrations occur all over the U.S., and, eventually, in a number of other countries.

Reform

Marriage Equality: The state of New York legalizes marriage equality

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that minor's cannot be automatically be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Politics

The Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney names Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Congressman, as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in the November 2012 presidential election. Both are formally nominated at the Republican National Convention.

Politics

President Barack Obama accepts the Democratic Party's nomination as candidate for the 2102 Presidential election. Vice President Joe Biden remains on the ticket.

Politics

President Barack Obama is reelected for a second term as President of the United States, and Joe Biden continues as Vice President.

Government

Outgoing U.S. Senator Jim DeMint is replaced by GOP Congressman Tim Scott, the first black senator from the South since 1881.

War

Vietnam: For the first time since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the United States plans to help clean up herbicide Agent Orange from areas in Vietnam.

War

War on Terror

War

The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is attacked by terrorists; U.S. Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, was killed as well as three others; the Cairo embassy was also attacked.

Science

NASA's Curiosity Rover, a car-size mobile laboratory, lands on Mars in August.

Science

Scientists believe a link exists between the disappearance of endangered languages and cultures and a loss of biodiversity.

Science

Global Warming

Science

Scientists reveal new research identifying a mechanism by which Earth-warming carbon is pulled deep into the Southern Ocean, and locked away; scientists claim this process may be threatened by global warming.

Science

Curiosity, the Mars rover, broadcasts its first audio recording of a human voice from the surface of another planet. Curiosity also discovers what could be determined as direct evidence of a fast-moving stream bed, a prior water source, on Mars.

Medicine

Swedish doctors perform the world's first stem cell assisted vein transplant on a 10-year old girl.

Medicine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves of Truvada, the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection

Inventions

Scientists at Stanford University invent a working bionic eye that is powered only by focused light; the eye could eventually restore the sight of millions of people suffering from macular degeneration and retinal pigmentosa.

Technology

IBM announces it is on the cusp of creating the world's first quantum computer.

Technology

Sequoia, IMB's Blue Gene/Q system installed at the Department of Energy becomes the world's fastest supercomputer.

Education

Public Schooling. The Chicago Public Schools Teachers Union go on strike for the first time in 25 years; they reach a deal with the Chicago school district 8 days later.

Education

Public Schooling. New teacher-evaluation systems and merit pay spread across the country. Technology continues to transform classrooms, and presidential candidates make education an unexpected focus on the campaign trail. Results are mixed.

Education

Common Core: Wyoming adopts the Common Core standards, for a total of 46 states. Five more states begin full implementation during the 2012-2013 school year. States across the country continue to tailor addendums and suggested teacher resources to prepare for implementation.

Arts and Letters

Love letters written between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning are published online by Wellesley College and Baylor University.

Arts and Letters

An early work by noted childhood fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen, titled, 'The Tallow Candle", is found at the bottom of a filing box at the National Archives of Funen, Denmark.

Arts and Letters

A painting by Francis Bacon sells at Christies for 21.3 million pounds; 'The Portrait of Henrietta Moraes' is the second most valuable post-war contemporary art sold at the auction house.

Carter, Rosalynn

100 more homes are built in Haiti as part of the Carter Center Work Project and Habitat for Humanity.

Carter, Rosalynn

Rosalynn Carter speaks at the ribbon cutting for phase one of the Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex at Georgia Southwestern State University.

Bush, Barbara

Speaking at a Conference about First Ladies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Barbara Bush called the 2012 presidential campaign "the worst campaign I've seen in my life," referring to the inability of candidates to compromise and the overall negativity of the campaign in general.

Clinton, Hillary

Hilary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, faints from dehydration and sustains a concussion after falling in her home.

Bush, Laura

Laura Bush continues her campaign for women’s rights in the Middle East by writing an editorial in the Washington Post on the occasion of the shooting of Malala Yousafzai on a school bus in Afghanistan. At the time, Malala was in a hospital in England, fighting for her life.

Obama, Michelle

Michelle Obama gives a well-received major speech supporting her husband at the Democratic National Convention.

