1987 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Patrick Tyler Booth was born April 29, 1987 INOVA  Fairfax Hospital. Falls Church, VA. 

• Began my first overseas tour with the State Department as the Financial Management Officer (FMO) at the Embassy in Amman, Jordan.  Major challenge during my tenure was monitoring the finances for the construction of a new embassy compound following the new security standards established by the Inman Commission.

• Plenty of opportunities for travel in country to Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and Jerash.  Road trips to Damascus, Syria for shopping in the souk.  Courier pouch trips to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv over the Allenby bridge about every six months.  

• Supporting trips by SECSTATE George Schultz working with King Hussein trying to establish peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

• Playing softball with Royal Jordanian sponsored team and travelling to Dubai for annual Middle East Softball tournament.

• Coaching baseball and playing softball at ACS.    

U.S. Events:

·         US Supreme Court rules Rotary Clubs must admit women (May 4).

·         US Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr., retires (June 26).

·         Oliver North, Jr., tells Congressional inquiry higher officials approved his secret Iran-Contra   operations (July 7–10).

·         Admiral John M. Poindexter, former National Security Adviser, testifies he authorized use of     Iran arms sale profits to aid Contras (July 15–22).

·         George P. Shultz testifies he was deceived repeatedly on Iran-Contra affair (July 23–24).

·         Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger tells inquiry of official deception and intrigue (July   31, Aug. 3).

·         Reagan says Iran arms-Contra policy went astray and accepts responsibility (Aug. 12).

·         Senate, 58-42, rejects Robert H. Bork as US Supreme Court Justice (Oct. 23).

World Events:

·         William Buckley, American hostage in Lebanon, reported slain (Jan. 20).

·         Iraqi missiles kill 37 in attack on US frigate Stark in Persian Gulf (May 17); Iraqi president   Hussein apologizes (May 18).

·         Prime Minister Thatcher wins rare third term in Britain (June 11).

·         Klaus Barbie, 73, Gestapo wartime chief in Lyon, sentenced to life by French court for war crimes (July 4).

Movies:

Best Picture was "Platoon".  Best Actor went to Paul Newman "The Color of Money" as "Fast Eddie". Best Actress was Marlee Matlin "Children of a Lesser God".  Best Supporting actor was Michael Caine in "Hannah and Her Sisters".  Best supporting actress went to Dianne Wiest "Hannah and Her Sisters".  Best Director Oliver Stone "Platoon".  Best original score Herbie Hancock "Round Midnight".

Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXI  The New York Giants defeated the Broncos, 39–20, for their first Super Bowl and first NFL title since 1956. This was the Broncos' first Super Bowl appearance since the 1977 season. Led largely through the play of quarterback John Elway and a defense that led the AFC in fewest yards allowed, the Broncos posted an 11–5 regular season record and two narrow playoff victories. The Giants, led by quarterback Phil Simms, running back Joe Morris, and their "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" defense, advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting a 14–2 regular season record and only allowing a combined total of 3 points in their two postseason wins.   The game was tight in the first half, with the Broncos holding a 10–9 halftime lead, the narrowest margin in Super Bowl history. The only score in the second quarter, however, was Giants defensive end George Martin's sack of Elway in the end zone for a safety. This began the Giants run of scoring 26 unanswered points through the third and fourth quarters. The Giants also posted a Super Bowl record 30 points in the second half, and limited the Broncos to only 2 net yards in the third quarter. Simms, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, finished the game with 22 of 25 passes completed for 268 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 25 rushing yards on 3 carries. His 22 out of 25 (88%) completion percentage broke both a Super Bowl and NFL postseason record.

World Series

The 1987 World Series saw the Twins defeat the Cardinals four games to three to win the Series. Twins pitcher Frank Viola was named as the 1987 World Series MVP.  It was the first World Series to feature games played indoors, and the first in which the home team won every game; this happened again in 1991 (also a Twins championship, over the Atlanta Braves) and in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees.  The World Series win was the first for the Twins franchise since 1924, when it was located in Washington, D.C., and known as the Washington Senators.  This was the third of four World Series played entirely on artificial turf, with the others in 1980, 1985, and 1993.