What happened in March 1977?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1977, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🐊 Alligators Safe Again – Amidst concerns for endangered species, it is reported that alligators in the U.S. are thriving and no longer at risk of extinction.
- Mar 2🏨 Moscow Hotel Fire Toll – At least 45 lives were lost in the Rossiya Hotel fire, according to a Soviet medical source, amid concerns about the full scope of the tragedy.
- Mar 3🏛️ Carter Proposes Puerto Rico Study – President Carter proposed a study group to assist Puerto Rico in addressing its economic challenges.
- Mar 4🏆 Fratianne Wins Championship – Linda Fratianne of California won the women's world figure skating championship in Tokyo, showcasing grace and control after a fall.
- Mar 5🔬 Fusion Reaction Achieved – Scientists successfully achieved a fusion reaction using a carbon dioxide laser system, overcoming previous limitations in energy release.
- Mar 6🛩️ Lindbergh Plane Replica – A replica of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis is being built to retrace his 1927 tour across the nation.
- Mar 7📖 New Reform Prayer Book – The Reform branch of Judaism published its first new prayer book for home use in over 25 years, blending traditional and innovative texts.
- Mar 8🌍 Bhutto's Party Wins Majority – Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto won a significant majority in Pakistan's parliamentary elections held yesterday.
- Mar 9🌍 Hussein and Arafat Meet – King Hussein of Jordan and Yasir Arafat discussed relations and potential links between Jordan and a Palestinian state in Cairo.
- Mar 10📈 Carter Lifts Travel Curbs – President Carter announced the removal of travel restrictions to Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea, and Cambodia effective March 18.
- Mar 11🥇 Stockton Wins Tennis Match – Dick Stockton secured a victory for the U.S. in the World Cup tennis tournament against Australia, winning the opening match.
- Mar 12🔬 Viking Approaches Mars – Viking 1 cameras began capturing close-up images of Mars as the orbiter moved within 185 miles of the planet.
- Mar 13🚤 Antique Boats Demand – Antique boats are increasingly sought after, with old wrecks potentially being considered classics.
- Mar 14💧 Water Crisis Explored – The U.N. conference will address global water crises caused by droughts, floods, and contamination affecting many regions.
- Mar 15🌍 U.N. Water Conference Opens – A United Nations conference on the global water crisis began in Mar del Plata, Argentina, with delegates from over 100 countries.
- Mar 16🏛️ India Starts Election – Indian citizens begin voting in a crucial parliamentary election, with emergency rule as a key issue affecting democracy.
- Mar 17🌍 New Evidence of Early Man – Archeologists report evidence suggesting early humans inhabited the Americas at least 40,000 years ago, challenging previous timelines.
- Mar 18🎨 Whitney Counterweight Festival – Ninety artists exhibit work in SoHo's 'Whitney Counterweight' festival, challenging traditional art norms in response to the Whitney Biennial.
- Mar 19🌸 Spring Begins Tomorrow – Spring will officially begin tomorrow at 12:43 PM, marking the vernal equinox when day and night are of equal length.
- Mar 20🏛️ Ancient Mosaic Found – A 2,000-year-old mosaic discovered in Greece highlights the ancient Greeks' capability to destroy landmarks.
- Mar 21🌍 Indira Gandhi Defeated – Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lost her parliamentary seat in India's sixth national election, marking a significant political shift.
- Mar 22🌍 Major Earthquake Strikes – A major earthquake hit southern Iran, causing significant damage in Bandar Abbas, with reports of casualties and ongoing rescue efforts.
- Mar 23🌍 Earthquake in Iran – An earthquake struck southern Iran, killing 60 people in villages near Bandar Abbas, according to government radio reports.
- Mar 24🌍 New India Premier – Morarji R. Desai, recently released from political imprisonment, is chosen as India's fourth Prime Minister.
- Mar 25🇮🇳 Desai Sworn In – Morarji R. Desai was sworn in as India's fourth Prime Minister, pledging to eliminate fear from society.
- Mar 26🛰️ Soviet Satellites Launched – The Soviet Union launched two satellites, including Cosmos 899 for space exploration and a Molnia 1 for domestic communications.
- Mar 27🌍 Moscow Arms Talks – Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance arrived in Moscow to support détente and negotiate nuclear arms cuts with Leonid Brezhnev.
- Mar 28✈️ Worst Aviation Disaster – Two Boeing 747s collided on a foggy runway in the Canary Islands, killing over 550 people, marking the deadliest aviation accident in history.
- Mar 29✈️ 747 Collision Deaths Rise – The death toll from the collision of two 747 jets in Tenerife has risen to 577, with investigations ongoing into the cause of the tragedy.
- Mar 30🏇 Flamingo Stakes Parade – The Hialeah paddock showcased the beauty of Seattle Slew as spectators admired the colt during the Flamingo Stakes parade.
- Mar 31🪐 Uranus Has Rings – NASA reports Uranus is encircled by at least five rings, marking a significant discovery in our solar system.
Happy Birthday! 1977 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1977 in real headlines. See the 1977 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: