Year 1987 in History

60 bodies are recovered from the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico

Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Aretha Louise Franklin ( ə-REE-thə; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist.

Astronomers at the University of California witness the first observation of the birth of a galaxy

Opera impresario Sir Rudolf Bing (85) weds Carroll Douglass (45); annulled in September, 1989

Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer shoots and kills himself at a press conference on live national television, sparki

Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer shoots and kills himself at a press conference on live national television, sparking debate about the boundaries of journalism

Lisa files for separation from husband NY Met Darryl Strawberry

American figure skater Dorothy Hamill (30) weds second husband Kenneth Douglas Forsythe; divorce in 1995

Fox TV network premieres "Married... with Children" and "The Tracey Ullman Show"

The 1988–89 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1988 through August 1989.

Actor Tom Cruise (27) weds actress Mimi Rogers (33)

The North American Philips Company unveils the compact disc video format (CD-V), which can hold up to 800 MB, enough for

The North American Philips Company unveils the compact disc video format (CD-V), which can hold up to 800 MB, enough for a full-length movie

"Nightline" presents its first "Town Meeting," the subject is AIDS and the show runs until 3:47 AM

French Open Women's Tennis: 17-year-old German Steffi Graf beats World #1 Martina Navratilova 6-4, 4-6, 8-6; Graf's firs

French Open Women's Tennis: 17-year-old German Steffi Graf beats World #1 Martina Navratilova 6-4, 4-6, 8-6; Graf's first Grand Slam victory

New Zealand's Labour government legislates against nuclear weapons and nuclear powered vessels, the only nation to legis

New Zealand's Labour government legislates against nuclear weapons and nuclear powered vessels, the only nation to legislate against nuclear power

Margaret Thatcher is the first British Prime Minister in 160 years to win a third consecutive term

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.

1st Rugby World Cup Final, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand fly-half Grant Fox lands 4 penalties, a conversion and drop

1st Rugby World Cup Final, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand fly-half Grant Fox lands 4 penalties, a conversion and drop goal as the All Blacks beat France 29-9

American actor Michael Biehn (30) divorces American actress Carlene Olson (32) after 7 years of marriage

FCC votes 4-0 to rescind the Fairness Doctrine for broadcasters

Oakland's Mark McGwire sets the rookie home run record at 39 en route to 49

Madonna's single "Who's That Girl" hits #1

"Who's That Girl" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack of the 1987 film of the same name.

British actress Joan Collins (54) divorces Swedish former pop singer Peter Holm (40) due to irreconcilable differences a

British actress Joan Collins (54) divorces Swedish former pop singer Peter Holm (40) due to irreconcilable differences after 20 months of marriage

Cal Ripken Jr.'s record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings (908 games) is finally broken

"The Last Emperor" directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and starring John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole premieres at the

"The Last Emperor" directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and starring John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole premieres at the Tokyo Film Festival (Best Picture 1988)

Single "Faith" is released by George Michael (Billboard Song of the Year 1988)

"Faith" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written and produced by Michael, it was released via Columbia Records as the second single from his 1987 debut solo album of the...

George Harrison releases single "Got My Mind Set On You", it becomes his third solo #1 hit, and the last chart-topper by

George Harrison releases single "Got My Mind Set On You", it becomes his third solo #1 hit, and the last chart-topper by any of the former Beatles

Black Monday: Stock markets around the world crash, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which falls 508.32 point

Black Monday: Stock markets around the world crash, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which falls 508.32 points (22%), 4.5 times the previous daily record

American jockey Chris Antley becomes the first rider to win nine races in a day (four at Aqueduct and five at Meadowland

American jockey Chris Antley becomes the first rider to win nine races in a day (four at Aqueduct and five at Meadowlands)

NBA announces four new franchises: Charlotte and Miami for 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando for 1989

Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers completes an NFL record of 22 consecutive passes

The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Indiana Pacers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-106 to give coach Jack Ramsay his 800th NBA victory; at the time, Ramsa

Indiana Pacers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-106 to give coach Jack Ramsay his 800th NBA victory; at the time, Ramsay is one of only two coaches (with Red Auerbach) to reach the milestone

Pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter and outfielder Billy Williams are elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

The 1987 Major League Baseball season ended with the American League Champion Minnesota Twins winning the World Series over the National League Champion St.

Guy Hunt becomes Alabama's 1st Republican governor since 1874

Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite taken hostage in Beirut, Lebanon by Islamic militia group

B.B. King donates his 7,000 record collection to the University of Mississippi

Blizzard in NJ, as 334 attend Devils-Flame NHL game, NJ wins 7-5

Dow Jones Industrial Average rises 64 points then drops 110 points (44.15 pt loss)

Midnight Rockers beat Buddy Rose & Doug Somers for AWA World Tag Team

The president of the Philippines puts down a rebellion against their government in Manila

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia.

