CHRONOLOGY OF RONALD REAGAN’s PRESIDENCY, 1979-89
1979-1980
Nov 13 Announcement for Presidential
Candidacy
Jul 16 Ronald
Reagan wins nomination at Republican National Convention
Oct 28 Reagan/Carter Presidential Debate
Nov 04 Ronald Reagan wins Presidential
election in landslide victory (489-49 Electoral College)
1981
Jan 20 Inauguration
Day
Jan 20 American Hostages in
Jan 22 Establishment
of Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief
Jan 27
White House Ceremony for
Jan 29 First Press Conference
Feb 5 Address to Nation on the Economy
Feb 18 Address
to Congress on Economic Recovery Program
Feb 26 Initial
formation of the Cabinet Councils
Mar 26 Signing
of Executive
Order 12301 establishing the Presidential Council on Integrity & Efficiency
Mar 30 Assassination
attempt
Apr 11
Release from
Apr 28 Address to Congress on Economic
Recovery Program
May 17 Honorary
Degree from Notre Dame
Jul 07 Nomination
of Sandra Day O’Connor to Supreme Court
Jul 19-21 G7 Summit in
Jul 27 Address
to the Nation on Federal Tax Reduction Legislation
Jul 29 Tax cut bill approved by House of
Representatives
Aug 03 Air
traffic controllers strike ultimatum
Aug 13 President
Reagan signs tax cut bill (ERTA)
Sep 24 Address
to the Nation on economic recovery & social security
Sep 25 Sandra
Day O’Connor sworn in as first female Supreme Court Justice
Sep 29 World
Ban & IMF Address on free enterprise, not aid
Oct 02 US
Strategic Weapons program announced
Oct 05 Voluntarism
Initiative launched
Oct 06 Assassination
of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
Oct 07 Fifty
States Project for Women launched
Oct 15 World
Affairs Council Speech on Third World & Free Enterprise
Oct 18-19 Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of
the
Oct 21-24
Oct 28 AWACS
Nov 10 David Stockman’s article on Reaganomics
released in Atlantic Monthly
Nov 18 Arms
Reduction Speech to National Press Club
Nov 23 First Veto - 1982 Continuing Budget
Resolution
Dec 01 White
House Conference on Aging
Dec 22 Meeting
with Defected Polish Ambassador Spasowski
Dec 23 Address to the Nation on situation in
1982
Jan 26
Feb 09 Indianapolis
Speech, one of several launching New Federalism
Feb 22 Ceremony
on the 250th Anniversary of the birth of George Washington
Feb 24 Caribbean
Basin Initiative announced at Organization of American States
Mar 03 J.
Peter Grace named as Chairman of PPSSCC
Mar 23 Enterprise
Zone Initiative announced
Apr 14 Establishment
of the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving
Apr 15 Tuition
Tax Credit plan announced
Apr 29 Address
to the Nation on budget & Balanced Budget Amendment
May 09 START/SALT
II Speech at
May 18 Centennial
Commission for
May 31 Joint
US-USSR announcement on Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
Jun 04-06 G7 Summit in
Jun 08 First
Jun 11 Visit
to
Jun 17 UN
Special Session on Disarmament, “Agenda for Peace” speech
Jun 25 Haig
resigns as Secretary of State, Shultz appointed
Jun 30 Signed Executive Order 12369
establishing Presidents
Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (Grace Commission, PPSSCC)
Jul 16 George
Shultz sworn in as Secretary of State
Jul 19 Rally
at Capitol for Budget Amendment
Aug 16 Address
to the Nation on taxes & budget reconciliation
Aug 20
Aug 25 US
Marine Forces arrive in
Sep 01 Address to the Nation on the
Sep 03 Tax
Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act (ERTA) signed at the Ranch
Sep 20 Address
to the Nation on formation of multinational force for
Oct 01 House
