2004 in the United States
See also:
2003 in the United States ,
other events of 2004 ,
2005 in the United States and the
list of 'years in the United States' .
Incumbents
Events
January 28 - At a hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States , it is revealed that the September 11, 2001 , terrorists used Mace (a brand of tear gas ) or pepper spray in overpowering the flight crew of American Airlines Flight 11 .
February 3 - The CIA admits that there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq .
February 12 - Same sex marriage in the United States City and County of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as an act of civil disobedience .
February 26 - The United States lifts a ban on travel to Libya , ending travel restrictions to the nation that had lasted for 23 years.
March 2 - John Kerry effectively clinches the 2004 Democratic Party presidential nomination by winning nine out of 10 "Super Tuesday " primaries and caucuses.
April 28 - Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse is revealed on the television show 60 Minutes II May 6 - The final episode of Friends NBC , drawing an esitmated 52 million viewers in North America . Advertisers pay $2 million for 30 second ads.
May 12 - An American civilian contractor in Iraq, Nick Berg , is shown being decapitated by a group allegedly linked to al-Qaeda on an Internet-distributed video. They state it is retaliation for the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison .
May 17 - Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage Supreme Court ruling in the case of Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health May 26 - Terry Nichols is convicted by an Oklahoma state court on murder charges stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing .
May 29 - Dedication of the National World War II Memorial takes place in Washington, DC .
June 1 - The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season begins.
June 8 - The G8 Summit takes place over the next 2 days on Sea Island , in Georgia , USA .
June 11 -
June 16 - The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (or "9/11 Commission") issues an initial report of its findings.
June 22 - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney tells Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont to "... go fuck yourself."
June 28 - The U.S.-led coalition occupying Iraq transfers sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government.
July 4 - Groundbreaking of Freedom Tower in New York City .
July 25 - Lance Armstrong wins an unprecedented 6th consecutive Tour de France cycling title.
August 3 - Statue of Liberty reopens after security improvements.
August 29 - Around 200,000 protestors demonstrate in New York City against President George W. Bush and his government, ahead of the Republican National Convention .
September 3rd - Hurricane Frances makes landfall in Florida . After killing two people in the Bahamas , Hurricane Frances killed ten people in Florida , two in Georgia and one in South Carolina .
September 16 - Hurricane Ivan wreaks havoc in the United States , after having crossed the Caribbean in the days before.
September 23 - Mount St. Helens became active again.
September 30 - First debate of the U.S. presidential election, 2004 .
October 5 - Vice Prsidential debate of the U.S. presidential election, 2004 between the candidates, Dick Cheney and John Edwards .
October 8 - Second debate of the U.S. presidential election, 2004 .
October 13 - Third debate of the U.S. presidential election, 2004 .
October 20 - Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 crashes in Missouri , killing 13 people, and injuring 2.
October 29 - A videotape of Osama Bin Laden speaking airs on Arabic TV, in which he threatens terrorist attacks on the USA , and taunts the President , George W Bush , over the September 11 Terrorist attacks .
2nd November - The United States chooses George W. Bush of the Republican Party as the next President of the United States , defeating John Kerry
November 7 - U.S. Forces launch a major assualt on the Iraqi town of Fallujah , in an effort to rid the area of insurgents before the Iraqi elections in January.
November 13 - After six days of intense battles, Iraqi town of Fallujah fully occupied by U.S. forces.
November 19 - A massive brawl erupts during the Indiana Pacers -Detroit Pistons game at The Palace of Auburn Hills .
Arts and literature
Sports
Births
Deaths
December 28 : Jerry Orbach , 69, American actor, prostate cancer
December 26 : Reggie White , 43, American football player
November 29 : John Drew Barrymore , 72, actor, member of the Barrymore family, father of Drew Barrymore
November 13 : Ol' Dirty Bastard (Russell Jones), 35, rapper, drug abuse
November 7 : Howard Keel , 85, American actor and singer, colon cancer
October 16 : Pierre Salinger , 79, Press Secretary to President John F. Kennedy , and newsman
October 10 : Christopher Reeve , 52, U.S. actor who starred as Superman in the 1978 movie and sequels, and campaigned for stem cell research after being paralyzed, heart failure brought on by septicemia
October 5 : Rodney Dangerfield , 82, comic and actor
October 4 : Gordon Cooper , 77, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts
August 30 : Fred Whipple , 97,astronomer
August 26 : Laura Branigan , 47, pop singer
August 8 : Fay Wray , 96, King Kong actress
August 6 : Rick James , 56, funk singer
July 1 : Marlon Brando , 80, American actor
June 10 : Ray Charles , 73, rhythm and blues singer and soul pioneer
June 5 : Ronald Reagan , 93, film actor, governor of California , and 40th President of the United States (1981-1989)
May 29 : Archibald Cox , 92, Watergate special prosecutor
May 17 : Tony Randall , 84, television actor (The Odd Couple)
May 9 : Alan King , 76, American comedian/actor
April 24 : Estée Lauder , 97, cosmetics products pioneer
April 22 : Pat Tillman , 27, former NFL player (Arizona Cardinals), Army Ranger, killed in action
January 27 : Jack Paar , 85, Tonight Show host
January 23 : Bob Keeshan , 76, US actor, starred as "Captain Kangaroo"
