1991 in the United States

1991 in the United States
Year	1991
President	George H. W. Bush
Vice president	Dan Quayle
Speaker of the house	Tom Foley
Chief justice	William Rehnquist

1991 in the United States was a year defined by a decisive military victory abroad and the beginning of a significant economic recession at home. The nation, led by President George H. W. Bush, spearheaded Operation Desert Storm, a swift and successful coalition campaign to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War. Domestically, the year was marked by the confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court amid controversy, the signing of a pivotal arms control treaty with the Soviet Union, and the emergence of a new global threat with the first recognized cases of West Nile virus in New York City.

Politics and government

The political landscape was dominated by foreign policy, as President George H. W. Bush and his administration, including Secretary of State James Baker and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, orchestrated the Gulf War. Following the expiration of a United Nations deadline, Operation Desert Storm commenced in January with massive airstrikes, leading to a ground offensive in February that liberated Kuwait in 100 hours. Domestically, the Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court after contentious hearings involving allegations from professor Anita Hill. In July, Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) in Moscow, significantly reducing nuclear arsenals. The year also saw the release of the Charles Keating scandal report by the Senate Ethics Committee and the appointment of Robert Gates as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Economy and industry

The year 1991 was the second year of an economic recession that had begun in mid-1990, characterized by rising unemployment and a sluggish recovery. Major corporations faced significant challenges, with Pan American World Airways ceasing operations in December and IBM reporting its first quarterly loss. The Federal Reserve, under Chairman Alan Greenspan, began a series of interest rate cuts to stimulate growth. In the retail sector, Sam Walton's Walmart surpassed Sears as the largest retailer in the United States. The Resolution Trust Corporation continued its work resolving the ongoing Savings and loan crisis, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average showed volatility but ended the year above 3000 for the first time.

Science and technology

The technological world was on the cusp of a revolution, as the National Science Foundation lifted restrictions on commercial use of the Internet, paving the way for its public expansion. At the CERN laboratory, computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web, creating the first website. In space exploration, the Space Shuttle Atlantis deployed the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in April. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched the previous year, had its flawed optics diagnosed, with a repair mission planned. In medicine, the first cases of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisphere were identified in New York City.

Culture and society

American culture saw the rise of new musical forces with the breakthrough of Nirvana's album Nevermind, which popularized the grunge movement from Seattle. In film, Jonathan Demme's thriller The Silence of the Lambs, starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, swept the major Academy Awards. Television was captivated by the confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas and the launch of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. The literary world celebrated the publication of Norman Mailer's Harlot's Ghost. A significant cultural shift began as Ricky Martin and the band Menudo brought Latin pop to a wider mainstream audience.

Sports

In professional sports, the NFL's New York Giants, led by coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Jeff Hostetler, defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, a game decided by a missed field goal by Scott Norwood. Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins won the World Series against the Atlanta Braves in a dramatic seven-game series. The NBA saw the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, win their first championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. In college football, the University of Miami Hurricanes claimed the national championship, while in golf, the United States team retained the Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island.

Deaths

Prominent Americans who died in 1991 included legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, iconic actress and singer Dame Mae West, and influential author and social critic Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel). The world of music lost rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in a helicopter crash and jazz giant Miles Davis. Other notable deaths included former First Lady Martha Mitchell (wife of John N. Mitchell), publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes, and baseball Hall of Famer Thurman Munson.

Category:1991 in the United States Category:1990s in the United States Category:Years of the 20th century in the United States