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Events of the 1980's

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Events of the 1980's

The 1980's started of hope and optimism to a vision of a reborn America. After two decades of troubles, assassinations, urban riots, the agony of Vietnam and the disgrace of Watergate the nation was ready to move ahead. Here was the oldest man ever to serve as president, Ronald Reagan was in his 70'a yet this boyish grin and rugged good looks still projected the youthful vigor of his days in Hollywood (Time Life Book Editors, 1999).

Good luck as well as charisma helped sustain Reagan's popularity. Reaganomics was largely responsible for touching off the biggest bull market in Wall Street history. Of course on such person Ivan Boesky was known as Ivan the Terrible for is relentless wheeling and dealing in the stocks …show more content…

Terrorist attacked U.S. Marine headquarters in Lebanon where a truck bomb exploded killing 241. Almost simultaneously, a second truck bomb exploded at a French paratroop barracks 2 miles away killing 58.

June of 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. And in December 1983 Dr. Barney Clark receives the first artificial heart implant, Dr. Clark lived 112 days after the implant.

One final note of 1983, this was the year the final episode of M*A*S*H aired.

In 1984 and 1985, some of the top stories in America were very diverse. One event effected political history; several were of tragic proportions and some consisted of social change and financial greed in felonious extreme.

In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro, a New York congresswoman, becomes the first woman to run for national office on a major party ticket when Walter Mondale chooses her as his democratic running mate. Ferraro's selection was a great moment during this period in American history. Her selection brought a new sense of dignity to millions of housewives and hardened professionals (AP, 1984). Unfortunately for the democrats, with the economy booming, so was Reagan's popularity. President Reagan and Vice President Bush won re-election, carrying 49 states and posting the greatest Republican electoral vote landslide victory.

In 1985, President Reagan's foreign policies were challenged because of a

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