What happened in September 1959?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1959, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Sep 1🌺 Hawaii Legislature Opens – Hawaii convenes its legislature for the first time, featuring singing and hula dancing at the colorful opening session.
- Sep 2🔬 First Life Traced – Scientists propose that life originated on land, not in the sea, suggesting cells began forming on shore 3 billion years ago.
- Sep 3🌍 Eisenhower and de Gaulle – Paris celebrates as a million gather for talks between Presidents Eisenhower and de Gaulle, marking a significant diplomatic moment.
- Sep 4🎾 Gibson Wins Tennis Final – Althea Gibson triumphs at the Pan-American Games, defeating Yolanda Ramirez 6-4, 7-5, contributing to a U.S. sweep in swimming events.
- Sep 5🌍 U.S. Fair in Soviet – Total attendance at the U.S. Fair in the Soviet Union reaches 2,700,000, marking significant goodwill between nations.
- Sep 6🌍 U.S. Exhibit Dismantled – Moscow workers dismantle a U.S. exhibit, contrasting with the crowded closing day, highlighting Cold War tensions.
- Sep 7🏛️ Duplessis Dies – Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis, a champion of French culture, passes away, leaving a significant impact on provincial politics.
- Sep 8🏇 Noureddin Wins Race – Noureddin defeats Li'l Fella by two and a quarter lengths in the $33,350 Olympic at Atlantic City.
- Sep 9🎭 Ballet Performance Reviewed – A revised version of 'Jeux d'Enfants' fails to impress at the City Troupe's ballet performance.
- Sep 10🚀 Atlas ICBM Launch – Air Force crew successfully launches Atlas ICBM 4,400 miles from California to a point near Wake Island.
- Sep 11🚀 Space Capsule Reaches Altitude – A space capsule achieved a peak altitude of 100 miles, with speeds reaching 14,000 miles per hour, yielding expected results.
- Sep 12♟️ Fischer Defeats Gligoric – American chess champion Bobby Fischer wins against Gligoric in just 32 moves at the Bled tournament.
- Sep 13🚀 Soviet Moon Rocket – Soviet Union launches a rocket aimed at the Moon, timed to coincide with Khrushchev's visit to the U.S.
- Sep 14🌕 Soviet Rocket Hits Moon – Soviet rocket successfully impacts the Moon after 35 hours, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Sep 15🌌 Khrushchev Arrives in U.S – Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev begins a significant two-week tour of the United States, marking a pivotal moment in U.S.-Soviet relations.
- Sep 16🕊️ Khrushchev Visits Washington – Khrushchev receives a warm welcome in Washington, meeting with Eisenhower to discuss peace and friendship between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
- Sep 17🌍 Khrushchev Visits U.S – Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev begins a historic visit to the United States, engaging in discussions with President Eisenhower.
- Sep 18🏛️ U.S. Constitution Honored – A speech at the 172nd anniversary of the U.S. Constitution emphasizes its enduring power over modern weaponry.
- Sep 19🌍 Khrushchev Honors Roosevelt – Khrushchev pays tribute at Roosevelt's grave in Hyde Park, accompanied by Eleanor Roosevelt, highlighting U.S.-Soviet relations.
- Sep 20🏛️ Yucatan Maya Discovery – Archaeologists study a site near Merida, dating back 2,000-3,000 B.C., revealing insights into ancient Maya civilization.
- Sep 21🌕 Lunar Magnetic Study – Soviet data reveals no magnetic zone around the Moon, supporting theories on its composition and absence of a radiation belt.
- Sep 22🌍 Nations Discuss Nuclear Energy – Seventy nations gather in Vienna to strengthen the World Nuclear Energy Agency during talks on peaceful atomic energy.
- Sep 23🌍 U.N. Assembly Debate – U.N. Assembly sets full debate on Khrushchev's arms proposal with no opposition from the West.
- Sep 24🔬 World Atom Unit Role – Director General Cole urges nations to allow the agency to inspect peaceful uses of atomic energy for greater oversight.
- Sep 25🚗 New Ford Record Size – Ford announces its new model will be the longest, widest, and lowest in the company's history, setting a new record.
- Sep 26🌌 Galaxy Heart Mapped – Scientists use radio technology to create a detailed map of the galaxy's core, advancing astronomical research.
- Sep 27🌪️ Japan Typhoon Devastation – 524 die and 2,296 are injured in Japan's worst typhoon since 1945, with over 700 missing as the storm sweeps north after hitting Honshu.
- Sep 28🌪️ Typhoon Deaths in Japan – Typhoon in Japan leaves 1,132 dead and 1,457 missing, with damage exceeding $100 million and nearly 928,000 people losing their homes.
- Sep 29🌊 Japan Rushes Aid – Japan allocates $27 million for typhoon relief as death toll rises to 1,322 from the recent storm.
- Sep 30☀️ Solar Heat Discovery – Navy rockets reveal the sun's corona temperature may be ten times earlier estimates, impacting solar research.
Happy Birthday! 1959 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1959 in real headlines. See the 1959 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: