A Look Back at 1986 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lee Iacocca

Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, himself the son of Italian immigrants, was the head of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. The foundation, established in 1982, raised $450 million so that the statue and Ellis Island would be in outstanding condition in time for public celebrations on July 4, 1986 commemorating France's gift of the statue to the United States.

Answer: Rebecca Howe

"Cheers," set in a Boston neighborhood bar, was a television fixture from 1982 to 1993. Woody joined the cast for the 1985-86 season after the death of Coach. Lilith first appeared in the February 6, 1986 episode. Diane was a regular character on the show through the 1986-87 season. Rebecca Howe became a part of the cast starting in the fall of 1987.

Answer: Roger, go at throttle up

The January 28 launch of Challenger had been the most-anticipated space flight since the Apollo era of the 1970s, primarily because of the presence of Christa McCauliffe, the first "teacher in space." School-age children all over the US and the world were watching the "ultimate field trip" as the launch was broadcast live. 70 seconds into the flight, Challenger's commander, Dick Scobee, radioed "Roger, go at throttle up." Three seconds later, the spacecraft exploded.

Answer: He made a crude comment about Libyan leader Muamar Khadafi

The game was played two days after a bomb had exploded in a Berlin nightclub, killing one American. Libya was strongly suspected of being behind the bombing. In shaking hands with Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey, Reagan pointed to the Orioles' wooden bench and said, "Don't worry about Khadafi, we're going to nail his nuts to that log over there." The US made good on Reagan's promise, bombing several targets in Libya on April 15.

Answer: Ferdinand Marcos leaves the Philippines, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver marry, death of Len Bias

The dates for each event listed above: February 25: Ferdinand Marcos leaves the Philippines; April 26: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver marry; April 28: Chernobyl explosion; June 19: Death of Len Bias; September 8: Oprah Winfrey's show is broadcast nationally.

Answer: Warren Burger

Chief Justice Warren Burger announced his retirement in June. President Reagan nominated associate justice William Rehnquist to be the new chief justice, and picked Antonin Scalia to fill the open spot on the court. Both were confirmed by the Senate on September 17.

Answer: Jim McMahon

The Bears wrapped up one of the best seasons and postseasons in NFL history by beating New England in Super Bowl XX. Quarterback Jim McMahon scored two touchdowns on short runs. The other Bears touchdowns that day were scored by running back Matt Suhey, defensive back Reggie Phillips (on an interception return), and 300-pound defensive tackle William "the Refrigerator" Perry. Perry had been used as a novelty running back that season.

His touchdown perturbed many longtime Bears fans, because it denied running back Walter Payton, near the end of his career, a chance to score in what would be his only Super Bowl.

Answer: Party All the Time

Dione Warwick's "That's What Friends are For" was the top-selling song of the year, and Whitney Houston was just beginning to make a name for herself, but Eddie Murphy proved that musical talent wasn't a necessary prerequisite for selling records. His song "Party All the Time," written by Rick James and released in late 1985, was the seventh-best-selling single of the year. One reviewer referred to "How Could it Be," Murphy's musical record from which the single came, as "the worst joke Eddie Murphy ever told."

Answer: Iran-Contra scandal

Hasenfus was a crew member on a supply plane shot down over Nicaragua in October 1986. When he was captured by the Nicaraguan Sandanistas, he confessed to being part of a covert operation to arm that country's Contra rebels. His confession led to a large-scale document-shredding effort by US officials familiar with the details of the operation. On November 25, President Reagan and his attorney general announced a connection between secret sales of weapons to Iran and covert funding of the Contras, along with the firing and resignation of two National Security Council figures who'd been involved in the operation.

This was the beginning of the Iran-Contra affair that dominated US news for much of 1987.

Answer: 5-5 tie

The Red Sox, who'd not won a World Series since 1918, won three of the first five games of the 1986 World Series against the Mets. The sixth game went into extra innings and Boston took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th. In the bottom half of the inning, the Mets had two outs, and batter Ray Knight had a no-ball, two-strike count against him. Knight singled home a runner on the next pitch, making the game 5-4.

A wild pitch with Mookie Wilson at the plate brought in another Mets run to tie the game at 5-5. Three pitches later, Wilson hit a routine grounder along the first base line that Buckner misplayed, allowing Knight to score from second base. Two nights later, the Mets again came from behind to beat the Red Sox and win the Series, four games to three.