Dec 19
Clinton Impeached
The House impeached Bill Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The Senate would acquit him. The scandal consumed the year.
🇺🇸United States · 90s
The Impeachment
Clinton impeached, Google founded, and McGwire hits 70 home runs.
What happened
5 milestones of 1998
Aug 7
US Embassy Bombings in Africa
Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224 people. It was the world's introduction to Osama bin Laden. The War on Terror was foreshadowed.
terrorism
Sep 8
McGwire and Sosa Home Run Race
Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs, breaking Roger Maris's 37-year-old record. Sammy Sosa hit 66. The chase captivated America and saved baseball after the 1994 strike. (The steroid era was later revealed.)
Oct 12
Matthew Shepard Murdered
21-year-old gay college student Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured, and left to die on a fence in Laramie, Wyoming. His murder galvanized the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and hate crime legislation.
hate crime
Sep 4
Google Founded
Larry Page and Sergey Brin incorporated Google in a garage in Menlo Park. Its mission: to organize the world's information. It would become the most visited website on Earth.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg — The Omaha Beach sequence changed war films forever. Tom Hanks on the beaches of Normandy.
The Truman Show
Peter Weir — Jim Carrey discovers his life is a TV show. Prophetic about reality TV and surveillance.
Shakespeare in Love
John Madden — Won Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan. Hollywood was shocked.
The Big Lebowski
Joel & Ethan Coen — 'The Dude abides.' A box office flop that became the biggest cult film of the 90s.
There's Something About Mary
Bobby & Peter Farrelly — The hair gel scene. Cameron Diaz. Gross-out comedy peaked.
What was on TV
Seinfeld Finale
1989-1998 — 76 million watched the finale. The show about nothing ended controversially.
That '70s Show
1998-2006 — Nostalgia for the 1970s. A Wisconsin basement hang.
Sex and the City
1998-2004 — Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda. New York dating culture redefined.
Will & Grace
1998-2006 — Gay characters in prime time. Credited with shifting public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights.
Friends
1994-2004 — Still one of the top-rated shows. The Rachel haircut had faded but the show hadn't.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$2.97
Gallon of gas$1.06
New house (median)$152,500
New car (average)$17,200
Loaf of bread$0.87
Movie ticket$4.69
Inflation: 1.6%
The dot-com boom was at full tilt. The federal budget was in surplus for the first time since 1969.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1998 (USD)
$2.97
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1998 (USD)
$1.06
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1998 (USD)
$152,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1998 (USD)
$17,200
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1998 (USD)
$0.87
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1998 (USD)
$4.69
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Google founded
Page and Brin started Google in a garage. 'Don't be evil' was the motto.
iMac
Apple released the translucent iMac. Steve Jobs was back and Apple was cool again.
Windows 98
Microsoft released Windows 98 with built-in internet support.
MP3 players
The first portable MP3 players appeared. Music piracy was about to explode.
International Space Station begins
The first ISS module was launched. Humanity's permanent home in space was under construction.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Frosted tips for menLow-rise jeansSpaghetti strap tops
Slang
Dawg— Friend, buddy
Tight— Cool, awesome
Playa— Someone who is suave or a player
Behavior
- The Lewinsky scandal dominated watercooler conversation all year
- Furby was the must-have Christmas toy — parents fought in stores
- Boy bands (Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC) were inescapable
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