A Look Back At
Born in 1986
What Was Life Like in 1986?
Who Was in Charge?
President
Ronald Reagan
What Things Cost
Gas (per gallon)
$0.86
Loaf of Bread
$0.66
Average House
$88,000
Weekly Wage
$346
Events of 1986 in the United States
A selection from Wikipedia's '1986 in the United States'. Not a complete list.
- January 12 – STS-61-C: Space Shuttle Columbia is launched with the first Hispanic-American astronaut, Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz.
- January 20 – The first federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring Martin Luther King Jr., is observed.
- February 25 – People Power Revolution: President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines goes into exile in Hawaii after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the first Filipino woman president, first as an interim president. Salvador Laurel becomes her vice president.
- March 24 – The 58th Academy Awards, hosted by Alan Alda, Jane Fonda and Robin Williams, are held at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, with Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa winning Best Picture, Best Director and five other awards out of 11 nominations.
- May 16 – Top Gun, an action film featuring naval aviation and starring Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis, debuts in cinemas. It goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year, netting nearly $177 million in America alone.
- May 25 – Hands Across America: approximately 6.5 million people form a human chain from New York City to Long Beach, California, to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.
- July 8 – The 6.0 Mw North Palm Springs earthquake shook Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong), causing 29–40 injuries and $4.5–6 million in losses.
- October 9 – The Fox Broadcasting Company (then abbreviated as FBC; now Fox) launches as the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network, the first such attempt since 1967.
Popular Toys & Games
- Lazer Tag
- Nintendo Entertainment System
- Popples
Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 on 1 January 1986
Say You, Say Me
Lionel Richie