From Reagan to Obama, a look at how far the body politic has come in three decades
In 2013, the United States will hold an inauguration for a second-term African-American president, and Congress will have its first openly gay senator in Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, and historic female representation with a total of 99 women serving in the Senate and House.
But how much has changed since President Ronald Reagan? We decided to look back three decades to see for ourselves.
President of the United States:
1985: Ronald Reagan
2013: Barack Obama
CONGRESS
SENATE
Women
1985: 2
2013: 20
African-American
1985: 0
2013: 0
Asian-American
1985: 2
2013: 2
Hispanic
1985: 0
2013: 3
HOUSE
Women
1985: 23
2013: 79
African-American
1985: 20
2013: 43
Asian-American
1985: 3
2013: 9
Hispanic
1985: 12
2013: 29
Governor of Massachusetts:
1985: Michael S. Dukakis
2013: Deval Patrick
Boston mayor:
1985: Raymond L. Flynn
2013: Thomas M. Menino
Boston city councilors:
1985:
Female: 1
African-American: 2
Asian-American: 0
Hispanic: 0
2013:
Female: 1
African-American: 3
Asian-American: 0
Hispanic: 1
Massachusetts population
Total
1980: 5,737,037
2010: 6,547,629
White
1980: 93.5%
2010: 80.4%
Black
1980: 3.9%
2010: 6.6%
Asian-American/Pacific Islander
1980: Less than 1 percent
2010: 5.4%
Hispanic
1980: 2.5%
2010: 9.6%
Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Senate.gov, Library of Congress Congressional Research Service report on the 99th Congress, CQ/Roll Call, Mass.gov, CityofBoston.gov, office of Councilor Charles C. Yancey, 1980 Census, 2010 Census.
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