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Show Text: Pam Bassett In June of 1985, President Reagan noted that the current tax system had become "public enemy number one" and "it's time we tore it down." He described himself as the people's champion, the "lobbyist" of the American people, denouncing the "special interests and their lobbyists" who were leading opposition to his proposals. A Providence, Rhode Island jury acquitted Claus von Bulow on June 10 of two charges that he attempted to kill his wife. Von Bulow's 1982 conviction for the two alleged murder attempts had been overturned in 1984, allowing for a re-trial. Nine days later, the Supreme Court ruled on a Washington state obscenity law that "it did not intend to characterize as obscene . . . any and all speech that aroused any sexual response." A string of fires in 1 1 Western states including Utah had devasted at least a million acres by July 11. More than 12,000 firefighters had been deployed by the Federal Interagency Fire Center in the affected states. President Reagan had a cancerous growth removed from the large intestine on July 13. His initial recovery was reported to be remarkable. The Coca-Cola Company announced that it was bringing back the 99-year-old recipe for original Coke. The action came three months after the company said it was going to retire the old formula in favor of a new one. A toxic gas leak at Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide plant in West Virginia on August 1 1 injured six plant workers and sent 134 area residents to hospitals for treatment. It caused eye and skin irritation, as well as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and collapse if absorbed through the skin. Arthur James Walker, retired Navy lieutenant commander, was found guilty of espionage, conspiracy and unauthorized possession of classified data. Walker was convicted of stealing classified material in a Soviet spy ring. Hurricane Elna struck Gulfport, Mississippi Sept. 2 with winds of up to 125 miles per hour, causing four deaths and $1 billion in damage. It crossed over into Alabama, Florida and Louisiana, damaging thousands of homes. On Oct. 9, the Senate voted overwhelmingly for an amendment that would mandate drastic reductions in federal deficits and a balanced budget by fiscal year 1991. The Gramm-Rudman Bill was passed by Congress on Dec. 11 and President Reagan signed it into law on Dec. 12. Twenty days later, the House of Representatives approved and sent to President Reagan a bill authorizing $302.5 billion in defense spending for fiscal year 1986. Key provisions: allocation of $2.6 for the MX missile program, allocation of $724 million for development of the mobile Midget Man Missile, allocation of $2.75 billion for Strategic Defense Initiative research. January 20, the United States observed the first federal holiday in honor of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. His bust had been unveiled Jan. 16 in the great rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. He was the first black to be honored there. The nation was stunned by the tragic midair explosion of NASA's space shuttle "Challenger" on Jan. 28, which killed all seven crew members. The worst disaster in the American space program occurred only 74 seconds after take-off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The shuttle program was suspended indefinitely as a result of the disaster, putting an end to a history of 24 missions flown without major mishap since the flight of "Columbia" in April, 1981. Cynanide-filled Tylenol capsules killed a New York woman on Feb. 8. Nine days later, Johnson and Johnson, maker of Tylenol, announced it would end production of all its non-prescription capsule medicines. Gerber Products Co. received a complaint about glass in its baby food. By March 18, federal authorities had received 393 complaints from 30 states. Gerber refused to withdraw its products. FDA agents agreed with Gerber about the withdrawal because its checks at plants proved no problem with the manufacturing. The Statue of Liberty will mark her 100th birthday in July. With the final interior refurbishing now being completed, Lady Liberty will soon be ready for the celebrations this summer. On May 10, NASA experienced another defeat with the unmanned rocket "Delta," carrying a weather satellite which went out of control and was blown up by ground command shortly after launch. The "Delta" is the space agency's most used and dependable rocket being launched successfully 43 times. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was the subject of much controversy this year. An all out campaign to find a medication that will control the deadly disease was the goal of many well-known personalities. In Utah, the Great Salt Lake has risen to a height that even the early Mormon pioneers had never seen. Heavy spring rains contributed to the lake's new dimensions. the Nation f - i ' -I IT"""" , v. jr 1 vis. p ' 0 , "-ir . iff-nmrrifffirrt 9 'A it? f f mrtf' ASTRONAUTS of the space shuttle Challenger: (left, front) Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair; (left, rear) Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon C. McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith A. Resnik. McAuliffe and Jarvis are payload specialists representing the "Teacher in Space Project" and the Hughes Company, respectively. AP photo) CHALLENGER, the ill-fated U.S. space shuttle, is launched from Pad B at the Kennedy Space Center in florida. Moments later, the craft exploded, killing the crew. (AP photo: Phil Sandlin) FAMILY members of teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe watch the flight of the Challenger as the craft exploded. In left foreground is McAuliffe's sister, Lisa Corrigan. Behind her is her mother and father, Grace and Ed Corrigan. (AP photo: Jim Cole) |