Top 10 Things You Forgot Happened In The 1980s

Even if you didn't know a thing about tennis, it was hard not to get swept up in the rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe. Much of the drama came from the contrast between the relaxed Borg and the hot-headed McEnroe. Although they started competing against one another in 1978, the drama really heated up in 1980. Borg defeated McEnroe at Wimbledon, but McEnroe bested Borg at the US Open. And the following year, McEnroe was triumphant at both competitions. However, Borg was the winner in their final showdown, at the 1983 Suntory Cup. However, the two have reportedly formed a friendlier bond since retiring. And Borg and McEnroe still stand as two of the best players tennis has ever known.

Can you imagine making international headlines but having no memory of the events in question? That’s what happened to Jessica McClure, better known as “Baby Jessica.” When McClure was 18 months old, she fell down a 22-feet deep and 8-inch wide well at her aunt's Midland, Texas home. Soon, the world was cheering for Baby Jessica and her rescue. After 56 hours, the courageous efforts of rescue workers brought her to safety. McClure, who has no direct memory of the experience, needed a fair bit of medical attention after her rescue. But today, she is by all accounts happy and healthy. And her story stands as an example of people working together for the greater good.

Pope John Paul II is one of the most influential religious leaders of the last century. But his life was nearly cut short in 1981 when he was shot and injured in St. Peter's Square by Mehmet Ali Ağca. Ağca, a Turkish assassin, had escaped prison in 1979 after killing a Turkish journalist. The Pope survived and Ağca was sentenced to life in prison. However, the story doesn't end there. The Pope forgave Ağca and implored people to pray for him. The Pope's influence also led to Ağca's pardoning in 2000. And in 2014, Ağca placed white roses at Pope John Paul II's grave. Doesn’t this just sound like the plot of a movie designed to make you cry?

When the United States and Soviet Union hockey teams faced off at the 1980 Winter Olympics, few expected the American team to emerge victorious. The Soviets had dominated past Games, and all signs pointed towards another victory. However, the underdog U.S. team, coached by Herb Brooks, played with strength and heart and stunned everyone to win 4-3. Announcer Al Michaels’ proclamation at the end of the game captures how we were all feeling. And later, the U.S. team went on to defeat Finland to take home the gold medal. This was a moment that was bigger than just winning a game.

There was a time when the idea of having a “personal computer” sounded like something straight out of science-fiction. That was until IBM introduced their first PC. Although other PCs had come before it, this was the one that really revolutionized the idea of home computing. Many were skeptical, including one IBM executive who asked, "Why would anyone want to take a computer home with them?" But an impressive design and a memorable Charlie Chaplin-inspired ad campaign made this machine a must-buy even for the non-computer geeks. In 1983, Time Magazine dubbed the IBM PC as "Machine of the Year." While far more advanced computing devices have arrived in the years since the IBM PC, they might not exist without it.

While the sun provides us with warmth and life, it can also be dangerous. Specifically, we're talking about ultraviolet radiation, which the ozone layer protects us from. However, chlorofluorocarbons (or CFCs), found in many common items like air conditioners and hair spray, were found to be causing extensive damage to the ozone layer. To ensure its and our survival, countries signed the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which banned production of CFCs for good. Today, the ozone layer continues to protect us from UV radiation. By identifying a problem and acting swiftly towards a solution, these scientists and world leaders were able to give us a safer planet.

Amazing feats in space exploration didn’t stop with the moon landing. In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to go to space, as well as the third woman in space. Not only that, but the 32-year old Ride was also the youngest of any American astronaut to go to space, and also the first LGBT-recognized person in space. Ride took part in two flights on the Space Station Challenger before leaving NASA in 1987. Although Ride sadly passed away in 2012, her legacy, as a trailblazer for women in space, lives on.

In 1981, a mysterious new illness was infecting hundreds of people. And the following year, it was being labeled "an epidemic." On September 24, 1981, the CDC first referred to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or "AIDS.” This became the defining public health crisis of the 1980s. And today, more than 36 million lives have been lost to HIV and AIDS. Increased awareness and research funding has brought new hope to those who have been - or may be - diagnosed with these conditions. The CDC’s recognition was just one part of the fight against AIDS. But it was undeniably a crucial one.

Less than three months into his first term, and President Ronald Reagan narrowly escaped assassination. Upon departing the Washington Hilton Hotel, the President, and members of his cabinet and staff were shot at. The culprit, 25-year-old John Hinckley Jr., had developed an obsession with the movie "Taxi Driver" and its young star, Jodie Foster. Although the President suffered serious trauma from the shooting, he survived and left the hospital 12 days later. In a controversial verdict, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In 2016, he was released from his psychiatric hospital to live with his mother, and five years later, a judge granted him unconditional release to start in 2022.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“M*A*S*H” Finale (1983)
This Sendoff Broke Ratings Records


CNN Premieres (1980)
The Cable News Giant Launched at the Start of the Decade

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" (1984)
Band Aid's Charity Single Spread Global Awareness

Madonna in the Wedding Dress (1984)
The Pop Star’s Performance at the First MTV VMAs Was Unforgettable

New Coke (1985)
Coca-Cola Tried to Reinvent Itself - to a Mixed Reaction

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger launched for the 10th time. 73 seconds later, it exploded, claiming the lives of the seven people on board. This event shocked the world and led to a major investigation into what caused the disaster. The Rogers Commission, formed by President Reagan in response, found both bureaucratic and technical issues to blame. It was also learned that warnings about the safety of the launch had been deliberately ignored. Among the people onboard was Christa McAuliffe, who was set to be the first teacher to ever go to space. In 2004, McAuliffe and the rest of the Challenger crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously.