When This Dropped

December 3, 1980

President
Carter
Dow (EOY)
964
Gas/gal
$1.19
Big Mac
$1.00
Min Wage
$3.10

By the winter of 1980, Carter was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $3.10/hr — the Iran hostage crisis was stretching into its fourth month, with President Carter warning Congress that the United States would use armed force to repel any Soviet advance toward the Persian Gulf. On television, "60 Minutes" remained the country's top-rated program, and at the movies, "Kramer vs. Kramer" was drawing large audiences and heading toward a Best Picture Oscar win. The Philadelphia Phillies had claimed the 1979 World Series title that fall, and that February, Lake Placid, New York hosted the Winter Olympics, where American athletes brought home 6 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals across the games.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — December 3, 1980

New York Times
Time
Rolling Stone
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of December 3, 1980

Soviet Bloc Nations Meet Unexpecpedly On Crisis In Poland; Diplomats Split On Meaning All Warsaw Pact Countries Attend And Express Their Confidence In The Kania Government A Western Assessment Detente Is Again Endorsed A Parallel With Czechoslovakia Soviet Bloc Nations Meet Unexpectedly On Crisis In Poland Tension And Rumor Fill The Air Americans Hold A Dimmer View Union Rules Out New Strikes

U.S. Suspends New Aid To Salvador Till American Deaths Are Clarified; Role Of Security Forces Hinted U.S. Suspends New Aid To Salvador Till American Deaths Are Clarified Official Warns Of Coup Threat Junta Member In Panama

Moscow'S Arms Buildup A Major Issue For Reagan; The Soviet Military: Its Power And Limits An Issue Of National Concern Debate On Soviet Intentions A Military Buildup By The Soviet Union Poses Issue For Reagan Administration Distortion Of Manpower Costs Nuclear Arms Air And Land Forces Naval Forces Sacrifices For Security Kennan Sees Defensive Aims

Byrd Says Senators Might Reject Haig; Warns A Nomination Would Bring Scrutiny Of Role In Watergate No Comment From Baker Byrd Says Senate Might Reject Haig If He Is Nominated For Cabinet Post Noted Recent News Reports 'If Not Now, When?'

Russians Are Ready For Possible Move On Poland, U.S. Says; White House Issues Warning But Senior Aides Say There'S Still No Evidence The Kremlin Has Decided On Intervention Carter Confers With Advisers 'They Are Now Ready To Move' U.S. Says Soviet Is Ready For Possible Move Into Poland

Soviet Assails Union; U.S. Aides Say A Move Into Poland May Be Masked As Military Games Groundwork For Intervention Troops Prepared To Move U.S. Officials Report A Callup Of Reservists In Soviet Bloc Nations

World Events — December 1980

Time Person of the Year — 1980

Ayatollah Khomeini
Person of the Year
Ayatollah Khomeini

On the radio

Billboard Charts — December 3, 1980

Lady
Kenny Rogers
Hot 100 #1
"Lady"
Kenny Rogers
Guilty
Barbra Streisand
Billboard 200 #1
"Guilty"
Barbra Streisand

Grammy Awards

Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Grammy Album of the Year
"Christopher Cross"
Christopher Cross
Sailing
Christopher Cross
Grammy Song of the Year
"Sailing"
Christopher Cross
Sailing
Christopher Cross
Grammy Record of the Year
"Sailing"
Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Grammy Best New Artist
Christopher Cross

On the bookshelf

The Covenant
James Michener
NYT Fiction #1
"The Covenant"
James Michener
Cosmos
Carl Sagan
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Cosmos"
Carl Sagan
The Executioner's Song
Norman Mailer
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Executioner's Song"
Norman Mailer
Sophie's Choice
William Styron
National Book Award Fiction
"Sophie's Choice"
William Styron
The Right Stuff
Tom Wolfe
National Book Award Nonfiction
"The Right Stuff"
Tom Wolfe

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1980–81 Season

60 Minutes
Nielsen #1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1980–81 Season

Emmy Winners — 1980

Hill Street Blues
Emmy Drama Series
Hill Street Blues
Barney Miller
Emmy Comedy Series
Barney Miller
Daniel J. Travanti
Hill Street Blues
Emmy Lead Actor
Daniel J. Travanti
Hill Street Blues
Barbara Bel Geddes
Dallas
Emmy Lead Actress
Barbara Bel Geddes
Dallas

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — December 3, 1980

Private Benjamin
Box Office #1
Private Benjamin
Kramer vs. Kramer
Oscar Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
Robert Redford
Ordinary People
Oscar Best Director
Robert Redford
Ordinary People
Robert De Niro
Raging Bull
Oscar Best Actor
Robert De Niro
Raging Bull
Sissy Spacek
Coal Miner's Daughter
Oscar Best Actress
Sissy Spacek
Coal Miner's Daughter

Ebert 4-Star Films — December 3, 1980

Atlantic City
4-Star Review
Atlantic City
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
4-Star Review
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Kagemusha
4-Star Review
Kagemusha
Mon oncle d’Amerique
4-Star Review
Mon oncle d’Amerique
Ordinary People
4-Star Review
Ordinary People

On the field

Sports Champions — December 3, 1980

Super Bowl
Pittsburgh Steelers
def. Los Angeles Rams
World Series
Philadelphia Phillies
def. Kansas City Royals
NBA Champion
Los Angeles Lakers
def. Philadelphia 76ers
Stanley Cup
New York Islanders
def. Philadelphia Flyers
Winter Olympics
Lake Placid, USA
🥇6🥈4🥉2
Summer Olympics
Moscow, USSR
US boycott

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