Voyager 2 Jupiter Science Phase Begins
Voyager 2 begins its dedicated Jupiter observation campaign during approach to the Jovian system.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1979 in United States of America — Page 2
Explore 149 historical events and records for United States of America in 1979.
Historical records for United States of America in 1979
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 149 unique records.
149Unique records
2 of 4Page
30Named events on this page
16Named people on this page
8Places on this page
April
June
Trial
Chuck Berry is charged with tax evasion
Death of John Wayne
Death of John Wayne
Death of John Wayne
Death of John Wayne, age 72
Nuclear Power
The completed SALT II agreement is signed by President Carter & General Secretary Brezhnev. Negotiated for 7 years & finally signed by the US & Russia, but never ratified
SALT II Treaty Signed
Signs the SALT II agreement with Leonid Brezhnev to place broader limits on strategic offensive nuclear forces.
Treaty of SALT II
Negotiated for 7 years & finally signed by the US & Russia, but never ratified. An agreement to limit strategic launchers is reached in Vienna and is signed by Leonid Brezhnev and President of the United States Jimmy Carter
Assassination of Alexander Megis Haig
Survives an attempt on his life near the NATO HQ in Belgium. Escapes an assassination attempt by the reconstituted Baader-Meinhof Group
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Survives an attempt on his life near the NATO HQ in Belgium
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Survives an attempt on his life near the NATO HQ in Belgium
Retirement
Heavyweight Muhammad Ali confirms that his 3rd retirement is final and he vacates the title
July
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
President Jimmy Carter signs a directive authorizing the CIA to conduct covert propaganda operations against the revolutionary regime
Voyager 2 Jupiter Flyby
Voyager 2 flies past Jupiter and extends observations of the planet and Jovian satellites.
August
Volcker Becomes Federal Reserve Chairman
Paul Volcker begins his term as Federal Reserve chairman with inflation running at damaging levels, setting the stage for a major change in the conduct of monetary policy.
Gotta Serve Somebody
Releases Gotta Serve Somebody from Slow Train Coming.
Slow Train Coming
Releases Slow Train Coming during his gospel period.
September
The Long Run
Records The Long Run, the final Eagles studio album before the band's long breakup.
October
New Operating Procedures Against Inflation
After an unscheduled meeting, Volcker announces a shift toward controlling bank reserves rather than closely targeting the federal funds rate, a major anti-inflation change that permits interest rates to move much more widely.
November
Iranians want the Shah returned to Iran on charges of torture, murder
Iranians want the Shah returned to Iran on charges of torture, murder & robbery
Siege of US Embassy
To get the US to return the Shah to Iran on charges of torture, murder & robbery. 500 Iranians sieze the US Embassy in Tehran take 90 hostages & burn the American flag
Siege of US Embassy
Iranian students sieze the US Embassy & hold 52 US hostages for 444 days. Ayatollah Khomeini, who assumed control of Iran in Feb, voiced support for the siege
Siege of Islamabad
Ayatollah Khomeini says the US backed the occupation of the Great Mosque in Mecca
Siege of Islamabad
Ayatollah Khomeini says the US backed the occupation of the Great Mosque in Mecca
Siege of US Embassy
A mob in the Pakistani capital burns the US Embassy to the ground, killing a marine
Siege of US Embassy
A mob in the Pakistani capital burns the US Embassy to the ground, killing a marine
December
Higgs Boson
Shares the Nobel Prize in Physics for the electroweak theory, which incorporates the symmetry-breaking mechanism later tested through Higgs-boson measurements.
Nobel Prize
Shares the Nobel Prize in Physics with Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salam for contributions to electroweak unification.
Defence Agreement
After Russia invades Afghanistan the US affirms the 1959 Pakistan defense agreement
Defence Agreement
The US affirms commitment to Pakistan under the 1959 defense agreement. Russia invades Afghanistan & the US affirms the 1959 defense agreement with Pakistan
Defence Agreement at Washington
The US affirms the 1959 defense agreement with Pakistan
Invasion of Afghanistan
The US affirms commitment to Pakistan under the 1959 defense agreement. Russia invades Afghanistan
Invasion of Afghanistan
President Jimmy Carter indicates that the Soviet incursion was "the most serious threat to the peace since the Second World War"
Invasion of Pakistan
Russia invades Afghanistan & the US affirms the 1959 defense agreement with Pakistan
Military Aid
The US affirms the 1959 defense agreement with Pakistan. After Russia invades Afghanistan the US affirms the 1959 Pakistan defense agreement
Pakistan Defence Agreement
After Russia invades Afghanistan the US affirms the 1959 Pakistan defense agreement
Other events (month unknown)
A Perfect Couple Film
Robert Altman directed A Perfect Couple in 1979, a romantic musical comedy centered on mismatched performers.
Academy Award
Winner of the Oscar for best actress, "Coming Home"
Academy Award
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress in Kramer vs. Kramer
All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front is a television movie produced by ITC Entertainment starring actors Richard Thomas from The Waltons fame as Paul Baumer, and Ernest Borgnine as Katczinsky
All Quiet on the Western Front
Stars in, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.