1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1989 is a year of great moments in sports history, from Kareem Abdul Jubar retiring to Wayne Gretzky becoming the leading scorer in NHL history. It is also the end of a great President's term and a year where Colin Powell becomes the highest ranking African American in government ever in the US. Along with this, democratic rule was growing around the world. Hungary declares itself a democratic republic in October, Poland ends 40 years of strict Communist rule, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians demand independence from Russia. 1989 was a year of great accomplishments in sports and great political change.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan makes his farewell speech, on January 11, acclaiming the economic “miracle” achieved by the United States under his presidency.
On January 20, George Bush is inaugurated as the 41st President of the United States.
The San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl on January 22, for the second straight year
The U.S. Delta Star “Star Wars” a space lift vehicle took off on February 14, it successfully detects and tracks test missiles shortly after they are launched.
On February 14 British author Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, fearing for his life, goes into hiding because Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issues a fatwa against the British author for his book.
Soviet troops complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan on February 15.
The tanker Exxon Valdez runs aground on March 24 on Bligh Reef in Alaska releasing 240,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound.
Sugar Ray Robinson, U.S. professional boxer, six times world champion, dies in Culver City, California at 69 years old on April 12.
Kareem Abdul Jubar retires on April 23, as the leading career scorer in the NBA.
The Bulls lose to Detroit for the third year in a row, in a the Eastern Conference Finals, from May 21, - June 2. Detroit goes on to win the NBA championship that year.
On April 15 Chinese Politburo member Hu Yaobang dies at age 73. Students gather in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mourn his death. They stay for weeks to protest and demand democracy. Then troops are sent in to break up the demonstration. On June 6 Deng Xiaoping sends in Mongolian soldiers. They fire into the crowd killing hundreds if not thousands of people. Is will come to be known as the Tiananmen square massacre.
On April 19 a 29-year-old investment banker is jogging in Central Park. She is raped and left for dead by a group of young black and Hispanic men. The group is caught and arrested. She becomes know as the Central Park Jogger. Later developments would change the original convictions.
On June 21 President Bush asks for a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. The House passes a bill in October but the Senate rejects a constitutional amendment.
Tim Hardaway is drafted by the Golden State Warriors on June 27.
On July 5, former White House aide, Oliver North, is found guilty in the Iran Contra Affair. He is fined $150,000 and given a suspended sentence.
A United Airlines DC10 crashes into a cornfield near Sioux City on July 19, Iowa: 112 of the 296 passengers on board are killed.
On August 24, Pete Rose was banned from baseball for gambling.
The Voyager II reaches Neptune on August 25.
Colin Powell is appointed Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, highest army post to ever be held by a black officer.
The A’s sweep the Giants in the World Series. The games were played from October 14-28. An earthquake at the start of the game three leads to an 11-day delay.
A huge earthquake hits San Francisco on October 17. This earthquake measures 7.1 on the Richer Scale. It kills about 90 people and causes about 6 billion dollars in property damages. Millions of Americans see the quake live as they watch game three of the World Series.
Wayne Gretzky becomes the leading scorer in NHL history in October.
In October, Jim Bakker was convicted for 24 counts of fraud and conspiracy
On November 9, the Berlin Wall falls.
Minnesota Timberwolves become an NBA team on November 13.
The movies Lean On Me, Major League, Turner and Hootch, Field of Dreams and The Three Fugitives come out.
NWA officially releases "Straight Outa Compton."
The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred.
62nd Annual Academy Award
Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot
Best Actress: Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy
Best Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy: Murphy Brown
(CBS)
Outstanding Drama: L.A. Law (NBC)
32 Annual Grammy Awards
Record of the Year: Wind Beneath My Wings
by
Bette Midler
Album of the Year: Nick of Time by Bonnie
Raitt
Song of the Year: Wind Beneath My Wings
by
Bette Midler
Best New Artist:
Tracy Chapman
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