Economics

The first commercial spacecraft, SpaceX Dragon, docks with the International Space Station on May 25 at 12:02pm EDT.

Economics

Apple, Inc. reports over 37 million iPhones and over 15 million iPads were sold during the 2011 fourth quarter; the company generated over $127 billion in revenue.

Economics

The U.S. Census Bureau reports the world now has 7 billion people.

Economics

The nearly finished One World Trade Center overtakes the Empire State Building as the tallest building in New York City.

Discovery

Scientists discover two new species of prehistoric penguins, Kairuku waitaki and Kairuku grebneffi, which stood over five feet tall.

Daily Life

Facebook purchases Instagram, a photo sharing application, for $1 billion.

Daily Life

Over 60 people die in the Mid-Atlantic states as the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy leaves millions without electricity and cripples its mass transportation system.

Daily Life

U.S. voters in the state of Massachusetts approve a referendum legalizing the use of medical marijuana; Colorado and Washington approve the legalization of recreational use of the drug.

Sports

Tennis pro Serena Williams beats Agnieszka Radwanska in the Women's Singles final at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships.

Sports

U.S. Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps wins a record 19th Olympic medal, with gold in the 4x200metres freestyle relay.

Sports

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, announces he will not contest the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charges of doping, a result of which will include being stripped of all of his tour de France victories.

Sports

In Orlando, Golf pro Tiger Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament; this is his first PGA Tour victory since 2009.

Popular Culture

A poll by the British Film Institute's 'Sight and Sound' magazine lists Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 thriller 'Vertigo' as the greatest film of all time.

Popular Culture

The Rolling Stones, English rock band, celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its first performance at the Marquee Club in Oxford Street, London.

Popular Culture

Eli Young Band wins song of the year for 'Crazy Girl' and Taylor Swift wins 'Entertainer of the Year' at the 2012 Academy of Country Music awards.

Popular Culture

The Broadway show, 'The Lion King', becomes the highest grossing show of all time, overtaking 'Phantom of the Opera'.

Religion

A biblical picture of Samson and a Hebrew inscription is discovered in an ancient synagogue in the Galilee region of northern Israel.

Religion

Pope Benedict XVI adds Arabic to the number of languages broadcasting the weekly Vatican address.

Religion

Two studies come out in 2012 that firmly established a new religious category that appears to be rapidly growing. Those claiming ‘No Religion’ or the ‘Nones,’ as they have become known, rose to almost 20 percent of the American population. One in 6 people around the world now consider themselves religiously ‘unaffiliated,’ making it the world's third-largest religious grouping.

Religion

The Vatican announces a crackdown on American Roman Catholic Nuns over issues of social justice and women’s leadership.

Religion

Sister Simone Campbell, leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” campaign against Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan’s proposed budged, swings through the Midwest, including a protest at Sen. Ryan’s office.

Social Issues

Gun Violence: In Connecticut, a shooter kills 29 people, including 20 children, himself and his mother at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Reform

Marriage Equality: Maine, Maryland, Washington, Rhode Island and Delaware legalize marriage equality.

Reform

California's Proposition 8 banning gay marriage in that state is overturned by the U.S. States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Law

A portion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects minority voting rights, is struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, ruling that Congress has not taken into account the nation's racial progress when singling out certain states for federal oversight.

Politics

Republican Representative Ted Cruz urged grass-roots activists join him in the fight to defund The Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.

Government

President Barack Obama is inaugurated in the Blue Room of the White House; this is his second term in office.

Government

By a margin of 50-49, the U.S. Senate passes its first budget in four years.

Government

U.S. Senate Republicans filibuster the nomination of Chuck Hagel as U.S. Secretary of Defense, demanding answers to questions about President Obama and Benghazi.

War

Muslim terrorists set off two explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, killing 3, injuring 183 people, and at least 15 requiring amputations. Suspects in the Boston Marathon Bombings are identified as Kyrgyzstan-born Muslims Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, age 19, and his 28-year old brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

War

The USS Gerald R. Ford is christened by the U.S. Navy; the aircraft carrier cost $15.5 billion and technically the most advanced ship ever built.

