Pan American Ceases Operations - December 1991

Delta Air Lines, which had been providing financial support to Pan American World airways, announced, December 3, that it would not offer any further assistance. Pan Am then closed operations, December 4, ending one of the most important and colorful chapters in aviation history. The year 1991 had also seen the demise of Eastern Airlines and Midway Airlines.

Ex-Leader of Panama Convicted - April 1992

Gen. Manuel Noriega, former military ruler of Panama, was convicted, April 9, in U.S. District Court in Miami of racketeering, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Noriega, the first foreign head of state convicted by a U.S. jury, had been seized by U.S. forces early in 1990 after the American invasion of Panama. At the trial, witnesses, many of them convicted drug traffickers themselves, tied Noriega to the Medellin drug cartel. The government sought to show that Noriega had taken millions of dollars in bribes from the cartel. Testifying for the defense, Adm. Daniel Murphy (ret), chief of staff for Vice Pres. George Bush during the 1980s, said that Noriega had cooperated with U.S. efforts to intercept drug shipments. On July 10, Judge William Hoeveler sentenced Noriega to 40 years in prison.

Maxwell's Private Company File for Bankruptcy - December 1991

It was reported, December 3, that Spanish pathologists had concluded that Robert Maxwell, the publisher, had suffered a heart attack before he fell off his yacht and died in November. They ruled out foul play. The Mirror Group, a Maxwell property, announced, December 3, that it was investigating loans and asset transfers from the company's pension fund to companies that Maxwell controlled. On December 4, Britain's Serious Fraud Office began a similar inquiry. On December 5, Maxwell's sons, Ian and Kevin, sought bankruptcy protection in Britain for Maxwell's privately owned companies. Also on December 5, the New York Daily News, another part of the Maxwell empire, filed for bankruptcy in the U.S.

U.N. Imposes Sanctions on Yugoslavia - May 1992

The U.N. Security Council attempted to stop the bloodshed in Yugoslavia. On May 1, Serbian forces began shelling Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also seized many towns within the secessionist republic. Hundreds of people were killed. The federal army, dominated by Serbs, singed a truce with the Bosnian government, May 5, A cease-fire took effect, May 13, but it didn't last long. To convey its concern, the U.S. government, May 20, revoked the U.S. landing rights of the Yugoslav national airline. Sec. of State James Baker announced, May 22, that Yugoslav consulates in New York City and San Francisco would be closed and that Yugoslav military attaches based in Washington would be expelled. On May 22, the U.N. General Assembly admitted as U.N. members the former republics of Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On May 27, the European Community imposed a trade embargo on Yugoslavia. On May 29 and 30, Serbian forces shelled Sarajevo and the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik. The U.N. Security Council, May 30, approved, 13-0, broad new sanctions against Yugoslavia. The U.N. resolution demanded an end to the fighting and to all interference in Bosnia by Yugoslavia. The resolution authorized a ban on all exports to Yugoslavia except food and medical supplies, and a global ban on imports from Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia's foreign assets were frozen and commercial contacts halted. Serbian Pres. Slobodan Milosevic denied, May 31, that Yugoslavia had committed any aggression against Bosnia.

Paris Summit Marks End of Cold War - November 1990

A formal conclusion to the era of Cold War between East and West was formally celebrated at a summit conference in Paris. On his way to the summit, Pres. George Bush visited Czechoslovakia, addressing 100,000 in Wenceslas Square in Prague on November 17, before speaking again to the Federal Assembly. Bush met with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Berlin, November 18. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev met with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican, November 18, and then signed a Soviet-Italian friendship treaty with Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti. The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe opened in Paris, November 19, with the United States, Canada, and all the nations of Europe represented (except Albania, which sent observers). On November 19, Bush and Gorbachev, as well as other leaders of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which limited each military force in the region to 20,000 main battle tanks, 30,000 other armored combat vehicles, 20,000 pieces of artillery, and 6,800 combat aircraft. On November 21, the last day of the summit, the leaders signed the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, which declared an end to "the era of confrontation and division in Europe" and pledged a "new era of democracy, peace and unity."

"Junk-Bond" Expert Sentenced - November 1990

In New York District Court on November 21, Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Michael Milken, a former employee of Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., to 10 years in prison for securities fraud. Milken had helped facilitate the corporate takeover boom of the 1980s through the promotion of high-risk, high-yield securities known as "junk bonds." He pleaded guilty in April 1990 to fraud---6 felony counts---and agreed to pay fines and make restitution totalling $600M. In imposing a sentence that was longer than some had predicted, Judge Wood dismissed assertions by Milken's lawyers that the crimes were little more than technicalities. She said a prison term was necessary to deter others in the financial industry from engaging in similar practices.

Bulgarian Premier Resigns - November 1990

8 Soviet Republics Sign Economic Treaty - October 1991

Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev and the presidents of 8 Soviet republics signed an economic union treaty in Moscow, October 18, that declared "private ownership, free enterprise, and competition" to be the "basis for economic recovery." The presidents of 4 other republics---Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldavia, and Ukraine---boycotted the signing. The Ukrainian parliament voted, October 22, to create an independent armed force that would have a strength of at least 400,000. The Ukranian government announced, October 23, that it would henceforth conduct its own economic transactions with other countries.

Oklahoma Bomb Trial Moved to Colorado - February 1996

In a decision publicly released, February 20, a federal judge granted a defense motion requesting that the trial of 2 suspects in the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City be moved to Colorado. The bomb that had exploded in April 1995 had killed 168 people. Subsequently, 2 men, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, had been charged in the crime. Judge Richard Matsch noted that while relatives of the victims wanted to attend the trial, prejudice against the accused ran high in Oklahoma.

South Africa Adopts Permanent Constitution - May 1996

The Constitutional Assembly in South Africa, May 8, approved a new constitution to replace the 1993 interim constitution. Under the interim charter, which ended the era of racial separation, or apartheid, the leading black and white parties had joined in a coalition government. The new constitution's bill of rights banned discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, marital status, pregnancy, and sexual orientation. All citizens were guaranteed freed of speech. movement, and political activity, as well as adequate housing, food, health care, and education. Deputy Pres. F.W. de Klerk, who had led the last white government, announced, May 9, that his National Party, while supporting the new constitution, would pull out of the ruling coalition and go into opposition.

Killer of Popular Singer Convicted - October 1995

The killer of Selena, the popular Mexican-American singer who had been shot to death in Corpus Christi, TX, in March, was convicted of murder in Houston, October 23. Selena Quintanilla Perez, who performed a music style called Tejano, had been thought to be at the point of stardom. On the day of her death she met at a motel with Yolanda Saldivar, founder of her fan club, who had been dismissed after alledgedly embezzling $30,000 from a boutique owned by Selena's family. Saldivar shot Selena fatally, and later contended that her gun had gone off by accident. The Houston jury, October 26, sentenced Saldivar to life in prison.

Programs to Be Rated for Sex, Violence - February 1996

Pres. Bill Clinton, February 8, asked television network and cable executives to come to the White House to work out a means of rating television programs that had a violent or sexual content. At the meeting with the president, February 29, the heads of 4 major networks and the leading cable companies agreed to take steps to implement use of the so-called v-chip (for "violence") that parents could install in their sets. The chip, which was mandated in the telecommunications law just passed by Congress, would "read" a program's rating, and television owners would have the option of blocking out programs with certain ratings.

Irish Voters End Ban on Divorce - November 1995

By a narrow margin, November 24, voters in Ireland ended the country's constitutional ban on divorce. The margin in the referendum was just 50.3% to 49.7%---only about 9,100 votes out of 1.6M cast. The issue had been intensely debated for years in the largely Roman Catholic country. The government of Prime Min. John Bruton had called for an end to the divorce ban, while the Church had urged its retention. Under Irish law, a couple could now obtain a divorce after living apart for 4 years and showing that there was no chance for a reconciliation.

Braves Win Their First World Series - October 1995

The Atlanta Braves won the National League pennant, October 14, by completing a 4-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, 6-0, in Atlanta. Right fielder Mike Devereaux hit a 3-run homer, and pitcher Steve Avery gave up only 2 hits in the 6 innings he pitched to earn the victory. The Cleveland Indians also qualified for the series by defeating the Seattle Mariners, 4-0, October 17, in Seattle, to take the American League championship series, 4 games to 2. Dennis Martinez pitched 7 innings for the victory. In a dramatic World Series between the Braves and Indians, 5 of the 6 games were decided by one run. Atlanta wrapped up the title, 4 games to 2, October 28, with a 1-0 victory, as Tom Glavine and his 9th-inning reliever, Mark Wohlers, gave up just one hit. Right fielder Dave Justice accounted for the game's only run with a home run in the 6th inning off reliever Jim Poole.

Soviet People Vote to Preserve Union - March 1991

During another turbulent month in the Soviet Union, the people voted to keep their federal union. On March 1, nearly 200,000 coal miners went on strike in the Ukarine, Kazakhstan, Russia, demanding higher pay. The strike spread and soon included a demand by the miners that Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev resign. In nonbinding plebiscites, March 3, voters in Estonia and Latvia backed independence from the Soviet Union. The final draft of the union treaty, published March 9, proposed to transform the nation into a "democratic state, formed as a result of a voluntary union equal republics," from which any republic could secede. Boris Yeltsin, president of Russia, March 9, urged democratic forces to "declare war on the leadership…which has led us into a quagmire." Hundreds of thousands of Yeltsin's supporters demostrated in Moscow and other cities, March 10. Mayor Gavril Popov of Moscow urged citizens not to support the treaty. With only 9 of 15 republics officially participating, the treaty was approved, March 17, with 77 percent of some 105M voters reportedly saying yes. In an apparent boost for Yeltsin, Russian voters approved direct election of their president. Gorbachev, March 25, banned demostrations for 3 weeks in Moscow, but on March 28, more than 100,000 Yeltsin supporters turned out anyway.

