1988: Hirohito, who had been Emperor of Japan since 1926, fell violently ill. He died the next year at the age of 87.

Today: In part because of Hirohito's participation in World War II (1939-1945), the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, has mostly symbolic powers, with the real governing done by an elected democracy.

1988: George Bush, who was vice-president for eight years during the administration of Ronald Reagan, was elected President of the United States.

Today: Bush's one-term administration is remembered as a time of economic weakness, due in large part to the economic troubles that were inherited from the Reagan administration.

1988: Polish workers went out on strike to demand the return of the labor union Solidarity, which had been outlawed since 1981. After three weeks their demand was met.

1990: A new government was elected in Poland, with Lech Walesa, a leader of the Solidarity movement, as president.

1991: Following...