April 25, 1980
Gas cost $1.19 a gallon in the spring of 1980, and the Dow Jones stood at 964 — the United States was navigating the Iran hostage crisis and rising inflation, with the Carter administration quietly stepping back from treating the standoff as an active emergency. On the cultural front, Blondie's "Call Me" sat at the top of the charts while Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" was the bestselling nonfiction book in the country. The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship over the Philadelphia 76ers, and that same spring the World Health Organization certified the global eradication of smallpox — the first and still only time in history that a human disease had been completely eliminated from the planet.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — April 25, 1980
NY Times Headlines — Week of April 25, 1980
U.S. Attempt To Rescue Iran Hostages Fails; 8 Die As Planes Collide During Withdrawal; Accident On Ground No Clashes Occur During Mission In Desert Area, White House Says Many Questions Unanswered Talk Of Military Action Attempt To Rescue Hostages Fails; 8 U.S. Crewmen Die Delay Had Been Indicated Move Called A Surprise 'In Every Possible Instance' Adopted Over Nixon'S Veto Vance Vowed To Observe Law
Defends The Mission; Says Administration Will Take Necessary Steps To Free Hostages Tension Of The Moment Shows President Pledges To Press Aims In The Hostage Crisis
3 Gunmen In London Seize Iran'S Embassy; Raiders Say They Speak For Iranian Arabs--20 Hostages Held 3 Gunmen In London Seize Iran'S Embassy 'Fighting For Justice' Iranian Threatens Reprisals
World Events — April 1980
Time Person of the Year — 1980
On the radio
Billboard Charts — April 25, 1980
Grammy Awards
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1979–80 Season
Emmy Winners — 1980
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — April 25, 1980
Ebert 4-Star Films — April 25, 1980
On the field
Sports Champions — April 25, 1980
Interested in postcards, posters or t-shirts? Leave your email and we’ll let you know.