| 1970s
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
1990
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 |
1981 Timeline
"Honey, I forgot to duck."
--Ronald Reagan to wife Nancy after John Hinkley's assassination attempt.
January 15, 1981: "Hill Street Blues"
premieres on NBC
January 18, 1981: U.S.-Iran
agreement frees 52 hostages held in Teheran since Nov. 4, 1979; Hostages
return to U.S. on Jan. 25.
January 20, 1981: Ronald Reagan
is sworn in as President
March 30, 1981: Ronald Reagan is
wounded by John Hinckley, with press secretary James Brady, and two law-enforcement
officers. Hinckley had apparently planned the shooting in order to
impress actress Jodie Foster.
April 12, 1981: Space Shuttle
Columbia blasts off for the first time.
May 14, 1981: Pope John Paul
II is wounded by a gunman.
June 26 - July 31, 1981: Congress
approves Reagan's $35.5 billion budget cuts designed to reverse government's
expansion.
July 7, 1981: Reagan nominates
Sandra Day O'Connor as first U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
July 29, 1981: Prince Charles
and Lady Diana wed as millions watch on TV.
July 31, 1981: Baseball strike
ends after 7 weeks.
August 1, 1981: MTV begins
broadcasting.
August 3, 1981: Air controllers
strike, disrupting flights
August 11, 1981: Government
dismisses strikers.
October 6, 1981: Egyptian
President Anwar Sadat is assasinated by Islamic fundamentalist gunmen in
Cairo during a military parade.
Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Chariots of Fire
Time Magazine's Man of the Year: Lech Walesa
- Leading Poland's labor challenge to Mosccow
| Top 10 TV Shows 1981-82: | Top Music of 1981 |
| 1. Dallas (CBS)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS) 3. The Jeffersons (CBS) 4. Three's Company (ABC) 5. Alice (CBS) 6. The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS) 7. Too Close for Comfort (ABC) 8. ABC Monday Night Movie (ABC) 9. M*A*S*H (CBS) 10. One Day at a Time (CBS) |
Grammy Record
of the Year: "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes
Grammy Album of the Year: Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono This was the comeback album of the year and became a bittersweet testament to Lennon's death in 1980. Other Songs: "Shake It Up" - The Cars
|
| Academy Awards for 1981 | |
| Best Picture: Chariots
of Fire
Best Director: Warren Beatty, Reds Best Actor: Henry Fonda, On Golden Pond Best Actress: Katherine Hepburn, On Golden Pond Best Supporting Actor: John Gielgud, Arthur Best Supporting Actress: Maureen Stapleton, Reds |