United Steel workers union ratified a concessionary with USX Corp

day strike against Deere & Co ends, workers accept wage freeze

KC Royal pitcher Dennis Leonard (3X 20 game winner), retires

Sacramento Kings score only 4 points 1st quarter against Lakers; fewest in a period since introduction of 24 second shot

Sacramento Kings score only 4 points 1st quarter against Lakers; fewest in a period since introduction of 24 second shot-clock in 1954

Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 2,200 for 1st time

No-smoking rules take effect in US federal buildings

Dennis Conner and 'Stars & Stripes' return the America's Cup yachting trophy to US

The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport.

Philippine troops murder 17 civilians in Lupao Massacre

Lupao, officially the Municipality of Lupao (Ilocano: Ili ti Lupao; Pangasinan: Baley na Lupao;Tagalog: Bayan ng Lupao), is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

British Airways begins trading stocks

Survivors of a black man murdered by KKK members awarded $7 M damages

Detroit Pistons-Philadelphia 76ers game draws crowd of 53,745 at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac; third largest crowd in NBA

Detroit Pistons-Philadelphia 76ers game draws crowd of 53,745 at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac; third largest crowd in NBA history; Pistons win, 125-107

Bomb blamed on Unabomber explodes by a computer store in Salt Lake City

Syrian army marches into Beirut

The Syrian Army is the land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. The Syrian Army exists as the primary land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces, which dominates the military service of the...

Bruno Marie-Rose runs indoor world record 200m (20.36 sec)

Russian Writers Union accepts Boris Pasternak posthumous as member

Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva discovers the royal tombs of Sipán from the Moche culture (A.D. 100 to 800) in northe

Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva discovers the royal tombs of Sipán from the Moche culture (A.D. 100 to 800) in northern Peru after a police tip-off, considered the richest archaeological find of the New World [1]

1st release of Beatles on compact disc: "Please Please Me"; "With The Beatles"; "A Hard Day's Night"; and "Beatles For S

1st release of Beatles on compact disc: "Please Please Me"; "With The Beatles"; "A Hard Day's Night"; and "Beatles For Sale" [1]

"Washington Week In Review" 20th anniversary on PBS

Ray Dandridge, third baseman in Negro Leagues, eleected to Hall of Fame

6.8 earthquake hits Ecuador, kills 100

Gavaskar becomes 1st cricket batsman to score 10,000 Test runs

"A Team" last aired on NBC-TV after 4 years

Chrysler Corp offers to buy American Motors Corp for $1 billion

American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car...

Vatican formal opposition to test-tube fertilization & embryo transfer

Ice Dance Championship at Cincinnati won by Bestemianova & Bukin (URS)

Last day in Test cricket for Larry Gomes & Joel Garner

IBM releases PC-DOS version 3.3

Gerber survey find most popular names for newborns are Jessica and Matthew

FDA approves sale of AZT (AIDS treatment)

PSV sells soccer player Ruud Gullit to AC Milan (Ÿ17 million)

The US Supreme Court rules that gender-based workplace affirmative action plans do not constitute discrimination on the

The US Supreme Court rules that gender-based workplace affirmative action plans do not constitute discrimination on the basis of sex under the Civil Rights Act 1964

Hyderabad beat Delhi on 1st innings to win Ranji Trophy

Stacking of Discovery's SRBs gets underway

IBM introduces PS/2 & OS/2

The Personal System 2 is IBM's second generation of personal computers. Released in 1987, it officially replaced the IBM PC, XT, AT, and PC Convertible in IBM's lineup.

Los Angeles Dodger's GM Al Campanis appears on TV program ABC News: Nightline saying Blacks may not be equipped to be in

Los Angeles Dodger's GM Al Campanis appears on TV program ABC News: Nightline saying Blacks may not be equipped to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy

Al Campanis, Dodger executive for more than 40 years, resigns, after making racial remarks on "Nightline"

Yankees score 12 runs in 7th inning vs KC Royals

Ahmed Salah wins 2nd World Cup marathon (2:10:55)

1st 3 San Diego Padres hit HRs off SF starter Roger Mason

Turkey asks to join European market

Turkey is negotiating its accession to the European Union (EU) as a member state, following its application to become a full member of the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the...

Alfred Uhry's "Driving Miss Daisy" premieres in NYC

Bettino Craxi resigns as Prime Minister of Italy

Benedetto "Bettino" Craxi was an Italian politician and statesman, leader of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) from 1976 to 1993, and the 45th prime minister of Italy from 1983 to 1987.