Science

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics estimates at least 17 billion planets exist that are comparable to the size of the Earth and the Milky Way.

Science

NASA scientists achieve a first in laser communication when they successfully beam a picture of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a spacecraft orbiting the Moon.

Science

NASA's Voyager 1 space probe makes history by advancing past the solar system - becoming the first man-made object to reach interstellar space.

Science

The mission of the NASA Curiosity Mars rover begins as it makes way to its destination and drives to Mount Sharp.

Medicine

The first kidney is grown in vitro in the United States; the first liver grown in vitro is grown in Japan.

Medicine

The first federal health study reporting on the use of sleeping pills reveals that 8.6 million Americans take prescription sleeping pills.

Medicine

During the first month of its release in October, the U.S. government reports that 106,185 people signed up for health insurance; only 26,794 signed up using the failed website, HealthCare.gov.

Technology

An Apple I computer is sold for $617,000 at auction.

Technology

Apple releases two new iPhones - the iPhone 5c and 5s.

Education

The most recent results of the Program for International Student Assessment, released December 2, 2013, show that the achievement of U.S. teenagers continues to lag behind that of their counterparts in other developed countries, particularly those in Asia.

Education

Higher Education: In the case of Fisher v. University of Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that affirmative action is constitutional only if it is “narrowly tailored.” The Court then sends the case back to the lower courts to determine if the University of Texas policy meets this standard.

Education

Common Core: By the end of the year, 46 states, 4 territories and the District of Columbia have adopted the ELA/literacy and math standards. Four states — Alaska, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia — do not join Common Core. During the 2013-2014 school year, 20 states begin full implementation. Some states, however, are having doubts about the whole process.

Arts and Letters

A private collection of 1,500 works of art plundered by the Nazi's and discovered in a Munich apartment in 2012, has an estimated worth of $1 billion; lost works include paintings by Matisse, Paul Klee, Marc Chagall and Picasso.

Arts and Letters

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art announces it will return two statues from northern Cambodia’s archeological site Koh Ker.

Arts and Letters

The 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to Canadian writer Alice Munro for her “mastery of the short story.”

Carter, Rosalynn

Rosalynn Carter (1927-) attends the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, along with her husband and other former Presidents and First Ladies.

Carter, Rosalynn

The passage of a mental health insurance rule requiring equal treatment for mental health conditions occurs in 2013, something that Rosalynn Carter (1927-) has been fighting for since 1980.

Bush, Barbara

After more than seven weeks of treatment for bronchitis, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush (1924-) is released from The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Bush, Barbara

All living former U.S. Presidents and First Ladies, including George W. Bush (1946-) and current President Barack Obama (1961-), are present for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas.

Clinton, Hillary

Hillary Clinton (1947-) receives 19 major awards, including a Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Michael Kors award for Outstanding Community Service, and the American Bar Association Medal for her pursuit of social justice and transforming the legal profession for women.

Bush, Laura

Laura Bush (1946-) continues her work with literacy and libraries, as well as her work on women’s issues in emerging democracies.

Obama, Michelle

The current First Lady, Michelle Obama (1946-), continues her work on behalf of military families, her “Let’s Move” campaign against obesity, and her work on healthy eating, particularly involving children in growing their own vegetables in schools and community gardens.

Economics

'The Washington Post', a privately held newspaper, is purchased by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos.

Economics

JPMorgan Chase tentatively settles on paying $13 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice for its role in selling bad mortgage loans to investors, which added to the Subprime mortgage crisis.

Economics

Bankrupt carrier, American Airlines and U.S. Airways merge, forming the world's largest air carrier, to trade under the name, American Airlines.

Economics

A railway under the Bosphorus, first proposed by Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid 150 years ago is completed; the sea tunnel, connecting Europe and Asia is the deepest submerged railway tunnel of its kind in the world.

Discovery

A 1,400 year old treasure, called 'the Ophel Treasure' is discovered near the foot of Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Daily Life

The U.S. postal service announces that after August 5, 2013, it will no longer deliver first-class mail on Saturdays.