Congress Approves Free-Trade Treaty - December 1994

Congress in December completed its approval of the tariff-cutting provisions of the so-called Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The House approved GATT, November 29, 288-146, and the Senate gave its approval December 1, 76-24.

Unemployment at 8-Year High - July 1992

Unemployment at 8-Year High - July 1992

The Labor Dept. reported, July 2, that the nation's unemployment rate stood at 7.8 percent in June, the highest level since March 1984. The jobless level had climbed 0.3 percent in each of the past 2 months. Responding to the newest data, the Federal Reserve Board, July 2, cut its discount rate---the interest rate it charged to banks---from 3.5 percent to 3 percent. This rate had not been so low since 1963. The Labor Dept. reported, July 10, that prices charged by producers rose 0.3 percent for finished goods rose 0.2 percent in June. The department said, July 14, the consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in June. The Commerce Dept. said, July 16, that housing starts had declined 3.2 percent in June. The department reported, July 17, that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had risen to $7.38B in May. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan predicted, July 22, that the economic expansion would soon gain momentum. On July 30, however, the Commerce Dept. reported that the gross domestic product had grown by only 1.4 percent during the 2nd quarter.

Baltic Crackdown Turns Violent - January 1991

Lithuanians and Latvians were killed as Soviet troops moved forcefully against the 2 Baltic republics. The Soviet defense ministry said, January 7, that it would send thousands of troops to 7 republics to seize draft dodgers and enforce conscription. Pres. Vytautas Landsbergis of Lithuania said the Kremlin was "looking for bloodshed," January 7, and on January 8, the Latvian parliament condemned the troop move as an "invasion" of the Baltic republics. Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev told Lithuania, January 10, that it must accepted Soviet central authority. In Lithuania on January 10, supporters of the Moscow government went on strike. Hundreds of unarmed supporters of independence surrounded communication facilities in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, January 13. Soviet paratroopers fired on the people, some of whom were crushed by tanks. Fifteen people were killed and 140 were injured. Boris Yeltsin, president of the Russian Federation, and the 3 Baltic republics signed a mutual-security agreement, January 13, binding all the signatories to defend any that were attacked by the Kremlin. Yeltsin denounced the killings in Lithuania, and on January 14, called on Russian troops to refuse to shoot civilians. Gorbachev, January 14, said he had not given the order to attack the demonstrators. The Supreme Soviet, January 14, confirmed Finance Minister Valentin Pavlov as the new premier (his predecessor, Nikolai Ryzhkov, had fallen ill), and on January 15, confirmed Aleksandr Bessmertnykh as the new foreign minister. In Vilnius, January 16, as many as 500,000 people attended a funeral for 9 of those killed 3 days earlier. In Moscow, January 20, 100,000 to 300,000 people demonstrated against the crackdown in the Baltics. Just hours later, in Riga, the capital of Latvia, Soviet para-military troops stormed a government building; 4 Latvians were killed.

Tensions Build Within Yugoslavia - May 1991

Tensions Build Within Yugoslavia - May 1991

A shootout between Croatians and Serbs in Borovo Selo, in Yugoslavia's republic of Croatia, May 2, resulted in the deaths of 12 policemen and 3 civilians. Serbs inside Croatia were seeking to join Serbia, a republic to the south. Col. Gen. Veljko Kadijevic, the country's Defense secretary, said, May 6, that "Yugoslavia has centered a state of civil war." The military went on combat alert, May 6, and on May 7, the military began to call up reserves. On May 15, Stipe Mesic of Croatia, vice chairman of the collective presidency, was scheduled to become chairman, or titular head of state. An opponent of Serbian nationalism, Mesic would have become Yugoslavia's first non-Communist leader since World War II. But Biroslav Jovic of Serbia, who held the charimanship, blocked Mesic from getting a majority vote. In a referendum held May 19, voters in Croatia overwhelmingly endorsed having a sovereign state within a loose Yugoslav confederation. Mesic, May 20, unilaterally declared himself to be the head of state, but the administrative chief of the presidency's secretariat rejected this claim. Croatia, May 29, declared itself to be independent.

Germany United After 45 Years - October 1990

The reunification of Germany was completed at midnight, October 2-3. Since the end of World War II in 1945 there had been 2 Germanys, but the rush to unification had been swift since the collapse of the hard-line Communist regime in East Germany late in 1989. The new nation, having a population of 78M, would be known formally as the Federal Republic of Germany, previously the official designation of West Germany.