defeats Budget Amendment
Oct 12 Missing
Children Act & Victim & Witness Act signed
Oct 13 Address
to the Nation on the economy
Oct 14 Organized
Crime & Drug Trafficking Initiatives launched
Nov 10 USSR Leader Leonid Brezhnev dies
Nov 11 First
commercial operations mission of the Space Shuttle
Nov 12 Yuri Andropov becomes leader of
Nov 13 US
Sanctions on Soviet Pipeline lifted
Nov 17 Visit
to
Nov 22 Address
to the Nation on Arms Control & MX bases
Nov 23 Highway
& Bridge Repair Program proposed, 5 cents gas tax
Dec 28 Recommissioning
Ceremony for battleship USS New Jersey
1983
Jan 03 Commission
on Strategic Forces created
Jan 06 Surface
Transportation Assistance Act signed
Jan 07 Nuclear
Waste Policy Act signed
Jan 11 Crop
Swap Program announced in
Jan 24 Native
American Policy announced
Jan 25 State
of the Union Address - Federal spending freeze
Mar 08 Address
to National Association of Evangelicals (the “Evil Empire” speech)
Mar 10 Address on
Mar 23 Address to the Nation on National Security and Strategic
Defense Initiative
Mar 31 World
Affairs Council Address on defense matters
Apr 18 Bombing
of US Embassy in
Apr 20 Social
Security Amendments signed
Apr 27 Address
to Congress on
Apr 30 Address
to the Nation on education
May 28-31 G7 Summit in
Jun 03 Excellence
in Education Campaign
Jul 18 Commission
on
Jul 19 Captive
Nations Week designated
Jul 28 Commission
on Organized Crime created
Aug 14 US-Mexico
Agreement on the environment in the border area
Sep 01 Soviet
attack on Korean airliner KAL 007 kills 269
Sep 05 Address to the Nation on KAL 007
Sep 07 Adult
Literacy Initiative announced
Sep 24 Address to the Nation via Voice of
America (VOA) setting long term framework for negotiation with
Sep 26 Address
to UN General Assembly on
Oct 05 Caribbean
Basin Initiative launch ceremony
Oct 05 Job
Training Partnership Program launched
Oct 17 Re-election campaign committee
formed on exploratory basis
Oct 23 Bombing
of US Marine barracks,
Oct 25 Invasion
of
Oct 27 Address
to the Nation on
Nov 02 Martin
Luther King, Jr. National
Nov 11 Address
to Japanese Diet on trade policy
Dec 04 Air
Strike on Syrian installations in
1984
Jan 16 Address
to the Nation on US/Soviet Relations
Jan 16 Grace
Commission findings on pay announced
Jan 25 State
of the Union Address -
Jan 29 Candidacy
for re-election announced
Feb 03 Kissinger’s
report on
Feb 09
Feb 13 Konstantin Chernenko becomes leader
of
Apr 26 Arrival
in
Apr 30 Nuclear
agreement with
May 09 Address
to the Nation on
May 14 Drunk
Driving Campaign address with Michael Jackson
May 24 Remarks Honoring the
June
04 Speech to Irish Parliament
June 06 Speeches
on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Jun 07-09 G7 Summit in
Jul 17 Minimum
Drinking Age Bill signed
Jul 18 Deficit
Reduction Bill signed
Aug 23 Acceptance
Speech at the Republican National Convention,
Oct 7 First Reagan/Mondale Presidential
Debate (Domestic Issues)
Oct 12 Whistlestop Presidential Campaign
Tour of
Oct 21 Second Reagan/Mondale Presidential
Debate (Foreign Policy)
Oct 30 Assassination of Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi of
Nov 06 President
Reagan wins landslide victory (525-13 in Electoral College)
1985
Jan 05 Nomination
of Edwin Meese III to be Attorney General
Jan 08 Don Regan appointed Chief of Staff,
Jim Baker III nominated as Secretary of Treasury
Jan 20 Inaugural
Day - White House Ceremony
Jan 21 Public
Inauguration Ceremonies at
Feb 06 State
of the Union Address - American Revolution II
Feb 25 Edwin