Daily Life

Macy's loses its dispute with JC Penney; JC Penney wins the right to sell unbranded housewares designed by Martha Stewart in its stores.

Daily Life

On the first day of its release, Sony's PlayStation 4 sells 1 million units in the U.S. and Canada; the PS4 launches in Europe November 29th, and Japan February 22, 2014.

Sports

Swimmer Diana Nyad (1949-) makes history, becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Sports

For the first time since 1996, no candidates were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Sports

After stripping Lance Armstrong (1971-) of his seven Tour de France Titles, the IOC takes away the cyclist''s bronze medal from the 2000 Summer Olympics; he was found guilty of doping.

Sports

A power outage occurs during the Super Bowl XLVII at New Orleans' Superdome; the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34 – 31.

Sports

In racing, Danica Patrick (1982) becomes the first woman at the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to win pole position

Popular Culture

The U.S. TV network NBC announces Jay Leno (1950-), host of ''The Tonight Show'' will leave in the spring of 2014, and be replaced by comedian Jimmy Fallon (1974-).

Popular Culture

At the annual Billboard Music Awards, Taylor Swift (1989-) wins top album, top artist, and 6 other awards.

Religion

Citing frail health, Pope Benedict XVI (1927-) announces his resignation effective February 28, 2013; he is the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

Religion

In Vatican City, Italy, Pope Francis (1936-) delivers his first message at the Vatican, telling journalists wants "a poor Church, for the poor".

Religion

Pope Francis (1936-) canonizes a record-breaking number of new Catholic Church saints; Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI submitted the 813 ''Martyrs of Otranto'' who were beheaded by Ottoman soldiers for refusing to convert to Islam.

Religion

Pope Francis (1936-) calls for worldwide ''financial reform along ethical lines'' which would curb the ''tyranny'' of ''markets and financial speculation''.

Religion

Pope Francis (1936-) condemns the ''global indifference'' to the plight of immigrants who have drowned trying to reach Europe; he honors them in a mass held on Lampedusa, the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Social Issues

Climate Change: U.S. scientists claim 2012 weather as the hottest year ever recorded.

Social Issues

Climate Change: The U.S. State of California is experiencing the driest year on record, and rain is not expected in the near future; San Francisco is having the driest year ever since the Gold Rush began in 1849.

Social Issues

Gun Violence: A centerpiece proposal on background checks aimed at tightening gun control, fails in a Senate vote.

Social Issues

Gun Violence: The world''s first plastic gun, produced by a 3-D printer by Defense Distributed fires successfully in Austin, Texas. Security officials fear plastic weapons would not be detected at airport screenings.

Reform

Marriage Equality: The state of Minnesota becomes the 13th state to legalize marriage quality, followed by California (again), Hawaii, Illinois and New Mexico.

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that whistleblower protection under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act extends to private employees working for public companies under contract.

Politics

29-term U.S. Rep. John Dingell announces that he will retire at the end of his current term; the 87-year-old congressman says that his health is fine, but the hostile climate in Congress means that he can no longer do his job effectively.

Politics

For the first time in history, millionaires made up the majority of Congress in 2012; The Center for Responsive Politics study reveals that of the 534 members, 268 had a net worth of $1 million or more.

Government

The U.S. Postal Service will soon implement a rate hike in postage, approved last December the price of first-class postage stamps to 49 cents from 46 cents.

Government

The U.S House of Representatives and Senate finalized a long-delayed farm bill designed to cut $19 billion in farm subsidies, and reduce the $8 billion spent on food stamps over the next ten years.

War

Vladimir Putin ratifies laws today annexing Crimea, defying sanction threats by the U.S. and the E.U. President Obama promises that the U.S. will not take military action in Ukraine in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Science

The European Space Agency succeeds in landing a washing machine-sized research vehicle on a comet traveling 300 million miles from Earth at a speed of 80,000 miles per hour.

Science

U.S. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and John Holdren, White House Science Advisor, announce that President Obama's administration approved extending the use of the International Space Station through 2024.

