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
