President Reagan ordered the withdrawl of the U.S. Marines from Beirut.
Rev. Jesse Jackson negotiated the release of 22 Americans with Cuban premier Fidel Castro.
During an audio level check prior to his regular radio address, President Reagan joked that the U.S. had launched a nuclear attack on the Soviets. Although the remark was not broadcast on all U.S. radio stations, the Soviet Union went into a brief state of red alert because they were monitoring the White House's communications satellite channel.
Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan was charged with 136 counts of fraud.
For the first time, American astronauts walked untethered in space and repaired orbiting satellites during shuttle missions.
Singer Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father out of self-defense during a violent argument at the home they shared in Los Angeles. The singer had been exhibiting signs of mental instability and suicidal tendencies. Gaye's last live performance had been his a capella rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at the NBA All Star Game.
The U.S. re-established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican. They had been suspended in 1867.
Texaco and Getty Oil entered into the planet's largest corporate merger to date. Texaco would later be penalized $3,000,000,000 for attempting to thwart Pennzoil's bid to merge with Getty.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale named Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate following his Democratic nomination.
In the largest landslide for Republicans in U.S. history, Ronald Reagan and George Bush were re-elected by winning 49 states.
The World Court labeled the U.S. as an aggressor nation as the CIA mined ports in Nicaragua.
25 died when winds raging over 100 miles per hour blew through Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.
29 perished in 36 inches of blowing snow as fast-moving blizzards swept across Utah and Colorado.
18 died when a storm of sleet and hail crippled the eastern seaboard from Washington to Cape Cod.
Tornadoes in the Carolinas killed 71 and caused $400,000,000 damage.
Dow and several other chemical companies established the Agent Orange Fund for Viet Nam vets who had been exposed to the herbicide.
President Reagan dedicated the Viet Nam Memorial, a V-shaped wall of names designed by Yale student Maya Lang Yin.
Disneyland celebrated Donald Duck's 50th birthday.
A Chorus Line broke the Broadway endurance record.
Indiana Jones In The Temple Of Doom and Beverly Hills Cop were the top two movies in box office receipts. Amadeus got the Oscar for Best Picture.
The highest rated broadcast of the year was the TV Movie The Burning Bed, starring Farrah Fawcett. Miami Vice debuted on NBC and became an instant hit.
Number one songs included Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, Jump by Van Halen, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, Like A Virgin by Madonna, When Doves Cry by Prince and the triple-Grammy-winner What's Love Got To Do With It? by Tina Turner.