Brendon Kuruppu scores 201* on Test Cricket debut (Sri Lanka v NZ)

Sri Lankan Civil War: Tamils shoot 122 Sinhalese dead

Dow Jones Industrial Average soars 664.7; 2nd biggest one-day gain in history

Sri Lanka Air Force bomb Tamil, 100s killed

28 construction workers are killed in an apartment collapse in Bridgeport, Connecticut

American engineer Ben Linder is killed in an ambush by U.S.-funded Contras in northern Nicaragua.

Benjamin Ernest Linder (July 7, 1959 – April 28, 1987), was an American engineer. While working on a small hydroelectric dam in rural northern Nicaragua, Linder was killed with two of his colleagues...

Lou Lamoriello is named NJ Devils President

Louis P. Lamoriello is an American professional ice hockey executive who most recently served as the President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the New York Islanders of the National...

Miami Herald reports a woman (Donna Rice) spent Friday and Saturday with presidential candidate Gary Hart creating a med

Miami Herald reports a woman (Donna Rice) spent Friday and Saturday with presidential candidate Gary Hart creating a media frenzy that forces him to withdraw from the race

Dufuna Canoe - the oldest known boat in Africa, 8,000-8,500 years old, is discovered in Dufuna, northeastern, Nigeria [1

Dufuna Canoe - the oldest known boat in Africa, 8,000-8,500 years old, is discovered in Dufuna, northeastern, Nigeria [1]

Congress begins Iran-Contra hearings

The Iran–Contra affair, also referred to as the Iran–Contra scandal, the Contragate, Iran Initiative, or simply Iran–Contra, was a political scandal in the United States that centered on arms...

American politician Gary Hart denies affair with model Donna Rice

Gary Warren Hart (né Hartpence; born November 28, 1936) is an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer.

American televangelist Jim Bakker and Rich Dortch dismissed from Assemblies of God after revelations of an alleged rape

American televangelist Jim Bakker and Rich Dortch dismissed from Assemblies of God after revelations of an alleged rape of a church secretary

°F in Sacramento, California

West Sacramento (also known as West Sac) is a city in Yolo County, California, United States.

Gary Hart quits US democratic presidential race due to affair with Donna Rice

Gary Warren Hart (né Hartpence; born November 28, 1936) is an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer.

die aboard a Polish jetliner that crashes in Warsaw

First heart-lung transplant takes place in Baltimore

"Little Shop of Horrors" is released in Germany

1st Energiya Launch (USSR)

"Bobro 400", a barge carrying 3,200 tons of garbage sets sail from NYC, beginning an unsuccessful 8 week search for a du

"Bobro 400", a barge carrying 3,200 tons of garbage sets sail from NYC, beginning an unsuccessful 8 week search for a dumping site

USS Stark hit by Iraqi missiles, 37 sailors die

The USS Stark incident occurred during the Iran–Iraq War in the Persian Gulf on 17 May 1987, when an Iraqi jet aircraft fired two Exocet missiles at the U.S. frigate USS Stark.

40th Cannes Film Festival: "Sous le soleil de Satan" directed by Maurice Pialat wins the Palme d'Or

30 killed in a Texas tornado

The 1987 Saragosa, Texas, tornado was a deadly tornado that hit the community of Saragosa in Reeves County, Texas on May 22, 1987.

Golden Gate Bridge 50th anniversary: Over 800K people show up, 300K walk on bridge at same time, span temporarily flatte

Golden Gate Bridge 50th anniversary: Over 800K people show up, 300K walk on bridge at same time, span temporarily flattens from weight (San Francisco, California)

Great offensive against Tamil-rebellion in Jaffra Sri Lanka

Christian evangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker appear on "Nightline" after PTL scandal

60th US National Spelling Bee: Stephanie Petit wins spelling staphylococci

The 60th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 27–28, 1987, sponsored by the E.W.

Saul Ballesteros drives 3 golf balls off Mt McKinley, Alaska

"Little Shop of Horrors" released in France

American hurdler Edwin Moses' 122 race winning streak which extends to nearly 10 years ends when he is beaten by country

American hurdler Edwin Moses' 122 race winning streak which extends to nearly 10 years ends when he is beaten by countryman Danny Harris in Madrid, Spain

41st Tony Awards: "Fences" (play) and "Les Misérables" (musical) win

The 41st Annual Tony Awards was held on June 7, 1987, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and broadcast by CBS television.

NASA Discovery's SRBs & external tank are mated

Daniel Buettner, Bret Anderson, Martin Engel & Anne Knabe complete cycling journey of 15,266 mi from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Daniel Buettner, Bret Anderson, Martin Engel & Anne Knabe complete cycling journey of 15,266 mi from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Argentina

4th full-duration test firing of redesigned SRB motor

Bettino Craxi's Socialist Party wins election in Italy

General elections were held in Italy on 5 and 6 April 1992. They were the first without the traditionally second most important political force in Italian politics, the Italian Communist Party (PCI),...

Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, opens

Joseph Robbie was an American attorney, politician, and the principal founder of the Miami Dolphins.

With the death of the last individual, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow becomes extinct

Charles Glass, ABC journalist, kidnapped in Lebanon

Charles Glass is an American-British author, journalist, broadcaster and publisher specializing in the Middle East, the First World War and the Second World War. He was ABC News chief Middle East...

ETA bomb attack in Barcelona, 15 killed

Discovery rolls over from OPF to Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center (Florida)

The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC, originally known as the NASA Launch Operations Center), located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of the ten field centers of NASA.

A bomb blast in a Johannesburg video game arcade kills an unborn baby and injures ten people

CFL's Montreal Alouettes team folds

The Montreal Alouettes (French: Les Alouettes de Montréal), and colloquially known as the Als, are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal.

"The Living Daylights", 15th James Bond film, 1st film to star Timothy Dalton premieres in London

Boston Red Sox outfielder Don Baylor sets MLB career hit-by-pitch mark at 244 when plunked by Rick Rhoden in 6-2 win ove

Boston Red Sox outfielder Don Baylor sets MLB career hit-by-pitch mark at 244 when plunked by Rick Rhoden in 6-2 win overthe New York Yankees

MLB Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Steve Bedrosian is 1st to record 12 saves in 12 attempts

Patrik Sjöberg of Sweden sets a new men's high jump world record 2.42m (7 ft 11 1⁄4 in) in Stockholm, Sweden

New York City radio station WFAN-AM commences first 24 hour all sports radio format

KC Royals outfielder Jim Eisenreich hits 1st HR since 1982, in MLB comeback process, retired 1984 (Tourette syndrome)

Discovery moves to Launch Pad 39B for STS-26 mission

First of three massacres by Sikh extremists takes place in India

Kiwanis Clubs end men-only tradition, vote to admit women

Kitty Dukakis reveals an addiction to amphetamines for 26 years

Heart's "Alone" single goes to #1 for three weeks

Fifty white South Africans meet ANCers in Dakar

Great Britain performs nuclear Test at Nevada Test Site

New York Yankees Don Mattingly hits his 4th grand slam of season & ties AL record of homers in 6 straight games (on way

New York Yankees Don Mattingly hits his 4th grand slam of season & ties AL record of homers in 6 straight games (on way to tie major league record of 8)

10 teens die in Guadalupe River flood (Comfort, Tx)

Molly Yard elected new President of National Organization for Women

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American progressive-left feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501 (c)(4) social welfare organization.

Said Aouita of Morocco sets 5k record (12:58.39) in Rome

Petra Felke (East Germany) throws javelin 78.89 m (women's record)

IBM-PC DOS Version 3.3 (updated) is released

R. Venkataraman becomes the eighth President of India

Pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter, outfielder Billy Williams, and third baseman Ray Dandridge are inducted into the Baseball

Pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter, outfielder Billy Williams, and third baseman Ray Dandridge are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York

First expedited salvage of Titanic wreck begins by RMS Titanic, Inc.

An ANC car bomb directed at the headquarters of the Wits Command in Johannesburg, South Africa, kills one person and inj

An ANC car bomb directed at the headquarters of the Wits Command in Johannesburg, South Africa, kills one person and injures 68

A rare F4 tornado rips through Edmonton, Alberta, killing 27 people and causing $330 million in damage

Baltimore first baseman Eddie Murray hits his 299th and 300th career home runs to lead the Orioles to an 8-4 win over th

Baltimore first baseman Eddie Murray hits his 299th and 300th career home runs to lead the Orioles to an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers

ArenaBowl I, Pittsburgh Civic Arena: Denver Dynamite beats Pittsburgh Gladiators 45-16, Gary Mullen MVP

Cincinnati outfielder Eric Davis is seventh to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in one season as he homers in Reds 5-

Cincinnati outfielder Eric Davis is seventh to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in one season as he homers in Reds 5-4 win against the Giants

Five Central American presidents sign peace accord in Guatemala

The Esquipulas Nicaraguan Peace Agreement, also known as the Central American Peace Accords, was a peace initiative in the mid-1980s to settle the military conflicts that had plagued Central America...

Brewers' Rob Deer strikes out five times in a game

LA Rams beat Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in London (NFL expo)

Flight Readiness Firing of Discovery's main engines is successful

France and Great Britain send minesweepers to the Persian Gulf

Charles Cole climbs the 870-foot Tyrolean Traverse from the top of Elephant Rock

Cardinals outfield sets record of no putouts in a 4-2 win in 13 innings

At the Pan Am Games in Indianapolis, USA and Cuba are tied with 2 outs in the 9th inning when Ty Griffin hits a home run

At the Pan Am Games in Indianapolis, USA and Cuba are tied with 2 outs in the 9th inning when Ty Griffin hits a home run, resulting in Cuba's first loss in 20 years of Pan Am competition

Astrological Harmonic Convergence - Dawn of a New Age

The Harmonic Convergence was the world's first synchronized global peace meditation, coinciding with an exceptional alignment of Solar System planets on August 16–17, 1987.

