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2004 in the United States
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Events from the year 2004 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: The 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 airs on NBC, drawing an estimated 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 in compliance with a ruling from the state's Supreme Court ruling in the case of Goodridge 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 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 13–August 29 - The United States compete at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and win 36 gold, 39 silver and 27 bronze medals.
- August 29 - Around 200,000 protesters demonstrate in New York City against President George W. Bush and his government, ahead of the Republican National Convention.
- September 3 - 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 Presidential 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.
- 2 November - The United States re-elects George W. Bush of the Republican Party to a second term as President of the United States, defeating John Kerry
- November 7 - U.S. Forces launch a major assault 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
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"
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