1989
3,980 were injured and 66 were killed when an earthquake measuring 6.9 shook the San Francisco-Oakland-Santa Cruz area, causing a double-tiered freeway bridge to collapse. The quake struck as a 
World Series game was about to begin at Candlestick Park. Damage to the region was estimated at $10,000,000,000.
House Speaker Jim Wright resigned after the Ethics Committee accused him of accepting inappropriate gifts. He was replaced by Thomas Foley.
President Bush - who had campaigned with the promise of no tax raises - called for an increase in income taxes to help curb the deficit which had begun to snowball during the Reagan administration.
The Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound, creating the largest domestic oil spill in history. The tanker's captain, Joseph Hazelwood, was accused of drunkeness and negligence.
97 per cent of the buildings in St. Croix were destroyed by Hurricane Hugo. The storm caused billions of dollars in damage to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and portions of the east coast. Amazingly, only 25 lives were lost.
47 sailors died in an explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa. The Navy originally said a sailor had caused the blast in a suicide attempt, but later recinded that conclusion without offering another explanation.
Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry was arrested after being videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a motel room.
The logging industry braced for hard times and court battles when the Northern Spotted Owl was added to the Endangered Species List.
23 Americans were killed and over 300 were wounded after President Bush authorized an invasion of Panama in an attempt to arrest General Manuel Noriega. The invasion took place just before Christmas and Noriega surrendered just after the New Year. He was taken to the U.S. to stand trial for drug trafficking.
Lincoln Savings & Loan chief Charles Keating was indicted on 42 criminal fraud charges.
Baseball superstar Pete Rose was banished from the game for life by the Commisioner Of Baseball. Rose had admitted to gambling on professional sports but denied the Commissioner's finding that he had bet on his own team.
Driving Miss Daisy received the Academy Award for Best Picture. Its star, Jessica Tandy, was named Best Actress.
NBC's Cheers became the number one TV series. Law & Order debuted.
Hit songs included Vogue by Madonna and Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins, which received a Grammy for Record Of The Year.
