Flashback 1989

Tens of thousands of Chinese students take over Beijing's Tiananmen Square in rally for democracy (April 19 et seq.). More than one million in Beijing demonstrate for democracy; chaos spreads across nation (mid-May et seq.). Thousands killed in Tiananmen Square as Chinese leaders take hard line toward demonstrators (June 4 et seq.).

• George Herbert Walker Bush inaugurated as 41st US President (Jan. 20).
  
  Ruptured tanker Exxon Valdez sends 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound (March 24).

A San Francisco Bay area earthquake measuring 7.1 in magnitude, killed 67 and injured over 3,000. Over 100,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. (Oct. 17)

Economics

US GDP (1998 dollars): $5,438.70 billion
Federal spending: $1143.17 billion
Federal debt: $2868.0 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars): $28,906
Consumer Price Index: 124
Unemployment: 5.3%
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.25

Events

• Salman Rushdie's novel Satanic Verses is published and sparks immediate controversy. Islamic militants put a price on his head.


• America's beloved comedienne Lucille Ball dies at age 87.


• Visionary Jaron Lanier coins the term virtual reality and produces the equipment to experience it.


• Saturday Night Live's comedienne Gilda Radner passes away at age 42 from ovarian cancer.

Books

Oscar Hijuelos, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

• Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day


• Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club