A Look Back at 1983 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Senator Orrin Hatch

Representative McDonald was among those killed when the plane was shot down on September 1 after straying into Soviet airspace. He and Senators Hatch, Helms, and Symms were on their way to Korea for a commemoration of the US involvement in the Korean War.

Helms and Symms were to have been on the flight, but at the last minute switched to KAL 015, whose route and landing time was similar (broadcaster Geraldo Rivera was also on that flight). Senator Hatch had been in China and flew to Korea from there.

Answer: The Girl is Mine, Beat It, Pretty Young Thing, Thriller

"Thriller" wound up as the best-selling album in history and produced seven US top-ten singles: "The Girl is Mine" with Paul McCartney, released before the album in October 1982, and then in 1983, "Billie Jean" in January, "Beat It" in February, then "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Human Nature," "Pretty Young Thing," and finally "Thriller." Jackson had another Top 10 single in 1983, "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney, but that song was released on McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" album.

Answer: For his remarks about a coal leasing commission

Although Watt did cause an uproar in 1983 for banning the Beach Boys from the Washington DC July 4 celebration (they were invited back the following year), he was forced to resign in the furor caused by his comments about the makeup of a commission established to investigate his policies on coal leasing: "We have every kind of mix you can have," he said. "I have a black, I have a woman, two Jews and a cripple. And we have talent." He resigned 2 1/2 weeks later.

Answer: Earned a doctorate in physics from Stanford

Sally Ride joined NASA as an astronaut in 1977 after earning her PhD in physics. She was one of six women admitted to the astronaut corps at that time. After her 1983 flight, she flew on the Challenger space shuttle in 1984, and was on the panel that investigated that shuttle's 1986 explosion. She retired from NASA in 1987.

Answer: Terms of Endearment

"Terms of Endearment" trailed only "Return of the Jedi" as the best-grossing film of 1983. "Sudden Impact" was 7th and "Risky Business" was 10th.

Answer: A kickoff return for a touchdown

Late in the first half, after the Redskins' Alvin Garrett had scored a touchdown to tie the game at 10, the Dolphins' Fulton Walker returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for the first kickoff return touchdown in Super Bowl history, putting the Dolphins up 17-10. The Redskins won the game 27-17.

Answer: France

The U.S., along with France and Italy, was in Beirut attempting to keep peace between warring factions of Muslims and Christians. The October 23 truck bomb attack on the US Marines coincided with a similar attack on the French group, which killed 58 members of their military.

In an unrelated matter, the U.S. invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada two days later to rescue medical students trapped there.

Answer: By turning an air ball into a dunk

In one of the more exciting finishes in NCAA tournament history, NC State's Dereck Whittenburg made a desperation jump shot that was not going to make it to the basket. His teammate Lorenzo Charles caught the ball and dunked it, giving the Wolfpack the game and setting off a memorable celbration in which their coach, Jim Valvano, ran around the court looking for someone to hug.

Answer: We are faced with the most evil enemy mankind has known in his long climb from the swamp to the stars

The "most evil enemy" quote comes from Reagan's "A Time for Choosing" speech, which he delivered in 1964 in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign.

Answer: They belonged to the same college fraternity

Marcos and Aquino both belonged to the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity during their years at the University of the Philippines, although Marcos was born 15 years earlier than Aquino and the two went to the university at different times. It was often speculated, though never proved, that Marcos was involved in the plot to murder Aquino.