Science

NASA announces that its Kepler space telescope has discovered 715 planets in other solar systems, bringing the instrument's new-planet tally to 961; four of the latest discoveries are thought to have an orbit favorable to habitation, but the distance of these planets makes exploration impossible with current technology.

Medicine

The U.S. announces that it is on track to enroll 7 million people in government-mandated health insurance programs by the deadline at midnight.

Medicine

Doctors announce that a 3D-printed plastic skull was successfully used to replace part of a woman's real skull in an operation three months ago in the Dutch city of Utrecht.

Medicine

The 2011 abortion rate reportedly is at its lowest in 30 years; the rate of 16.9 abortions per thousand women of childbearing age was 19.4 per thousand in 2008, and 29.3 per thousand in 1981.

Medicine

A study announced today that high levels of vitamin D in the blood may increase the probability of survival for breast cancer patients.

Medicine

Researchers announce a new orally-administered drug that may cure Hepatitis C; 90 percent of patients in trials were declared free of the virus after 12 weeks.

Technology

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the Apple Macintosh; the computer had a 9-inch monochrome display, 128 KB of memory and a 3.5" slot for a floppy disk.

Education

Common Core: 14 states are set to implement the standards during the 2014-2015 school year. Several states delay implementation, citing lack of resources and funds for teachers. Other states seek to repeal the standards and replace them with their own, while others plan to continue the Common Core but under another name to distance the standards from the political turmoil and controversy surrounding implementation.

Education

Common Core: Indiana becomes the first state to withdraw from the Common Core. South Carolina’s governor signs a bill May 30 that will replace Common Core for the 2015-2016 school year. Oklahoma repeals the standards in June. In early 2014, the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, issues a statement from the NEA president calling for a “course correction” on the standards, saying implementation had been “botched” in several states.

Education

In 2014, some 91 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds had received at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. Between

Education

1990 and 2014, the size of the White-Black gap in attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent narrowed from

Education

8 to 4 percentage points, and the size of the White-Hispanic gap narrowed from 32 to 21 percentage points.

Arts and Letters

Over 300 books related to Anne Frank are donated to Tokyo libraries by the embassy of Israel after a mass vandalism incident earlier this month that destroyed hundreds of the library system's existing copies; police are still investigating.

Reagan, Nancy

Nancy Reagan (1921-) turns 93 in July. She is in fragile health, but is able to visit her husband’s grave on the 10th anniversary of his death.

Bush, Barbara

Barbara Bush (1925-)

Bush, Barbara

is hospitalized with pneumonia, but recovers well in early 2014.

Bush, Barbara

Barbara (1925-) and George (1924-) Bush celebrate their 69th anniversary, and Mrs. Bush hopes her son, Jeb won’t run for the presidency in 2016.

Bush, Barbara

Barbara Bush (1925 -), wife of one President and mother of another, makes news by hoping another son, Jeb Bush, won’t run for the Presidency. In an interview, she said “If we can’t find more than two or three families to run for higher office, that’s silly. Because there are great governors and great eligible people to run,” Bush said in the interview. “There are a lot of ways to serve, and being president is not the only one, and I would hope that someone else would run.”

Clinton, Hillary

Hillary Clinton (1947-) publishes her second memoir, Hard Choices, which focuses on her tenure as Secretary of State. To date, it has sold about 250,000 copies.

Bush, Laura

Laura Bush (1946-) is very involved in the direction of President George W Bush’s Presidential Library.

Obama, Michelle

Michelle Obama (1946-) launches the Reach Higher Initiative, an effort to encourage all young people across the nation to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school.

Economics

Janet Yellen becomes the first woman to hold the post of chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Economics

Google sells Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.91 billion after purchasing it three years ago for $12.5 billion, and selling off it's cable-box division for $2.4 billion.

Economics

Strong quarterly earnings cause Facebook stock to rise 16 percent; the company boasts 755 million active users, and its ad revenue increased by 76 percent year over year to $2.34 billion.

