1982: Historical Context of "Revolutions Per Minute"
The United States was also facing its worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Unfortunately for Reagan, after getting his tax reform act passed by congress in 1981, the economy took a turn for the worse a few months later. Though policies from the act had yet to even be enacted, the American public immediately associated the two events and questioned Reagan's policies. Many who had voted for him felt betrayed by him and the government as they saw their savings dwindle quickly. The economy would soon right itself, however, and Reagan would be re-elected in 1984.
In popular culture, space and technology were reaching the height of their popularity, as space themed movies, television shows, and even rides as Disney World, proliferated around the country. The first space shuttle, Columbia, successfully entered and returned from space in April 1981 and "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial" was released in movie theaters in 1982, spurring an increased interest in space, while television shows like "Knight Rider" presented new ideas of what future technology could accomplish.
