The US Federal Government shut down for three days.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially made a federal US holiday.
A bill to recognize Martin Luther King Jr's birthday as a national holiday passed the US Senate.
Cellular mobile phone service was made available to the American public for the first time.
Lionel Richie's second album and best-selling of all time, 'Can't Slow Down,' was released.
AT&T was founded by Alexander Graham Bell, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, and Thomas Sanders.
Singers Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson released their song 'Say Say Say.'
Cosmonauts Titov and Strekalov narrowly escaped the Soyuz T-10 spacecraft explosion.
Miss America crowned Vanessa Williams, the first black winner, in New York City.
Arnold Schwarzenegger gained US citizenship.
Michael Stewart, a victim of police brutality, was beaten and arrested in New York.
Metallica released their album 'Kill 'Em All.'
The Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica recorded the world's lowest temperature in an inhabited location.
The first Hughes Communications Galaxy satellite was launched into orbit.
NASA's spacecraft, The Pioneer 10, became the first craft to exit the solar system.
The USSR's Venera 16 probe was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on a trip to Venus.
James Bond's 13th installment, 'Octopussy,' was released.
Betty White received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host.
Reggie Jackson became the first major leaguer to strike out 2,000 times.
NASA's Challenger Space Shuttle was launched from Florida on its maiden voyage.
The series finale of M*A*S*H, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen aired.
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' hit number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for 37 weeks.
Shergar, the legendary Thoroughbred racehorse, was stolen by gunmen.
American action-adventure series 'A-Team' first aired on NBC.
Apple released the first computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) called the Lisa.