Economics

The banking industry is losing ground as non-banking companies such as Apple, Google and TMobile develop their own payment methods and financial products that circumvent the need for banking services.

Discovery

A rare, blue, 29.6-carat diamond, one of the most exceptional ever mined at the Cullinan mine, is discovered about 25 miles northeast of Pretoria, South Africa.

Daily Life

The Midwest experiences life threateningly low temperatures and forces over 2,500 flight cancellations; the tunnel of arctic air called the "polar vortex" should head eastward during the week.

Daily Life

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing to revise food labels by providing realistic serving sizes, emphasizing calories and sugar amounts, and breaking down fat listings into 'good' and 'bad' fats.

Daily Life

The Barbie doll celebrates its 55th anniversary.

Daily Life

Newspapers:''The Washington Post'' and ''The Guardian'' win the Pulitzer Prize for reporting of surveillance programs by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA); the investigations relied on thousands of documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor.

Daily Life

It is revealed that the National Security Agency, NSA, is using software to spy on nearly 100,000 computers around the world; most of the software is implanted by accessing the Internet, but some technology enables data to be entered or altered through radio wave transmission.

Sports

The Super Bowl takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; the Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8, a historic win for the Seahawks, who haven't won a major championship in 30 years.

Sports

The 2014 Olympic Games begin in Sochi, Japan. American ice dancing pair Charlie White and Meryl Davis win the Olympic gold medal - the first gold won by the U.S. in this sport.

Popular Culture

Jay Leno (1950-), entertainer and host of 'The Tonight Show', says goodbye after 22 years of hosting the show; he will be replaced with Jimmy Fallon beginning February 17.

Popular Culture

The 86th Academy Awards is hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. 'Gravity,' '12 Years a Slave,' and 'Dallas Buyers Club' win the most awards. The broadcast received the highest views of any Oscars ceremony since the year 2000.

Popular Culture

Jimmy Fallon officially replaces Jay Leno in his first broadcast as host of 'The Tonight Show'.

Religion

An Islamic Caliphate is established by self claimed Islamic State in regions of war torn Syria and Iraq. This is a modern day attempt to re-establish Islamic self rule in accordance with strict adherence to the shariah- Islamic religious law. In the wake of the Syrian civil war, Islamic extremists target the indigenous Arab Christian communities. In acts of genocide, numerous and ancient Christian and Yazidi communities are evicted and threatened with death by various Moslem fighter groups.

Social Issues

Climate Change: Record-low temperatures are expected in the U.S. due to a 'polar vortex'; forecasters anticipate this tunnel of cold air funneling all the way from the North Pole to the U.S. could bring temperatures as low as 15 degrees in Chicago and 25 below zero in Fargo, North Dakota.

Social Issues

Climate Change

Social Issues

U.S. Southern states of Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina experience a mix of snow and ice, declaring emergencies as over 3,400 flights are cancelled; temperatures dip 10 to 20 degrees below normal.

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court upholds key provisions of Obamacare, including premium subsidies for about 6.4 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance exchange.

Law

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme court finds that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage.

Politics

U.S. President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address, promoting free community college education, increased capital gains taxes on the rich, more paid time off for employees, and greater tax credits for the middle class.

Politics

A large number of individuals announce their intentions of running for the Presidency in 2016.

Politics

Republicans: Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Carli Fiorina, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, George Pataki, Lindsay Graham, Rick Perry, Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, Scott Walter, John Kasich. Democrats: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chaffee, Jim Webb.

Government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to U.S. Congress on his concerns with current negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program, portraying the deal as dangerous; U.S. President Barack Obama dismissed the speech content as 'nothing new'.

Government

A federal U.S. judge orders a halt to an executive order issued by President Barack Obama that allows approximately 5 million illegal immigrants to remain in the country; Obama expects to overcome this hurdle to implement the order as planned.

Government

U.S. President Barack Obama vetoes the Keystone XL project, which would extend the existing Keystone pipeline and connect Canadian oil directly to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries; environmentalists claim the pipeline extension will add to climate change.