Houston Oiler Earl Campbell retires from the NFL

Earl Christian Campbell, nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, primarily with the...

Hungerford Massacre, England: Michael Ryan kills 16 people with an assault rifle and then commits suicide

15-year-old boy hijacks KLM B737 and demands $1 billion

American scientist Peter Schultz announces the possibility of Martian tornadoes

Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches a record of 2722.42

Madonna sings in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Paul Molitor goes 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 39 consecutive games

Paul Leo Molitor, nicknamed "Mollie" and "the Ignitor", is an American former professional baseball player and manager.

Mike Schmidt surpasses Ted Williams and Willie McCovey with 522 home runs

Houston Astros MLB player Nolan Ryan surpasses the 200-strikeout barrier for a record 11th time

Portuguese athlete Rosa Mota wins the Women's Marathon at the World Championships in Rome in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 17

Portuguese athlete Rosa Mota wins the Women's Marathon at the World Championships in Rome in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 17 seconds

Ben Johnson of Canada runs the 100 m in a world record time of 9.83 seconds

Kirby Puckett goes 6-for-6 with two home runs in Minnesota's 10-6 win over Milwaukee

Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 – March 6, 2006) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the Minnesota Twins (1984–1995).

Smoking forbidden in public buildings in Belgium

Houston outfielder Kevin Bass becomes 1st NL player to switch hit HRs in a game twice in one season in Astros 10-1 win v

Houston outfielder Kevin Bass becomes 1st NL player to switch hit HRs in a game twice in one season in Astros 10-1 win v Cubs

A coup in Burundi suspends the constitution

Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in East Africa.

Carlton Fisk hits his 300th career home run off Danny Jackson

Conjoined twins Benjamin and Patrick Binder are separated at Johns Hopkins Hospital

Patrick and Benjamin Binder were conjoined twins, joined at the head, born in Germany in February 1987, and separated at Johns Hopkins Children's Center on 6 September 1987.

"I Want Her" single released by Keith Sweat (Billboard Song of the Year, 1988)

"I Want Her" is a song by American R&B singer Keith Sweat. As the first single from his debut album, Make It Last Forever, it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot...

Jerry Lewis's 22nd Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $39,021,723

Gary Hart admits on "Nightline" to cheating on his wife

Larry Bird of the Celtics begins an NBA free throw streak of 59 consecutive successful shots

MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan strikes out his 4,500th batter

Polish composer Henryk Górecki's a cappella choral work "Miserere", composed in 1981 in response to aggressive police re

Polish composer Henryk Górecki's a cappella choral work "Miserere", composed in 1981 in response to aggressive police response to labor union sit-in, premieres at St. Stanisłaus Church in Włocławek, Poland with Stanisław Krawczyński conducting the Bydgoszcz Philharmonic Choir

Ethiopia adopts a constitution

The Constitution of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, also known as the 1987 Constitution of Ethiopia, was a communist state constitution and Ethiopia's third constitution overall.

Cesium-137 stolen from abandoned hospital in Rio de Janeiro

Italy sends a naval contingent to the Persian Gulf

California's Bob Boone catches his record 1,919th major league game

Philadelphia celebrates 200th anniversary of Constitution

The National Monument to the U.S. Constitution (also known as the Constitution Bicentennial Monument) was monument commissioned to Australian artist Brett-Livingstone Strong by Warren E.

Detroit first baseman Darrell Evans hits home run #30 off Bill Wegman in the 5th inning of the Tigers' 7-6 win over the

Detroit first baseman Darrell Evans hits home run #30 off Bill Wegman in the 5th inning of the Tigers' 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first 40-year-old to hit 30 MLB home runs in a season

Chicago running back Walter Payton scores his NFL record 107th rushing touchdown in the Bears' 20-3 victory over Tampa B

Chicago running back Walter Payton scores his NFL record 107th rushing touchdown in the Bears' 20-3 victory over Tampa Bay

French driver Alain Prost wins Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril; his record 28th Formula 1 victory

3 Belgian minesweepers depart to Persians Gulf

Boston Red Sox's Wade Boggs ties the AL record of 200 hits for five consecutive seasons

US performs a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

The Nevada National Security Sites (N2S2 or NNSS), popularized as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010, is a reservation of the United States Department of Energy located in the southeastern portion...

