From the Iran Hostage Crisis and Reagan Revolution to the end of the Cold War, NAFTA, September 11, the 2008 Great Recession, and the Affordable Care Act.
Golden rules (General American pronunciation): vowels and silent or glide letters (w, h, y) carry no digit · silent letters are ignored (knife /naɪf/ → 28) · doubled letters count once (bell → 95, hammer → 34) · sound, never spelling, decides.
| Date | Event | Peg word | IPA | Digits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Iranian Hostage Crisis begins; Three Mile Island nuclear accident; Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy | cup /ˈkʌp/ | /ˈkʌp/ | 79 |
| 1980 | Election of Ronald Reagan marks the conservative "Reagan Revolution" | vase /veɪ̯s/ | /veɪ̯s/ | 80 |
| 1981 | Sandra Day O'Connor becomes the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court; Economic Recovery Tax Act; HIV/AIDS epidemic first reported | wave +tie /weɪv/ + /taɪ/ | /weɪv/ + /taɪ/ | 81 |
| 1989 | Fall of the Berlin Wall signals the approaching end of the Cold War | wave +bee /weɪv/ + /bi/ | /weɪv/ + /bi/ | 89 |
| 1991 | Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War); dissolution of the Soviet Union ends the Cold War | boat /boʊ̯t/ | /boʊ̯t/ | 91 |
| 1994 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) enters into force; midterm "Contract with America" realignment | pear /pɛɹ/ | /pɛɹ/ | 94 |
| 2001 | September 11 terrorist attacks and passage of the USA Patriot Act launch the War on Terror | saw +hat /sɑ/ + /hæt/ | /sɑ/ + /hæt/ | 01 |
| 2008 | Global financial crisis sparks the Great Recession; Barack Obama elected first African American President | sofa /ˈsoʊ̯fə/ | /ˈsoʊ̯fə/ | 08 |
| 2010 | Affordable Care Act signed into law, restructuring U.S. health insurance coverage | dice /daɪs/ | /daɪs/ | 10 |
1979 — On a quiet stone ledge overlooking river cooling towers in 1979, a white porcelain tea cup rests still upon its saucer as the Iranian Hostage Crisis begins, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident unfolds, and the Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy. (k·p → 79)
1980 — On the Capitol terrace in 1980, a tall cobalt-blue ceramic vase gleams in the autumn light as the election of Ronald Reagan marks the conservative Reagan Revolution. (v·s → 80)
1981 — Before the white marble courthouse steps in 1981, a curling ocean wave sweeps past a neatly knotted silk tie as Sandra Day O'Connor joins the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress passes the Economic Recovery Tax Act, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic is first reported. (v → 8 · t → 1)
1989 — Beside an open breach in the Berlin barrier in 1989, a bright ocean wave surges past a golden honey bee as the fall of the Berlin Wall signals the approaching end of the Cold War. (v → 8 · b → 9)
1991 — Along a quiet sandy bay shore in 1991, a clean white open boat rests gently beside calm water as Operation Desert Storm unfolds and the dissolution of the Soviet Union ends the Cold War. (b·t → 91)
1994 — On a granite terrace overlooking continental trade bridges and the Capitol in 1994, a golden-green pear gleams upright as NAFTA enters into force and the midterm Contract with America reshapes Congress. (p·ɹ → 94)
2001 — Along a quiet waterfront looking toward Lower Manhattan at twilight in 2001, a steel carpenter saw and a wool felt hat rest side by side as the September 11 terrorist attacks and the Patriot Act launch the War on Terror. (s → 0 · t → 1)
2008 — On a broad city plaza in 2008, a wide upholstered sofa stands beneath tall financial towers as the global financial crisis sparks the Great Recession and Barack Obama is elected the first African American President. (s·f → 08)
2010 — On a sunlit Washington terrace in 2010, twin ivory dice come to rest on the stone as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is signed into law, restructuring U.S. health insurance coverage. (d·s → 10)