The year is 1981, and the world’s eyes are on London for a spectacle that promises to be more than just a nuptial ceremony. I’m talking about the marriage of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, an event marvelled at by hundreds of millions across the globe. The buzz was palpable; people hosted viewing parties, and streets in London were filled with eager spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the soon-to-be royal couple.
This event wasn’t an ordinary affair for the British monarchy or the public. It reached far beyond the gates of Buckingham Palace, resonating with people from all walks of life who found something special in the young Diana’s story. Her transformation from a nursery teacher’s assistant to a princess seemed to fulfil the fantasies many held of royalty and fairy tales.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding wasn’t just about the pomp and ceremony. The fashion—Diana’s gown, in particular—set trends that would influence weddings for years to come. Media attention had never been so intense, and the wedding broadcast was one of the most viewed events on television at the time. The world watched as the couple exchanged vows in St. Paul’s Cathedral, marking a significant chapter in the history of the British monarchy.
The cultural shockwaves of the wedding continued long afterwards, reflecting the power of a single event to set societal trends and expectations. As significant as this union was, 1981 had more in store that highlighted the complex tapestry of geopolitics and international relations. The year would not only be remembered for the joining of Charles and Diana but also for critical moments of diplomacy between the United States and Iran.
Diplomacy and Hostages: The 1981 Iran-US Agreement
The Iran hostage crisis was a profound event that tested international relations and diplomacy. It began in November 1979 when 52 American diplomats and citizens were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran, following the Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Shah, an ally of the United States.
For 444 days, the world watched and waited as a tense standoff unfolded between the US and Iran. It was a period characterized by fraught negotiations and an escalating series of demands from the Iranian side.
January 20, 1981, marked a decisive turning point with the successful completion of negotiations resulting in the Algerian Accords. The agreement culminated in the hostages’ release, coinciding with the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.
The resolution of the crisis showcased the importance of patience and diplomacy over force. However, it left an indelible mark on the relationship between the US and Iran, influencing their interactions to this present day.
The saga’s conclusion reminds us of the intricate dance of diplomacy that defines—and sometimes defies—the geopolitical stage. The story carries into the broader scope of world politics in 1981, a year that would test the world’s resolve and resilience in the face of violence targeting some of its most prominent leaders.
Year of Survivors: The Attempted Assassinations of Reagan and the Pope
1981 was a year that etched itself into the collective memory as two of the world’s most prominent leaders survived assassination attempts. On March 30, just 69 days into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was struck by a bullet outside the Washington Hilton Hotel. In this public and daring act, John Hinckley Jr. was seeking to impress actress Jodie Foster. Instead, it resulted in putting Reagan into a fight for his life.
Remarkably, the President recovered quickly, resuming his duties and even addressing Congress just a month later. This assailant’s bizarre motive and the aftermath, including Reagan’s calm quip to his surgeons, ‘I hope you’re all Republicans,’ underscored his fortitude and set a tone for the resilience of his administration.
This attempt on Reagan’s life compelled an immediate overhaul of presidential security protocols, sending a stark message: no one was immune to such threats. Just six weeks following Reagan’s ordeal, another shocking act occurred. On May 13, Mehmet Ali Ağca fired shots in St. Peter’s Square, wounding Pope John Paul II in the abdomen, left hand and right arm.
Ağca has never explained his motives. At the time, he suggested that the K.G.B. and Bulgarian intelligence were involved, but later disowned those claims. Before this attempt on the Pope’s life, in 1979, he murdered Abdi İpekçi, the editor of a Turkish newspaper. This was done on behalf of the Turkish ultranationalist group, the Grey Wolves, who then sprung him from prison after serving just six months of his sentence.
The pontiff’s survival was deemed miraculous by many, and what followed was an astonishing demonstration of forgiveness. The Pope later visited Agca in prison to forgive him personally, an encounter that resounded worldwide as a profound moment of reconciliation.
These attacks underscored the tension and turbulence of the Cold War era, casting a shadow on international relations and domestic tranquillity. As leaders reaffirmed their commitment to their roles, people everywhere were urged to reflect on the fragility of peace and the importance of security measures. The world watched as Reagan and Pope John Paul II, both figures of resilience, navigated recovery in the public eye, an element that intertwined their experiences with the collective consciousness of the era.
The Assassination of Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat
A third assassination attempt was made in 1981, which was successful. On 6th October, Anwar Sadat, the third President of Egypt was assassinated during a military parade in Cairo to celebrate the crossing of the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War.
His murderers were members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, who were opposed to his peace initiatives with Israel, and this perceived departure from Islamic principles. As the parade moved past the Presidential tribune, a truck which contained the assassination squad, suddenly broke ranks, stormed the tribune, and indiscriminately opened fire. Sadat and ten others suffered fatal gunshot wounds, and another twenty-eight people suffered injuries.
This was obviously a shocking act, which as well as marking the abrupt and violent end of Sadat’s presidency, also placed a spotlight on the complex political and ideological challenges facing Egypt and the wider Middle East during that era. The aftermath of his assassination had profound implications for the region’s political landscape, influencing diplomatic relations for years to come.
