1979: Iranian leader Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlevi fled the country. Shiite Muslim leader Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, returning from fifteen years' exile, took de facto control of Iran. In November, workers at the American embassy were taken hostage by terrorists with state backing. Throughout the 444 days they were held, American morale dropped.

Today: Having played a key role in the 1991 international military action against Iran's neighbor Iraq, the United States government is less hesitant to become involved in international conflicts.

1979: Disco, a musical trend popular in urban areas throughout the mid-seventies, was at its peak. Big hair, big collars, and platform shoes were popular across the country.

Today: Because of the changing nature of fashion, today's trends are destined to look ridiculous to people twenty years from now.

1979: Comedy was very popular: Monty Python's Flying Circus,a British show from the early 1970s, was finishing its...