Hands Across America May 25th, 1986

Back in the spring of ’86, when synth-pop ruled the airwaves and MTV was the cultural heartbeat, America decided to pull off one of the most audacious feel-good stunts in history: Hands Across America. Dreamed up by music mogul Ken Kragen—the same guy who orchestrated the star-studded “We Are the World”, the idea was simple yet epic: link arms from coast to coast, forming a human chain snaking 4,152 miles through 17 states, all to battle hunger and homelessness.

Hands Across America was the brainchild of advertising executive Geoffrey Nightingale, who had worked with USA for Africa founder and music promoter Ken Kragen on “We Are the World,” the star-studded 1985 single that raised money for the starving citizens of Ethiopia. During a New York City Ballet rendition of “We Are the World,” Nightingale told Kragen it might be a good idea to try and get people to join hands across state lines as a way to raise awareness for domestic hunger issues.

Kicking off on Memorial Day weekend, May 25, 1986, the event aimed to rally millions, each ponying up $10 to $35 for a spot in line, with heavy-hitters like Coca-Cola and Citibank bankrolling the event.

Picture this: At 3 p.m. Eastern, as radio stations blasted the custom anthem “Hands Across America” alongside “America the Beautiful” and “We Are the World,” nearly 5 million souls, from Battery Park in NYC to Long Beach, Cali, grabbed hands for 15 minutes of solidarity.

Celebs turned out in force: Michael Jackson linked up in L.A., Prince bought a whole mile, and even a young Bill Clinton gripped palms in Arkansas, while folks like Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg added that Hollywood flair. But it wasn’t all seamless gaps. When there was a gap in the line, organizers filled it with ribbons, ropes, banners, or even a cow! When a bus driver in New Jersey saw a break in the line, he pulled over and asked his passengers to complete the connection.

In the end, Hands Across America netted about $15 million after swallowing $16 million in cost. Even though the event was a financial loss – it does not detract from the beauty and the unity displayed on that day.