Meese III sworn in as Attorney General
Mar 10
Mar 11 Mikhail
Gorbachev becomes leader of
Mar 19 Senate
vote to approve MX missiles
Mar 25 Youth
Employment Opportunity Wage Initiative launched
Apr 04 Nicaraguan
Peace Plan announced
Apr 11 Establishment
of Domestic Policy Council & Economic Policy Council
Apr 24 Address
to the Nation on
federal budget & deficit reduction
May 04 G7
May 05 Speeches at
May 08 Address
to European Parliament on Soviet arms
May 20 Summer
Jobs for Youth
Program launched
May 28 Address
to the Nation on tax reform
Jun 12 House
approves
Jun 14 TWA
Flight 847 hijacked
Jun 20 Medal
of Freedom awarded to Mother Teresa
Jun 30 Address to the Nation on Release of
the TWA hostages
Jul 08 Address at the American Bar
Association Convention on Terrorism
Jul 13 President
Reagan undergoes surgery for colon cancer
Sep 09 Economic
sanctions against
Oct 07 Achille Lauro hijacked
Oct 24 Speech
at UN 40th Anniversary on “Fresh Start” with Soviets
Oct 31 New
Nov 14 Address
to the Nation & USSR, via VOA, on US-Soviet
Nov 16 Start
of
Nov 21 Address
to Congress on Geneva Summit’s “Fresh Start”
Dec 01 All-Star
tribute to Dutch Reagan
Dec 12 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings
Act signed
Dec 19 Domestic
& Economic Policy Councils briefed on AIDS programs
1986
Jan 01 Address
to
Jan 07 Economic
Sanctions imposed on
Jan 28 Space
Shuttle Challenger Explosion
Feb 03 Commission
on Challenger Disaster formed
Feb 04 State
of the Union Address - Welfare plan
Feb 25 US
recognizes Aquino government of
Feb 26 Address
to the Nation on National Security
Feb 28 Packard
Commission Report on defense management
Mar 16 Address to
the Nation on
Apr 14 Libyan
Air Strike
Apr 25 Nuclear
reactor accident at
May 02 G7
May 25 Hands
Across
Jun 09
Jun 17 Resignation of Warren Burger from
Supreme Court, nomination of W. Rehnquist for Chief Justice, nomination of A.
Scalia
Jun 24 Address
to the Nation on aid to Contras
Jul 03 Statue
of
Jul 22 World
Affairs Council Address on
Sep 14 Address
to the Nation with Mrs. Reagan, on Drugs
Sep 22 Address
to UN on arms reduction progress
Sep 26 Rehnquist
& Scalia sworn in as Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court
Oct 11 Reykjavik
Summit begins
Oct 22 Tax
Reform Bill signed
Nov 02 Release
of Hostage David Jacobsen from
Nov 04 Democrats
win control of Senate 55-45
Nov 06 Immigration
Reform & Control Act signed
Nov 13 Address
to the Nation on
Nov 25 Iran-Contra
scandal breaks
Nov 26 Tower
commission appointed to study Iran-Contra affair
Dec 02 Address to the Nation on the
Iran-Contra Affair
Dec 19 Independent
Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh selected
Dec 31 New
Year’s Radio Address to the people of the
1987
Jan 27 State
of the Union Address - “I’m back”
Jan 30 Veto
of Water Quality Act
Feb 06 “Up
From Dependency” welfare initiative
Feb 17 Competitiveness
Initiative launched
Feb 19 Economic
sanctions against
Feb 26 Tower
Commission reports
Feb 27 Don
Regan resigns as Chief of Staff, replaced by Howard Baker
Mar 04 Address to
the Nation on the Tower Report
Mar 27 Veto
of Highway Bill
Apr 03 Privatization
of CONRAIL
Apr 07 Q
& A with reporters on security breach at new Moscow Embassy
Apr 10 World
Affairs Council Address on possible negotiations breakthrough
May 05 White
House Conference on a Drug Free America launched
May 17 USS
Stark bombed by
May 26 William
Webster sworn in as Director of CIA
May 29 Russian
Gulf Policy outlined
Jun 01 GI
Continuation Act signed
Jun 02 P.