Padre Benito Santiago sets rookie hitting streak at 28 games

Atlanta Braves' Phil Niekro makes his final MLB appearance, surrendering 5 runs in 3 innings against the San Francisco G

Atlanta Braves' Phil Niekro makes his final MLB appearance, surrendering 5 runs in 3 innings against the San Francisco Giants

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" premieres with the episode "Encounter at Farpoint"

"Encounter at Farpoint" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which premiered in syndication on September 28,...

Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson appear on TV game show "The $10,000 Pyramid"

New York Yankees' Don Mattingly hits a record 6th grand slam of the year

Roy Orbison and friends, including James Burton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and k.d. la

Roy Orbison and friends, including James Burton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and k.d. lang, film a performance at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles, California, for the Cinemax cable TV special "A Black and White Night"

Fiji's Constitution is suspended

The Constitution of Fiji is the supreme law of Fiji. There have been four Constitutions since the first was adopted in 1970.

Michael Pruffer of France skis 135.26 mph at Portillo, Chile

,000 march for gay and lesbian civil rights in Washington, D.C.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias wins Nobel Peace Prize

Óscar Arias Sánchez is a Costa Rican politician, activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was the president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010. Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace...

In Midland, TX, 1½-year-old Jessica McClure falls 22 feet (7 meters) down a well and is rescued 58 hours later

Coup in Burkina Faso: President Sankara dies

The 1987 Burkina Faso coup d'état was a bloody military coup in Burkina Faso, which took place on 15 October 1987.

18-month-old Jessica McClure is rescued 58 hours after falling 22 ft (6.7 m) into a well shaft in Midland, Texas

Jessica McClure Morales fell into a well in her aunt's backyard in Midland, Texas, on October 14, 1987, at the age of 18 months. Over the next 58 hours, rescuers worked to free her from the 8 in (20...

US First Lady Nancy Reagan undergoes a modified radical mastectomy

Woody Woodward resigns as NY Yankees general manager, Lou Piniella is named general manager, and Billy Martin is named N

Woody Woodward resigns as NY Yankees general manager, Lou Piniella is named general manager, and Billy Martin is named NY Yankees manager for the fifth and final time

Dow Jones Industrial Average increases 102.27 points with 608,120,000 shares traded (record)

Full US Senate debate begins on Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court

On July 1, 1987, President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Robert Bork for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, to succeed Lewis F.

American composer John Adams's first opera, "Nixon in China", premieres at the Houston Grand Opera, in Houston, Texas

Nixon in China is an opera in three acts by John Adams with a libretto by Alice Goodman. Adams's first opera, it was inspired by U.S.

Dutch government gives Fokker's Aircraft Ÿ212 million credit

NBC technicians accept a pact and end their 118-day strike

Dow Jones Industrial Average down 156.83 points

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.

Lucas Mangopes Democratic Party wins Bophuthatswana elections

Brazilian Williams driver Nelson Piquet finishes 15th in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka but clinches his 3rd Formula

Brazilian Williams driver Nelson Piquet finishes 15th in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka but clinches his 3rd Formula 1 World Drivers Championship

New York Jets retire Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Don Maynard's jersey #13

The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area.

Entertainer Lola Falana is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

New York Rangers' center Marcel Dionne becomes just the 2nd NHL player to register 1,700 career points, scoring a goal i

New York Rangers' center Marcel Dionne becomes just the 2nd NHL player to register 1,700 career points, scoring a goal in 5-3 loss at Calgary

Oakland A's first baseman Mark McGwire wins American League Rookie of the Year with 49 home runs, 118 RBI; second to win

Oakland A's first baseman Mark McGwire wins American League Rookie of the Year with 49 home runs, 118 RBI; second to win AL award unanimously; first Carlton Fisk 1972

Benito Santiago, Padres catcher, wins NL Rookie of Year

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to two outstanding rookie players, one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL), as voted on by the Baseball...

An iceberg twice the size of Rhode Island breaks from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf

Tunisian premier Zine al-Abidine fires President Habib Bourguiba

11 are killed in an IRA bomb attack in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Heavy snow closes schools from DC to Maine

1st condom commercial on British TV

Sam's Town National Bowling Pro-Am won by Debbie Bennett

28 of 82 aboard Continental Airlines DC-9, die in crash at Denver

Continental Airlines Flight 1713 was a commercial airline flight that crashed while taking off in a snowstorm from Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States, on November 15,...

Paul McCartney releases single "Once Upon a Long Ago"

George Bell is 1st Blue Jay ever to win the American League MVP

31 people die in a fire at King's Cross, London's busiest tube station

France performs nuclear test

Jack Sikma (Milwaukee) ends his NBA free throw streak of 51 games

"Make It Last Forever" debut album by Keith Sweat is released (Billboard Song of the Year 1988)

Make It Last Forever is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Keith Sweat. It was recorded at INS Recording and Power Play Studios in New York City.

