The year was 1981
Ronald Reagan, President
Average Cost of a new house $78,200
Average Income per year $21,050
Gallon of Gas cost $1.25
19 inch Color TV $399.95
Year end close Dow Jones Indusrtrial Average 875
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.75%
Iran releases 52 American hostages who had been held for 444 days
President Reagan is shot but survives in Washington D.C.
Solidarity protests and strike begin in Poland leading to Marshal Law and eventual outlawing of the Solidarity Party
Air Traffic Controllers go on strike President Reagan fires the strikers
Muhammad Ali finally retires with a career record 55 wins and 5 defeats
IRA member Bobby Sands dies during hunger strike
Researchers find the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic
Lady Diana Spencer marries Prince Charles
Pope John Paul II is shot but not killed at the Vatican
Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated to 1st female U.S. Supreme Justice
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is assassinated
1st American test tube baby is born
Scientists indentify the Aids Virus
1st flight of U.S. Spaceship Columbia
IBM launches 1st PC which uses Microsoft MS DOS