Volcker resigns, A. Greenspan appointed as Chairman of Federal Reserve Board
Jun 08 G7
Summit in
Jun 12 Visit
to
Jun 15 Address
to the Nation on arms reduction & the Venice Summit
Jun 26 Supreme
Court Justice Powell resigns
Jul 01 Conservative
Judge Robert Bork nominated to be Associate Justice to Supreme Court
Jul 03 Economic
Bill of Rights launched
Aug 05 Central
American Peace Initiative
Aug 11 Alan
Greenspan sworn in as Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Aug 12 Address
to the Nation on Iran-Contra Affair
Sep 15 Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers treaty signed
Sep 16 Bicentennial
Celebration of US Constitution
Sep 21 Address
to UN on INF Agreement & Iran
Oct 06 Senate
Committee rejects Bork
Oct 07 Address
to OAS on Central American Peace Initiative
Oct 14 Address to the Nation on
Oct 16 Mrs.
Reagan undergoes surgery for breast cancer
Oct 19 Air
strike at Iranian oil platform
Oct 19 Stock
Market crash
Oct 23 Whole
Senate rejects Bork
Oct 29 Douglas
Ginsburg nominated to Supreme Court
Oct 30 US-Soviet
Summit announced
Nov 02 William
Sessions sworn in as head of FBI
Nov 04 Address
to
Nov 07 Ginsburg
withdraws nomination over marijuana scandal
Nov 11 Anthony
Kennedy nominated to Supreme Court
Nov 24 INF
Treaty announced in
Dec 08 INF
Treaty signed
Dec 10 Address to the Nation on the
1988
Jan 01 Address
to
Jan 02 Canada-US
Free Trade Agreement signed in
Jan 25 State
of the Union Address - “We’re not finished yet,” budget process
Feb 18 Anthony
Kennedy sworn in as Supreme Court Justice
Feb 29 White
House Conference on a Drug Free
Mar 01 NATO
Mar 14 Institute
for Foreign Policy Analysis conference on SDI
Mar 17 Deployment of US Forces to
Apr 18 US
Air Strike against Iranian Oil Platforms
Apr 21 World
Affairs Council Address on Soviets & Afghanistan, INF
May 03 Briefing
on religious freedom in
May 11 Reagan
endorses Bush candidacy
May 27 Senate
approves INF Treaty
May 31 Address at
Jun 01 Ratification
of the INF Treaty at
Jun 03 Address
to Royal Institute of International Affairs,
Jun 13 Address
to Atlantic Council, preparation for G7 Summit
Jun 19 G7
Summit in
Jul 01 Medicare
Catastrophic Coverage Act signed
Jul 03 Iran
Air Flight 655 shot down in
Jul 09 Resignation
of Attorney General Edwin Meese III announced
Jul 12 Richard
L. Thornburgh nominated to be Attorney General
Jul 25 Free
Trade Agreement with
Aug 02 HIV
Action Plan announced
Aug 03 Veto
of National Defense Authorization Act
Aug 10 Japanese-American
Internment Compensation Bill Signing
Aug 11 Disaster
Assistance Act signed
Aug 12 Richard
L. Thornburgh sworn in as Attorney General
Aug 15 Farewell Address at Republican
National Convention
Aug 23 Trade
& Competitiveness Act signed
Sep 13 Fair
Housing Act Amendments signed
Sep 26 Speech
to UN General Assembly on disarmament
Sep 28 US-Canada
Free Trade Agreement signed
Oct 05 Cornerstone
laying ceremony for
Oct 13 Family
Support Act signed
Oct 25 Department
of Veteran Affairs Act signed
Nov 18 Anti-Drug
Abuse Act signed
Nov 21 Ground
breaking Ceremony at Reagan Presidential Library
Dec 07 Mini-summit
in
Dec 07 Address
to American Enterprise Institute
Dec 08 Final
Press Conference
Dec 13 Address
to administrative officials on domestic policy
Dec 14 Ban
on conducting talks with PLO dropped
Dec 16 Address
to
1989
Jan 01 Address
to
Jan 11 Farewell
Address to the Nation
Jan 20 Inauguration
of George Bush, return to