US Navy F-14s shoot down 2 Libyan jet fighters over Mediterranean
The US Navy F-14s shoot down 2 Libyan jet fighters over Mediterranean
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1989 in United States of America
Explore 134 historical events and records for United States of America in 1989.
Historical records for United States of America in 1989
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 134 unique records.
134Unique records
1 of 4Page
35Named events on this page
20Named people on this page
6Places on this page
January
Diplomatic Mission
The United States presented photographic evidence to the United Nations Security Council to justify its shootdown of two Libyan jet fighters as self-defense, evidence the Libyan ambassador said was faked
UN Security Council
The United States presented photographic evidence to the United Nations Security Council to justify its shootdown of two Libyan jet fighters as self-defense, evidence the Libyan ambassador said was faked
New York
Releases New York, a direct song cycle about politics, poverty, crime and urban life.
Resignation of Ronald Wilson Reagan
President Reagan bids the nation farewell in an address from the Oval Office
Election
President of elect Bush completes the selection of his Cabinet, naming retired Adm. James D. Watkins secretary of energy and former education secretary William J. Bennett drug Czar
President of USA
President of elect Bush completes the selection of his Cabinet, naming retired Adm. James D. Watkins secretary of energy and former education secretary William J. Bennett drug Czar
Pardon
Pres Reagan pardons George Steinbrenner for illegal funds for Nixon
Resignation of Ronald Wilson Reagan
President Reagan delivers his 331st and last weekly radio address, telling listeners, "Believe me, Saturdays will never seem the same. Ill miss you"
National Security Council
From 1989 through March 1991 serves in President Bushs administration as Director then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the President
Inauguration
Inaugurated President of the USA
1st African-American Governor
Douglas Wilder, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, launches his successful campaign to become the first elected black Governor of a US state
Election
Jury selection begins in the trial of former National Security Council aide Oliver North, charged in connection with the Iran-Contra affair
Trial
Jury selection begins in the trial of former National Security Council aide Oliver North, charged in connection with the Iran-Contra affair
February
Diplomatic Mission
In his first diplomatic mission of the Bush administration, Vice President Dan Quayle begins a trip to Venezuela and El Salvador
Meeting with The Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita
President Bush meets the Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, after which both leaders sounded upbeat about U.Sese relations
Economy of USA
President Bush, in his first major speech to Congress, proposes a $1.16 trillion "common sense" budget for fiscal 1990
Democratic National Committee
Ron Brown is elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first black to head a major US political party
Trial
The special prosecutor in the Iran-Contra case and the Justice Department reaches an agreement on protecting classified materials aimed at allowing the trial of Oliver North to proceed
April
Tour de France
Brother-in-law accidentally discharges his shotgun, striking LeMond in the back just over two months before the 1987 Tour de France, LeMond misses the following two Tours while recovering
May
Magellan Radar Mapping
Magellan launches to map Venus with synthetic aperture radar.
Galileo Arrives at Kennedy Space Center
The Galileo spacecraft arrives at Kennedy Space Center for final testing, mating with its probe and launch preparations.
June
Neptune Observation Campaign Begins
Voyager 2 begins sustained approach observations of Neptune from tens of millions of miles away.
Marriage
Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson marry for 2nd time
Marriage
Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson marry for 2nd time
July
Proteus Discovery Confirmed
Identifies the large inner moon later named Proteus in Voyager 2 images and confirms its orbit.
Invention of Stealth-Bomber
1st Test flight of US stealth-bomber
August
Financial Institutions Reform Act
The Act restructures thrift regulation and funds resolution of failed savings institutions.
Neptune Encounter
Helps interpret Voyager 2 science results from the Neptune encounter.
Neptune Imaging
Leads imaging observations of Neptune, its storms and rings.
Neptune Magnetic Axis Tilt
Voyager 2 magnetometer data show Neptune's magnetic field is strongly tilted and offset from the planet.
Neptune Magnetic Field
Measures Neptune's tilted magnetic field during the Voyager 2 encounter.
Triton Cantaloupe Terrain
Voyager 2 images reveal Triton's distinctive dimpled terrain and complex icy geology.
Triton Close Flyby
Voyager 2 passes close to Triton after its Neptune encounter and returns detailed surface observations.
Triton Imaging
Voyager 2 reveals Triton's icy surface, plumes and unusual terrain.
Triton Nitrogen Geysers
Voyager 2 imagery reveals active dark plumes rising above Triton's nitrogen-ice surface.
Voyager 2 Neptune Flyby
Voyager 2 makes the first and only spacecraft flyby of Neptune.
Great Dark Spot Imaging
Voyager 2 images reveal the Earth-sized Great Dark Spot in Neptune's atmosphere.
Neptune High-Speed Winds
Voyager measurements reveal some of the fastest atmospheric winds known in the Solar System.
Neptune Ring Arcs
Voyager observations resolve concentrated bright arcs embedded within Neptune's Adams ring.
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.