India all out for 75 v West Indies at Delhi, Patterson 5-24

Pakistan cricket leg-spin bowler Abdul Qadir takes 9-56 against England in 1st Test at Lahore; best figures by a Pakista

Pakistan cricket leg-spin bowler Abdul Qadir takes 9-56 against England in 1st Test at Lahore; best figures by a Pakistani, and by any bowler against England

Young man survives 7 attempts at suicide in Somerset, England

South African Airways Boeing 747 crashes into the Indian Ocean, killing all 159 passengers

South African Airways Flight 295 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, Taipei, Taiwan, to Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South...

A Korean Air Boeing 707 explodes over the Thai-Burmese border, killing all 115 people on board

Afghanistan's Constitution is adopted by the Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly)

A jirga is an assembly of leaders that makes decisions by consensus according to Pashtunwali, the Pashtun social code.

Digging begins to link England and France under the English Channel

"334" club forms as 334 brave Devil fans journey through 20" of snow to attend New Jersey Devils 7-5 NHL victory over Ca

"334" club forms as 334 brave Devil fans journey through 20" of snow to attend New Jersey Devils 7-5 NHL victory over Calgary at Meadowlands

Karlstad skates world record 10 km (13:48.51)

53rd Heisman Trophy Award: Tim Brown, Notre Dame (WR)

3 satanist Missouri teenagers bludgeon comrade to death for "fun"

43 die in Pacific Southwest Airline crash in California (man shot pilots)

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

"Nightline" is seen in USSR for 1st time

Martin Ritt's dramatic film "Nuts", starring Barbra Streisand and Richard Dreyfus premieres

Okla's sets NCAA record of 33 steals vs Centenary

Belgium Christian Democrats (CVP) loses parliamentary election

Allan Border scores 205 vs NZ to become Australian crickets' top run getter

First National US tour of musical "Les Misérables" opens at Shubert Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts

Roh Tae Woo elected president of South Korea

Roh Tae-woo was a South Korean army general and politician who served as the sixth president of South Korea from 1988 to 1993.

Czechoslovak party leader Gustav Husak resigns

American stockbroker Ivan Boesky sentenced to 3 years in prison for insider trading

NHL Boston Bruins Ken Linseman & St. Louis Blues Doug Gilmore set a record for the fastest two goals in league history,

NHL Boston Bruins Ken Linseman & St. Louis Blues Doug Gilmore set a record for the fastest two goals in league history, scoring 2 seconds apart

Dona Paz ferry sinks after crash with oil tanker Vector in Philippine waters, 4,386 die in world's deadliest peacetime m

Dona Paz ferry sinks after crash with oil tanker Vector in Philippine waters, 4,386 die in world's deadliest peacetime maritime disaster

3 white NY teens convicted of manslaughter in death of a black man

Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx overdoses from heroin

Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, author, photographer, and radio personality, best known as the co-founder, bassist, primary songwriter, and only constant member of...

Buffalo goaltender Tom Barrasso leads the Sabres to a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings to record his 100th NHL victory

Buffalo goaltender Tom Barrasso leads the Sabres to a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings to record his 100th NHL victory; makes him the youngest player to reach milestone at just 22 years, 9 months

Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who escaped 2 days earlier, recaptured

Steve Largent sets all-time NFL record for career catches when he catches his 752nd pass

Ronald Gene Simmons kills 2 former employers and wounds 4 in a shooting spree and surrenders to police; later bodies of

Ronald Gene Simmons kills 2 former employers and wounds 4 in a shooting spree and surrenders to police; later bodies of 14 of his relatives he had murdered are found at his home near Dover, Arkansas

Ballon d'Or: Milan's Dutch midfielder Ruud Gullit wins best football player in Europe award ahead of Paulo Futre (Porto/

Ballon d'Or: Milan's Dutch midfielder Ruud Gullit wins best football player in Europe award ahead of Paulo Futre (Porto/Atlético Madrid) and Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño

Australia hang on for draw v New Zealand at MCG, 1 wkt left 17 runs short

Famous Births

Cynthia Erivo is born

Cynthia Erivo, English actress and singer, known for english actress and singer, was born on 1987-01-08. Cynthia Erivo ( ə-REE-voh; born 8 January 1987) is an English actress, singer, and songwriter.

Jamie Vardy is born

Jamie Vardy, English athlete, known for english footballer, was born on 1987-01-11.

Evan Peters is born

Evan Peters, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1987-01-20. Evan Thomas Peters is an American actor.

Luis Suárez is born

Luis Suárez, Spanish athlete, known for uruguayan footballer, was born on 1987-01-24.

Michael B. Jordan is born

Michael B. Jordan, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1987-02-09. Michael Bakari Jordan is an American actor, producer, and director.

