In January 1979

In January 1979, TMLT began writing policies. Also in January 1979,

• China and the U.S. established diplomatic relations, 30 years after the People's Republic was established.
• UNESCO proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child.
• Vietnam and Vietnam-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and collapse of Pol Pot regime.
• Shah leaves Iran after year of turmoil; revolutionary forces under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini take over.
   
• President: James Earl Carter
• Vice President: Walter F. Mondale
• Texas Governor: Dolph Briscoe (until January 16); Bill Clements (after January 16)
• U.S. Population: 225,055,487
• Life expectancy: 73.9 years
• The average household income per year was $17,500
   
• In the news — The State of Ohio agreed to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings
• In the news — The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in Superbowl XIII.
• In the news — A 16-year-old girl opened fire at an elementary school in San Diego, California, killing two faculty members and wounding eight students. She was convicted and remains in prison.
• In the news — The Sahara Desert experienced snow for 30 minutes.
   
• Nobel prize for physiology or medicine went to Allan McLeod Cormack (US) and Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield (UK) for developing computed axial tomography (CAT scan).
• Billboard’s Number one song was 'Too Much Heaven' by the Bee Gees
• At the top of the New York Times fiction best seller list was Chesapeake by James Mitchner
• Most popular baby names were Michael and Melissa
• A Sony Walkman cost $200
• A gallon of gas cost 86 cents
• A postage stamp was 15 cents