Government

Parts of the U.S. Patriot Act, including authorization of bulk phone data collection by the National Security Administration, expire due to lack of agreement in the Senate regarding extension.

War

U.S. President Barack Obama seeks approval from Congress to add force in the fight against ISIS militants; the current U.S. military campaign began without Congressional approval, raising concerns that Obama exceeded the limits of his authority.

War

Shiite militia forces in Iraq boycott the fight against ISIS in Tikrit to protest U.S. airstrikes; the U.S. was responding to a request from the Iraqi government, but militias are concerned that the U.S. will receive credit for their work to date.

War

U.S. Commando Joshua Wheeler becomes the first American soldier killed by the forces of ISIS.

Science

Scientists report that climate change may be influenced by the carbon dioxide released by undersea volcanoes, which have been assumed until now to have a negligible effect; further studies are needed to assess the degree of impact.

Science

The International Energy Agency estimates that oil prices will remain relatively low for the next five years, potentially dipping this year to an average of $55/barrel before increasing to about $73/barrel by the year 2020.

Science

Space: NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft ends its three-year orbit around Mercury with a planned crash into the planet's surface; originally, the probe was to orbit and collect data for one year, but fuel saving efforts extended its mission for two more years.

Science

Space: NASA's New Horizons probe reestablishes contact to transmit the first close photos of Pluto and its moons; the probe launched in 2006 and has traveled over 3 billion miles; it will continue transmitting data for the next 16 months.

Science

Scientists discover a huge magma reservoir under Yellowstone National Park that feeds the magma chamber heating the park's geothermal features; though no volcanic eruption is likely for thousands of years, such an event would dwarf all others to date.

Medicine

Aducanumab, a new drug developed by Biogen to treat Alzheimer's, is showing success in reducing toxic brain plaque and decreasing the rate of mental impairment in trials; if successful in further testing, the drug may be available by 2020.

Inventions

Google will begin testing self-driving cars on the streets of Mountain View, California this summer; the company has tested modified versions of existing vehicles but will now test cars developed specifically for self-driving.

Education

Common Core: Two states, Nevada and Rhode Island, are scheduled to implement the standards during the 2015-2016 school year.

Arts and Letters

Harper Lee will release her second novel, 'Go Set a Watchman,' after 55 years; Lee wrote this novel first, presenting Scout as an adult, but editors convinced Lee to write instead about Scout as a child, resulting in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

Ideas

The four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta have been put on display at the British Library in London; access is limited to scholars and to 1,215 viewers from all over the world who were selected by lottery.

Carter, Rosalynn

90-year-old Jimmy Carter (1924 -), former U.S. president, announces that he has an unspecified cancer that has spread throughout his body; the cancer was discovered during a recent liver surgery.

Reagan, Nancy

Nancy Reagan

Reagan, Nancy

(1921 -), celebrates her 94th birthday as she continues to work with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Clinton, Hillary

Hillary Clinton (1947 -) former First Lady, former Senator from New York, and former Secretary of State announces that she is running for President in 1916.

Bush, Laura

Laura Bush (1946 -) becomes a grandmother for the second time with the birth of Poppy Louise Hagar (2015 -), daughter of Jenna Bush Hagar and Henry Hagar.

Bush, Laura

Laura Bush (1946 -) is active in the Presidential campaign of her brother-in-law, Jeb Bush (1953 -).

Obama, Michelle

Michelle Obama (1954 -) teams with basketball star LeBron James to challenge the thousands of children who participate in the LeBron James Family Foundation programs to finish college.

Economics

New U.S. rules loosening trade restrictions with Cuba go into effect, including permission to sell instruments, tools, equipment and supplies to private businesses; U.S. banks will also be given greater freedom to transact with Cuban banks.

Economics

Walmart announces that in April it will raise wages of 500,000 Sam's Club and Walmart workers to $9/hour, exceeding the current minimum wage by $1.75, with a further raise to $10/hour by next February.

Economics

Stock markets around the world fall drastically due to concerns about an economic slowdown in China; the Dow Jones falls 1,000 points, closing down 588 points, while the Shanghai composite closes down 8.5%.

