Government
Inaugurated President of the USA, 40th President, 1st term. Fifty two American hostages are released from Iran
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1981 in United States of America
Explore 78 historical events and records for United States of America in 1981.
Historical records for United States of America in 1981
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 78 unique records.
78Unique records
1 of 2Page
28Named events on this page
22Named people on this page
10Places on this page
January
Hostages
The day after Jimmy Carter leaves Office the US hostages in Iran are released
Siege of US Embassy
The day after Jimmy Carter leaves Office the US hostages in Iran are released
March
Government
Announces plan to cut federal employment by 37,000
Government
Announces plan to link welfare benits to work requirements
Government
The US will send 15 Green Berets to El Salvador as military advisers
Assassination of President Reagan
Wounded alongside President Reagan in an assassination attempt
Government
Attempts to assassinate President Reagan. Arrested for shooting President Reagan & 2 of his aides
Government
President Reagan & 3 aides are shot in an assassination attempt in Washington
April
Death of Omar Nelson Bradley
Death of Omar Nelson Bradley
Government
Returns to the Whitehouse 12 after being shot
Death of Joe Louis
Death of Joe Louis
Government
Says that Russia is the primary source of danger to the world
Government
Ends curbs on grain exports to Russia
May
Government
Expels all Libyan Diplomats due to Libyas support for terrorists
June
Voyager 2 Saturn Science Phase Begins
Voyager 2 begins long-range Saturn observations ahead of its August encounter.
July
Death of William Wyler
Death of William Wyler
August
PATCO Strike
Reagan dismisses striking air traffic controllers who refuse to return to work.
Shot of Love
Releases Shot of Love.
Economic Recovery Tax Act
The Act reduces individual income-tax rates and accelerates business depreciation allowances.
Trident II D5
The Reagan administration indicates willingness to make the newer Trident II D5 missile available to Britain
Saturn Moons
Interprets Voyager observations of Saturn's moons and ring environment.
Saturn Ring Spokes
Studies Voyager observations of strange spoke-like markings in Saturn's rings.
Saturn Ring Structure
Uses Voyager 2 imagery to examine fine structure in Saturn's rings.
Voyager 2 Saturn Flyby
Voyager 2 flies past Saturn and extends studies of the planet, rings and moons.
Dione Wispy Terrain Imaging
Voyager 2 photographs bright wispy terrain across Dione's trailing hemisphere.
Saturn Atmospheric Wind Speeds
Voyager 2 observations map fast zonal winds and persistent atmospheric features on Saturn.
Saturn Ringlet Fine Structure
Voyager 2 imagery resolves numerous narrow ringlets and changing structures within Saturn's rings.
Tethys Ithaca Chasma Imaging
Voyager 2 images reveal the immense Ithaca Chasma canyon system crossing Tethys.
September
Phoebe Close Imaging
Voyager 2 obtains the mission's first useful close spacecraft views of distant Phoebe.
October
Metallica
Metallica is formed by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and Danish-born drummer Lars Ulrich, after both had placed classified advertisements in the publication The Recycler about forming a band
Metallica
Metallica is formed by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and Danish-born drummer Lars Ulrich, after both had placed classified advertisements in the publication The Recycler about forming a band
November
Government
Offers to cancel Cruise & Pershing in Europe if Russia removs missiles on Europe
Death of Natalie Wood
Death of Natalie Wood
December
Government
Introduces economic sanctions against Russia for making Poland to adopt martial law
Other events (month unknown)
Absence of Malice
Stars in "Absence of Malice"
Ambassador
Appointed Ambassador of West Germany
Arecibo Radar
Uses Arecibo planetary radar for high-resolution solar-system studies.
Assistant Secretary of State for Defence
Appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Defence for International Security Policy
Back Roads
Stars in Back Roads, a comedy
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.