I don’t know a lot about what happened the year I was born, given that I was born IN that year, and thus a newborn with zero cognitive abilities beyond my immediate environment. Hell, my earliest memories hail from a couple years past that.

However, Google knows a LOT. And is it just me, or is there more negative shite than positive?! Either way, I’ll paste that here (and follow with more interesting stuff):

In 1982 America, major events included the growing AIDS crisis becoming public with candlelight vigils and research funding, the deadly Air Florida plane crash into the Potomac, President Reagan’s “War on Drugs,” the massive nuclear disarmament rally in NYC, the first postmodern building opening, and the iconic Tylenol poisonings that sparked new safety standards, all set against the backdrop of a challenging economy and the Cold War.  

Health & Society

• AIDS Crisis Emerges: Candlelight vigils for AIDS patients started in SF & NYC; the first US bill for AIDS research passed, and French scientists identified the AIDS virus. 
• Tylenol Murders: A series of cyanide poisonings linked to Tylenol capsules shocked the nation, leading to tamper-proof packaging. 
• “Conch Republic”: Key West, FL, briefly seceded as the “Conch Republic” in protest of border policies. 

Politics & Economy

• War on Drugs: President Reagan declared a national “War on Drugs”. 
• Economic Recession: High interest rates fueled a recession, with unemployment peaking near 10% before easing later in the year. 
• Tax Law Changes: The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) was passed, impacting finance. 

Disasters & Accidents

• Air Florida Crash: An Air Florida plane crashed into the Potomac River in January, killing 78. 
• Twilight Zone Helicopter Crash: Actor Vic Morrow and two child actors died during filming. 

Culture & Entertainment

• World’s Fair: The World’s Fair opened in Knoxville, Tennessee, with President Reagan’s address. 
• Music & Awards: “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes won Song/Record of the Year; John Updike’s Rabbit Is Rich was a hit novel. 
• Broadway: Cats opened on Broadway, beginning its historic run. 

Cold War & Global Affairs

• Disarmament Rally: Over a million people gathered in NYC for a massive anti-nuclear rally. 
• US-Soviet Talks: Arms limitation talks resumed in Geneva. 
• Poland/Soviet Sanctions: Western nations imposed sanctions on Poland and the USSR. 

Now then… I want to admit that I have researched more regarding events of the past that happened on the DAY of my birth, for the sheer sake of my own amusement. And I did all this way back before the internet was available (*le gasp*).

From my own memory, May 7th of years past:

• The Lusitania sank
• WWI ended
• And my most remembered (bc it sparked my interest in serial killer stuff): Serial Killer H. H. Holmes wreaks havoc during/at the Chicago World’s Fair (Columbian Exposition).

I’m sure there are many other things that happened on May 7th in the past, but those were the only ones I can recall, or that I had access to because of how important they were in history – and thus available for my perusal in a library or encyclopedia.