Discovery

Scientists announce discovery of a planet in the Kepler-452 solar system that closely resembles Earth in size and orbit; the planet, Kepler 452-b, has a diameter 60% larger than Earth's but an orbit that is 385 days, close to Earth's 365 days.

Discovery

Scientists uncover a 2.8-million-year-old jawbone of a primitive human; the find suggests that humans may have evolved from hominins, or humanlike primates, about 400,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Discovery

A new birdlike dinosaur, Yi qi, has been discovered in China; the fossils suggest that it lived about 160 million years ago and had membranous, bat-like wings that not been seen in other dinosaur species.

Daily Life

The U.S. state of Hawaii raises the legal smoking age from 18 to 21, the highest smoking age among all the states.

Daily Life

A powerful blizzard covers Boston and nearby New England areas with over two feet of snow under winds that reach over 70 miles per hour; New York City had expected the same weather effects but was spared.

Daily Life

California Governor Jerry Brown mandates a 25% cut in water usage, the first required water restriction in the state's history, as severe drought continues; earlier calls for a voluntary 20% reduction were not met.

Daily Life

The world's oldest living person, Gertrude Weaver of the U.S., dies at age 116, just five days after the death of the previous record holder, Misao Okawa of Japan, who died at age 117.

Sports

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team wins the FIFA Women’s World Cup by besting Japan in the finals.

Sports

American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson become the first to successfully free-climb the Dawn Wall face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a climb of 3,000 feet; the men started the climb on December 27th, 2014

Sports

New Zealand professional golfer Lydia Ko, age 17, becomes the youngest No. 1 ranked golfer in the world, beating the record set by Tiger Woods in 1997 at age 21.

Sports

The New England Patriots win their fourth Super Bowl title, beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24; Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is named MVP and is now one of only three quarterbacks to have won three Super Bowls.

Sports

Duke University defeats the University of Wisconsin to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; the game, with a 68-63 score, resulted in Duke's fifth title.

Sports

UConn defeats Notre Dame 63-53 to win the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship; these results follow yesterday's Duke University win over the University of Wisconsin 68-63 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

Sports

Harriette Thompson, at 92 years and three months, becomes the oldest person to finish a marathon, beating the previous record holder of 92 years and 19 days.

Popular Culture

At the 87th Academy Awards, 'Birdman' is awarded Best Picture, Eddie Redmayne wins Best Actor for his role as Stephen Hawking in 'A Theory of Everything,' and Julianne Moore wins Best Actress for her role in 'Still Alice'.

Popular Culture

Taylor Swift receives eight awards at the Billboard Music Awards; Pharrell Williams, Meghan Trainor, One Direction, and Sam Smith were also multiple winners at the ceremony.

Religion

The Vatican ends a five-year investigation into a key organization of U.S. nuns two years ahead of schedule and recommends no major changes; the group was under scrutiny for practices considered out of line with Catholic Church teaching.

Religion

Pope Francis (1936 -) visits the United States, speaks to Congress and to the United Nations General Assembly about his efforts to encourage attention to the health of the planet, to the welfare of families; he also praises the ability of capitalistic enterprises to produce wealth, but insists that such wealth should be used, in part, to help the struggling poor.

Social Issues

Climate Change: Pope Francis issues an encyclical, ''Laudato Si'' (Praise Be), urging action to protect Earth from pollution and climate change; the document was issued with the intention of influencing the U.N. Climate Summit later this year.

Social Issues

Race Relations: U.S. President Barack Obama bans the use of certain military equipment by police in the wake of recent deaths of unarmed black men by police officers; the move is meant to help communities see police as protectors rather than as an ''occupied force''.

Social Issues

Race Relations: The Confederate flag is removed from the South Carolina capitol grounds after the state government enacted a law to permanently remove it; the flag, part of U.S. Civil War history, is viewed by many as a symbol of racism.

Social Issues

Women’s Equity:The U.S. Navy announces that it will allow women to undergo its intensive 6-month SEAL training; female candidates who pass the course will be able to serve on SEAL teams.