In 1980, the Miracle on Ice took place in Lake Placid, N.Y., as the United States Olympic hockey team upset the Soviets, 4-3. (The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal.)

A man attempted to hijack a plane flying out of Baltimore-Washington Airport and crash into the White House. The attempted hijacking left a police officer and pilot dead. The suspect, Samuel Byck, said he wanted to kill President Nixon. Byck, who called his plot "Operation Pandora Box," committed suicide. The attempted hijacking ”the second aviation scare involving the White House in less than a week” prompted Secret Service to upgrade White House air defense systems.