President Reagan At Press ConferenceUnited States President Ronald Reagan announces the resignation of national security adviser Robert McFarlane standing beside him to be replaced with Vice Admiral John Poindexter. McFarlane and Poindexter were key figures in the Iran-Contra affair during Reagan's term.

President Eisenhower receiving the commemorative stamp made in honor of his program, "Atoms for Peace." (Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

A staff removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of Unites States, Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at Austria International Centre in Vienna, Austria on July 14, 2015. Major powers clinched a historic deal aimed at ensuring Iran does not obtain the nuclear bomb, opening up Tehran's stricken economy and potentially ending decades of bad blood with the West. AFP PHOTO / POOL / CARLOS BARRIA / AFP / POOL / CARLOS BARRIA

Tanks on the road to Basra on January 1, 1985.

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HISTORY

America’s Founding Fathers decided that one elected civilian—the U.S. president—would lead the executive branch of the federal government, a governmental structure that has remained in place for more than 200 years.

U.S. Presidents

The U.S. government, with its three branches of government and a system of checks and balances, is responsible for governing the 50 states and all districts and territories of the United States.

U.S. Government and Politics

The ancient Middle East gave rise to some of the greatest empires in human history, including Mesopotamia, Babylonia, the Persian Empire and the Byzantine Empire.

Ancient Middle East

1980

The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted for decades and resulted in anti-communist suspicions and international incidents that led two superpowers to the brink of nuclear disaster.

Cold War

1988

1979

The Middle East is a large and diverse region composed of several countries and cultures in north Africa and western Asia. Its complex history includes the Persian Gulf War, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Yom Kippur War, Zionism and more.

Middle Eastern History

During the 1980s, conservative politics and Reaganomics held sway as the Berlin Wall crumbled, new computer technologies emerged, AIDS ravaged the United States, especially the gay male community, and blockbuster movies and MTV reshaped pop culture.

Iran

Topics

Persian Empire

Iran-Contra Affair

Iran-Iraq War

Stories

How America Jump-Started Iran’s Nuclear Program

U.S.-Iran Tensions: From Political Coup to Hostage Crisis to Drone Strikes

Are there countries the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic relations with?

This Day in History

Shah flees Iran

U.S. warship downs Iranian passenger jet

Iran-Iraq War begins

Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran