Milestones

Ten years ago: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev closed out his U.S. visit in northern California, where he met with former President Reagan and South Korean President Roh Tae-woo and addressed students at Stanford.

Five years ago: At the Tony Awards, “Sunset Boulevard” won best Broadway musical and “Love! Valour! Compassion!” by Terrence McNally was chosen best play.

One year ago: While Congress was in recess, President Clinton bypassed the Senate using a provision of the Constitution and appointed James C. Hormel, an openly gay San Francisco businessman, as ambassador to Luxembourg. On the 10th anniversary of China’s crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests, tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong held a candlelight vigil.