1980 Timeline

Jan. 29, 1980: Six U.S. Embassy aides escape from Iran with Canadian help.
Feb. 2, 1980: FBI's two-year undercover operation "Abscam" (for Arab scam) implicates public officials.
April 7, 1980: U.S. breaks diplomatic ties with Iran.
April 25, 1980: Eight U.S. servicemen are killed and five are injured as helicopter and cargo plane collide in abortive desert raid to rescue American hostages in Iran.
May 18, 1980: Mt. St. Helens volcano erupts
July 2, 1980: 22nd Olympic Games open in Moscow, boycotted by U.S. and other nations for the Soviet's invasion of Afghanistan
July 27, 1980: Shah of Iran dies at age 60
August 14, 1980: Polish workers strike and seize control of Gdansk shipyard
October 23, 1980: Screen actors end 94-day strike.
October 23, 1980: Aleksei N. Kosygin, 79, ailing Soviet Prime Minister resigns.
November 4, 1980: Ronald Reagan elected President after a Republican sweep
November 6, 1980: 3 U.S. nuns and a lay worker are found dead in El Savaldor
December 8, 1980: John Lennon shot dead in New York City
December 11, 1980: Magnum P.I. premires on CBS

Time Magazine's Man of the Year: Ronald Reagan - top-billed at last and a new morning in America dawns

Top 10 TV Shows 1980-81 Top Music of 1980

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)
4. M*A*S*H (CBS)
5. The Love Boat (ABC)
6. The Jeffersons (CBS)
7. Alice (CBS)
8. House Calls (CBS)
9. Three's Company (ABC)
10. Little House on the Prarie (NBC) Grammy Recording of the Year: "Sailing" by Christopher Cross
Grammy Album of the Year: Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross
Other Top Songs:
"Call Me" by Blondie
"Brass in Pocket" by The Prentenders
"Another Brick in the Wall Part II" by Pink Floyd
"Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
"Against the Wind" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Album:
Zenyatta Mondatta by the Police
"Don't Stand So Close to Me," brought the message of a new wave to the U.S. and became the first platinum album for the Police.

Academy Awards for 1980

Best Picture: Ordinary People
Best Director: Robert Redford, Ordinary People
Best Actor: Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek, Coal Miner's Daughter
Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen, Melvin and Howard