Rose Leslie is born

Rose Leslie, Scottish actress, known for scottish actress, was born on 1987-02-09. Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie is a Scottish actress.

Mike Krieger is born

Mike Krieger, Brazilian entrepreneur and software engineer, known for brazilian entrepreneur and software engineer, was born on 1987-03-04.

Brittany Snow is born

Brittany Snow, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1987-03-09. Brittany Anne Snow is an American actress.

Manuel Neuer is born

Manuel Neuer, German athlete, known for german footballer, was born on 1987-03-27.

Lady Gaga is born

Lady Gaga, American singer, songwriter and actress, known for american singer, songwriter and actress, was born on 1987-03-28.

Sergio Ramos is born

Sergio Ramos, Spanish athlete, known for spanish footballer, was born on 1987-03-30. Sergio Ramos García is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back.

Amber Heard is born

Amber Heard, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1987-04-22. Amber Laura Heard is an American actress.

Marshawn Lynch is born

Marshawn Lynch, American athlete, known for american football player, was born on 1987-04-22.

Lena Dunham is born

Lena Dunham, American writer and actress, known for american writer and actress, was born on 1987-05-13. Lena Dunham is an American writer, director, actress, and producer.

Robert Pattinson is born

Robert Pattinson, English actor, known for english actor, was born on 1987-05-13. Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor.

Megan Fox is born

Megan Fox, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1987-05-16. Megan Denise Fox is an American actress.

Rafael Nadal is born

Rafael Nadal, Spanish athlete, known for spanish tennis player, was born on 1987-06-03. Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera, 1st Marquess of Llevant de Mallorca is a Spanish former professional tennis player.

Shia LaBeouf is born

Shia LaBeouf, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1987-06-11. Shia Saide LaBeouf ( SHY-ə lə-BUF; born June 11, 1986) is an American actor and filmmaker.

Ashley Olsen is born

Ashley Olsen, American businesswoman, fashion designer and actress, known for american businesswoman, fashion designer and actress, was born on 1987-06-13.

Mary-Kate Olsen is born

Mary-Kate Olsen, American businesswoman, fashion designer and actress, known for american businesswoman, fashion designer and actress, was born on 1987-06-13.

Richard Madden is born

Richard Madden, Scottish actor, known for scottish actor, was born on 1987-06-18. Richard Madden is a Scottish actor. He was cast in his first role at age 11 and made his screen acting debut in 2000.

Lindsay Lohan is born

Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer, known for american actress and singer, was born on 1987-07-02.

Adam Young is born

Adam Young, American musician, known for american musician, was born on 1987-07-05. Adam Randal Young is an American singer-songwriter and musician.

Christina Perri is born

Christina Perri, American musician, known for american singer-songwriter, was born on 1987-08-19. Christina Judith Perri is an American singer and songwriter.

Usain Bolt is born

Usain Bolt athlete, known for jamaican sprinter, was born on 1987-08-21. Usain St. Leo Bolt is a Jamaican retired sprinter who is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time.

Sebastian Kurz is born

Lea Michele is born

Lea Michele, American actress and singer, known for american actress and singer, was born on 1987-08-29.

Shaun White is born

Shaun White, American athlete, known for american snowboarder and skateboarder, was born on 1987-09-03. Shaun Roger White is an American former professional snowboarder and skateboarder.

Emilia Clarke is born

Emilia Clarke, English actress, known for english actress, was born on 1987-10-23.

Drake is born

Jon Batiste is born

Jon Batiste, American musician, known for american musician, was born on 1987-11-11.

Katie Cassidy is born

Katie Cassidy, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1987-11-25. Katherine Evelyn Anita Cassidy is an American actress.

Kit Harington is born

Kit Harington, English actor, known for english actor, was born on 1987-12-26. Christopher Catesby Harington, known professionally as Kit Harington, is an English actor.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is born

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaican athlete, known for retired jamaican track and field sprinter, was born on 1987-12-27.

Ellie Goulding is born

Ellie Goulding, English musician, known for english singer and songwriter, was born on 1987-12-30. Elena Jane Goulding is an English singer-songwriter and activist.

Notable Deaths

Liberace dies

Liberace, American musician and actor, known for american musician and actor, died on 1987-02-04.

Andy Warhol dies

Andy Warhol, American artist and filmmaker, known for american artist and filmmaker, died on 1987-02-22. Andy Warhol was an American artist and filmmaker.

Henri Cochet dies

Buddy Rich dies

Buddy Rich, American jazz drummer and bandleader, known for american jazz drummer and bandleader, died on 1987-04-02.

Geraldine Page dies

Geraldine Page, American actress, known for american actress, died on 1987-06-13. Geraldine Sue Page (November 22, 1924 – June 13, 1987) was an American actress.