What happened in September 1972?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1972, 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🏊 Spitz Wins 5th Gold – Mark Spitz won his fourth and fifth gold medals at the Munich Olympics, matching the record for most golds in a single Games.
- Sep 2♟️ Fischer Wins Chess Title – Bobby Fischer becomes the first American world chess champion, defeating Boris Spassky in a historic match.
- Sep 3🏅 Olympic Swimming Records – American swimmers Melissa Belote and Cathy Carr break world records at the Munich Olympics, while Roland Matthes of East Germany wins gold.
- Sep 4🏅 Spitz Captures 6th Gold – Mark Spitz won his sixth gold medal at the Munich Olympics, becoming the first athlete to achieve such a milestone in modern Olympic history.
- Sep 5🏊 Spitz Wins Seventh Gold – Mark Spitz won his seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics, setting a new world record in swimming.
- Sep 6🏅 Olympic Games Suspended – The Olympic Games in Munich were suspended for the first time since 1896 due to a tragic incident involving Israeli athletes.
- Sep 7🏅 Olympic Tragedy Unfolds – The Munich Olympics faced a tragic crisis as Israeli athletes were taken hostage, leading to a tense 22-hour standoff.
- Sep 8🇧🇷 Brazil Celebrates Independence – Brazil marked 150 years of independence from Portugal with ceremonies and hopes for a prosperous future.
- Sep 9🏅 Soviet Star Sets Record – Nikolai Avilov of the Soviet Union set a world record in the decathlon at the Munich Olympics, showcasing remarkable athletic prowess.
- Sep 10🏅 Soviets Win Olympic Gold – The Soviet Union defeated the United States 51-50 in a controversial finish to win the Olympic basketball gold medal in Munich.
- Sep 11🏅 U.S. Olympic Marathon Win – Frank Shorter won the Olympic gold medal in the marathon, marking the first U.S. victory in this event since 1908 at the Munich Games.
- Sep 12🏛️ Olympics End in Tragedy – The XX Olympic Games concluded in Munich with a moment of silence for the 11 Israeli athletes killed, overshadowing the sporting achievements.
- Sep 13🎨 Chagall's Mosaic Planned – Marc Chagall will create a 70-foot mosaic in Chicago's Loop, expected to be completed next year.
- Sep 14🌍 Ferry Capsizes in Malaysia – A ferry carrying mainly school children capsized in Malaysia, with over 30 persons reported missing.
- Sep 15🏅 Viren Sets Record – Lasse Viren established a world record in the 5,000-meter run at an international meet in Helsinki, Finland, captivating 50,000 spectators.
- Sep 16🌍 Earthquake Jolts Midwest – A rare earthquake shook five Midwestern states, startling thousands but causing no serious damage or injuries.
- Sep 17🏅 Munich Olympics Controversy – The International Olympic Committee barred athletes Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett for their controversial behavior during the medal ceremony.
- Sep 18🌍 World Bank Poverty Report – The World Bank reported that despite foreign aid, global poverty is likely increasing rather than declining.
- Sep 19🌊 Typhoon Kills 50 – Typhoon Helen struck Japan, resulting in 50 fatalities, destruction of 399 houses, and damage to 75 ships over the weekend.
- Sep 20🏛️ Metropolitan Opera Opens – The Metropolitan Opera opened its 88th season, marked by memories of its late general manager Goeran Gentele, who died in July.
- Sep 21🎹 Piano Movement Hits High – A rare grand piano was moved by helicopter to a sixth-floor apartment in South Nyack, dubbed the rarest of piano movements.
- Sep 22🌍 Mitsubishi Donates to Harvard – Mitsubishi donated $1 million to Harvard University to establish a chair in Japanese legal studies, marking a significant act of corporate generosity.
- Sep 23🌍 Autumn Arrives – The autumnal equinox occurred, marking the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Sep 24🧊 Yeti Expedition Planned – Six American scientists are preparing for an expedition in Nepal to investigate the existence of the Yeti, or abominable snowman.
- Sep 25🗽 Museum Opens at Statue – A new museum in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, honoring American immigrants, will be dedicated by President Nixon.
- Sep 26🗽 Nixon Opens Museum – President Nixon opens a new museum at the Statue of Liberty dedicated to immigrants who settled in the U.S.
- Sep 27📚 Nixon Signs Food Aid – President Nixon signed a bill expanding federal aid for school lunch, breakfast, and summer feeding programs for needy children.
- Sep 28🌍 Japan Cuts Ties – Japan announced it will sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan, marking a significant shift in international relations.
- Sep 29🐼 China Gifts Pandas – China presented Japan with two giant pandas to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
- Sep 30🚂 100 Die in Train Crash – At least 100 people were killed when a passenger train derailed near Malmesbury, South Africa, marking a major disaster.
Happy Birthday! 1972 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1972 in real headlines. See the 1972 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: