What happened on May 20, 1981?

Headlines from May 20, 1981

• 🚀 Astronauts Salute Columbia – Famous astronauts joined President Reagan to honor the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, celebrating their achievement for the American spirit.
• 🇻🇪 Venezuela Gets U.S. Support – Venezuelan officials announced support from the Reagan Administration for a multinational economic development program in Latin America.
• 🎹 Chinese Pianist Stirs Contest – Zhu Da Ming impressed audiences at the Van Cliburn International Competition, leading some to believe other contestants should withdraw.
• 📈 U.S. Economy Grows – The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 8.4% in the first quarter of 1981, the largest growth since spring 1978.
• 🎶 Composers Orchestra Plans Concerts – The American Composers Orchestra will present three concerts in Alice Tully Hall during the 1981-82 season, focusing on contemporary works.
• 🏗️ Union Camp Plans Mill – Union Camp Corporation announced plans to build a $600 million pulp and paper mill in South Carolina, set for completion in 1984.
• 🌍 Japan-Soviet Steel Pact – Japan's leading steel manufacturers reached an agreement to export 750,000 tons of steel pipes to the Soviet Union, valued at $400 million.
• 📊 Corporate Profits Rise – American corporations reported a 3.7% increase in pretax profits for the first quarter of 1981, although growth slowed compared to previous months.
• ✈️ Northwest Airlines Adopts Network – Northwest Airlines will implement a hub and spoke route network to enhance competitiveness and recover from recent losses.
• 🌊 Huge Dam Subdues Yangtze – A new dam on the Yangtze River is set to control flooding and improve water management in China, marking a significant engineering achievement.