Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October was published in October and endorsed by President Reagan, the first of his techno-thriller novels. The book was an embodiment of Reagan-era themes: cult of national security, demonic Soviet enemy, myth of American exceptionalism, faith in high-tech weapons and covert intelligence operations. In 1990 it was made into a Hollywood film with Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius of the Soviet Typhoon-class sub and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan of the CIA helping the "good" Russians defect to the U.S.

Reagan/Bush defeated Mondale/Ferraro 59% to 41%, 525 to 13 electoral votes.

White House Christmas tree included nativity scene.

Next - Reagan 1985