America had a new “busiest” airport, 30 years ago

What was the busiest airport in the U.S.?  We had a new champion 30 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.
 
At the start of 1988, Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta surpassed Chicago O’Hare for the first time, in the number of flights during a calendar year.  Hartsfield had just under 800-thousand flights during 1987…three thousand more than were counted at O’Hare.
 
A new presidential election year had begun.  Ronald Reagan’s second term was ending, and his vice president, George Bush, was battling Bob Dole for the Republican nomination.  The Democratic field included Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Senators Al Gore, Paul Simon, and former Senator Gary Hart.  Months earlier, Hart had withdrawn from the race after being accused of having an affair, but got back in just before the primaries.
 
On La Crosse area radio in January of 1988, WIZM’s talk show line-up included Mike Hayes, Dr. Joy Browne, Owen Spann, Bruce Williams, and Larry King.  Rush Limbaugh wouldn’t launch his national show until that summer.  Z-93 started the day with Keith Carr’s Breakfast Club and brought you Sam Strong at night, with Carl Cross and Don London in between.  Thirty years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.