December 8, 1980
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 8, 1980
NY Times Headlines — Week of December 8, 1980
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 Armed Services Showing Weaknesses In Several Key Areas; The Soviet Military: Its Power And Limits Last Of Three Articles. Soviet Armed Forces Show Weakness In Many Key Areas Afghanistan Seen As Example Reluctance To Attack Afghans Breakdown Of Deployment Soviet Troops Well Trained Maintenance Is Centralized Birth Rate Is Declining Navy And Air Force Problems
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
Brezhnev Urges U.S. To Agree To A Ban On Meddling In Gulf; Assails 'Nato Military Bloc' Seems To Offer Russian Restraint In Oil Areas If World Accepts Situation In Afghanistan Aimed At Reagan Administration Offer To Interested Nations Brezhnev Invites U.S. To Join Pact Against Meddling In Persian Gulf U.S. Aides See No New Ideas
Nato Warns Soviet Invasion Of Poland Would End Detente; Statement Underlines Unity Ministers Say Military Intervention Would Fundamentally Change The Situation In Europe Emphasis On Unity Communique Reflects Harmony Nato Warns Soviet On Polish Crisis Mayor Projects Could Be Stopped Transition Causes No Problems Trudeau Urges Calm
World Events — December 1980
Time Person of the Year — 1980
On the radio
Billboard Charts — December 8, 1980
Grammy Awards
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1980–81 Season
Emmy Winners — 1980
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — December 8, 1980
Ebert 4-Star Films — December 8, 1980
On the field
Sports Champions — December 8, 1980
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