Timeline November 1982

Events in November 1982 9

• 1906 – 1982 Leonid Brezhnev The era of stagnation Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) led the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982. His 18-year tenure brought stability but also stagnation. He ordered the invasions of Czechoslovakia (1968) and Afghanistan (1979).
• 1964 – 1982 Brezhnev in power Era of stagnation — 1964 to 1982 Brezhnev ruled the Soviet Union for 18 years. His doctrine justified Soviet intervention in socialist countries. He oversaw détente with the West, signed SALT arms treaties, hosted the 1980 Moscow Olympics — boycotted by 65 countries — and invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
• 1982 Australian Open 1982 Men: Johan Kriek · Women: Chris Evert Lloyd
• 1982 Space Shuttle Columbia completes first operational flight STS-5 deploys two commercial satellites Space Shuttle Columbia flew STS-5, the first operational mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, deploying two commercial communications satellites. The flight marked the end of the shuttle's four-flight test phase.
• 1982 – 1984 Andropov in power KGB chief leads the USSR — 1982 to 1984 Andropov led the Soviet Union for just 15 months before his death from kidney failure. Despite the brief tenure, he began some anti-corruption campaigns and promoted younger reformers including Mikhail Gorbachev.
• 1982 Yuri Andropov becomes Soviet leader Former KGB chief succeeds Brezhnev Yuri Andropov was elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union following the death of Leonid Brezhnev. The former KGB chairman launched a brief campaign against corruption and workplace absenteeism before his own death in 1984.
• 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated The Wall opens in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 American service members killed or missing in the war, was dedicated on the National Mall. Designed by Maya Lin, it became one of the most visited memorials in the United States.
• 1982 Lech Walesa released from internment Solidarity leader freed after 11 months Polish authorities released Solidarity leader Lech Walesa from internment, nearly a year after his detention under martial law. He returned to Gdansk under surveillance and remained a symbol of opposition to communist rule.
• 1982 Michael Jackson releases Thriller Album becomes the best-selling of all time Michael Jackson released his sixth studio album, Thriller, which went on to become the best-selling album in history. Its singles and accompanying music videos, including the title track, transformed the use of video in popular music.