The Dawn of a Cultural Era: MTV and the Recognition of AIDS
1981 heralded the advent of an entertainment juggernaut and a medical enigma that would leave indelible marks on society. MTV burst onto the television scene, signifying a new frontier in music and popular culture. With its catchy slogan, ‘I want my MTV,’ this innovative network became a household name, giving birth to a new genre of media and making music videos an essential tool for artists.
The cultural significance of the station is hard to overstate. It not only changed how we consumed music but also had a profound impact on fashion, language, and youth culture. Its influence extended far beyond entertainment, shaping a generation’s identity and becoming a platform for social issues.
Also in 1981, a mysterious illness began to surface, first mentioned in a report by the US public health agency the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because it was first identified amongst young homosexual men, AIDS was initially termed ‘gay-related immune deficiency’ or GRID.
It is now known that AIDS is caused by a retrovirus, called human immunodeficiency virus type 1, or HIV-1. AIDS is perhaps the most devastating infectious diseases to have emerged in recent history and is now known to be spread by sexual contact; from mother to baby; or through the skin. Since four-fifths of adults acquire HIV-1 following sexual contact, the disease is deemed to be primarily a sexually transmitted disease or STD.
The early years of the AIDS epidemic were fraught with fear and misunderstanding. It took tremendous efforts from scientists, activists, and patients to challenge the stigma, culminating in a global movement to seek effective treatments and support those affected. AIDS, and the response to it, marked the beginning of a new era in public health and social consciousness.
In reflecting upon 1981, it’s clear that the events of that year showcase the complexity of human progress. While we celebrated the launch of an iconic TV channel, we also grappled with the onset of a devastating public health crisis. Both events remind us of our resilience and capacity for innovation in the face of unprecedented challenges and how they continue to shape our world today.
The year’s assassination attempts highlight the fragility of the human condition and whilst Ronald Reagan and John Paul II survived the attempts on their lives, others were not as lucky.
Deaths
Continuing the year’s dark theme, there was another assassination attempt which resulted in the deaths of two in the deaths of two Iranian Government ministers. Mohammad-Ali Rajai, 47th Prime Minister of Iran and his successor, Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, Iranian theologian and politician, were murdered when a bomb was detonated between them during a meeting.
This was a bloody year in Iran as these two murders followed on from the 28th June bombing of the Islamic Republican Party’s headquarters in Tehran. There were also several deaths of Irish Republican prisoners due to hunger strikes in jail in Belfast. Bobby Sands is perhaps the most readily remembered member of this group.
January
1 January – Kazimierz Michałowski, Polish archaeologist (b. 1901)
1 January – Mauri Rose, American race car champion (b. 1906)
3 January – Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria (b. 1883)
11 January – Beulah Bondi, American actress (b. 1889)
16 January – Bernard Lee, English actor (b. 1908)
February
9 February – Bill Haley, American rock musician, member of Bill Haley & The Comets (b. 1925)
25 February – Leonard Howell, Founder of Rastafari (b. 1898)
March
6 March – George Geary, English cricketer (b. 1893)
7 March – Peter Birch, Irish Roman Catholic bishop (b. 1911)
7 March – Mike Hailwood, English motorcycle racer (b. 1940)
26 March – Cyril Dean Darlington, English biologist, geneticist and eugenicist, (b. 1903)
April
5 April – Bob Hite, American musician (Canned Heat) (b. 1943)
7 April – Norman Taurog, American film director (b. 1899)
12 April – Prince Yasuhiko Asaka of Japan (b. 1887)
12 April – Joe Louis, American boxer (b. 1914)
May
5 May – Bobby Sands, Irish Republican hunger striker (b. 1954)
6 May – Frank O’Grady, Australian public servant (b. 1900)
11 May – Odd Hassel, Norwegian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1897)
11 May – Bob Marley, Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician (b. 1945)
24 May – Jack Warner, British actor (b. 1895)
June
28 June – Terry Fox, Canadian athlete and cancer activist (b. 1958)
July
8 July – Joe McDonnell, Irish Republican hunger striker (b. 1951)
August
15 August – Carlo Buscaglia, Italian football player (b. 1909)
30 August – Mohammad-Ali Rajai, 47th Prime Minister of Iran and 2nd President of Iran (assassinated) (b. 1933)
30 August – Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, Iranian theologian and politician, 48th Prime Minister of Iran (assassinated) (b. 1933)
September
1 September – Albert Speer, German Nazi architect and war minister (b. 1905)
7 September – Christy Brown, Irish writer and painter (b. 1932)
11 September – Harold Bennett, British actor (b. 1899)
27 September 27 – Robert Montgomery, American actor and director (b. 1904)
29 September – Bill Shankly, Scottish football player, and manager. Most famous as the manager of Liverpool FC from 1959 to 1974 (b. 1913)
October
6 October – Anwar Sadat, 62, 37th Prime Minister of Egypt and 3rd President of Egypt, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, assassinated. (b.1918)
16 October – Moshe Dayan, Israeli general (b. 1915)
November
9 November – Martin “Moe” Snyder, commonly known as Moe the Gimp due to his lame left leg. As portrayed by James Cagney in the 1955 film Love Me or Leave Me (b. 1893)
22 November – Jack Fingleton, Australian cricketer (b. 1908)
22 November – Hans Adolf Krebs, German physician and biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1900)
29 November – Natalie Wood, American actress (b. 1938)
December
27 December – Hoagy Carmichael, American jazz composer (b. 1899)