What happened in September 1977?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1977, 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🌍 Tito Visits Mao's Tomb – Yugoslav President Tito becomes the first foreigner to visit the Mao Tse-tung Mausoleum in China, marking a significant diplomatic gesture.
- Sep 2🧑⚕️ Hippocratic Oath Importance – Margaret Mead emphasized the Hippocratic Oath's role in ensuring patient trust in physicians during a speech to the Rudolph Virchow Medical Society.
- Sep 3🚁 Princess Killed in Accident – Princess Lalla Nouzha of Morocco died in a car accident, as announced by the government, marking a significant loss for the royal family.
- Sep 4🌍 Kenya Opens Center – Kenya formally opened a major research center for early man, featuring ceremonial dancers and speeches from officials.
- Sep 5🔬 Weekend Archeologists Dig – Amateur archaeologist John A. Cavallo uncovers ancient artifacts in Freehold, New Jersey, believed to be from indigenous peoples over 10,000 years ago.
- Sep 6🌍 Taiwan Greets Heroes – Taiwan celebrates as three Little League teams return home after winning titles at the World Series in the U.S.
- Sep 7📚 Moscow Book Fair Opens – Moscow's first international book fair opened, delighting Russian booklovers despite complaints of censorship from exhibitors.
- Sep 8🌍 Carter Signs Canal Treaties – President Carter and Brig. Gen. Omar Torrijos signed treaties to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama by 2000.
- Sep 9🌍 Memorial Hall Opens – China inaugurates Memorial Hall for Mao Tse-tung in Peking, marking the first anniversary of his death.
- Sep 10🚀 Space Shuttle Tank Unveiled – A giant 520,000-gallon fuel tank for the U.S. Space Shuttle was rolled out at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
- Sep 11🏆 Evert Wins U.S. Open – Chris Evert captures the U.S. Open title, defeating Wendy Turnbull 7-6, 6-2, and securing a $33,000 prize.
- Sep 12🎾 Vilas Captures Open Title – Guillermo Vilas defeated Jimmy Connors in four sets to win the men's singles title at the U.S. Open tennis championships.
- Sep 13🚗 Nader Critiques Auto Safety – Ralph Nader criticized auto manufacturers for opposing air bags, claiming they show indifference to highway safety.
- Sep 14🌧️ Floods Strike Kansas City – Nineteen people died and many were unaccounted for after torrential rains caused devastating flash floods in Kansas City and nearby areas.
- Sep 15🦖 Huge Dinosaur Track Found – A massive dinosaur track, possibly the largest ever found intact, measuring nearly 5 by 3 feet, was uncovered in Granby, Massachusetts.
- Sep 16🏛️ Suez Canal Comeback – The Suez Canal has reopened after being closed for eight years during Arab-Israeli conflicts, signaling a significant economic revival.
- Sep 17🔬 Bronze Door for Pope – A 12-ton bronze door for St. Peter's Basilica, depicting good and evil, is completed as a birthday gift for Pope Paul VI.
- Sep 18🎈 Balloonists Attempt Atlantic – Two Colorado men plan to embark on the first transatlantic balloon crossing, following previous failed attempts.
- Sep 19🌋 Kilauea Volcano Eruption – Heavy rains reportedly doused lava flows from Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, preventing further threat to nearby ranches.
- Sep 20🌍 Cholera Outbreak in Bangladesh – Over 100 people have died from cholera in Bangladesh, with additional cases reported in the Gilbert Islands.
- Sep 21🌍 Vietnam Joins U.N – The 32nd General Assembly opened, approving Vietnam's admission to the United Nations with 105 countries co-sponsoring its application.
- Sep 22🌌 Universe Expansion Debate – Two new studies challenge the idea of an ever-expanding universe, suggesting it may be finite and destined to collapse.
- Sep 23🏋️ Bessonov Wins Golds – Gennady Bessonov of the Soviet Union won all three gold medals in the light-heavyweight division at the world weight-lifting championships.
- Sep 24🌍 Switzerland Votes on Abortion – Swiss citizens decide on legalizing abortion within 12 weeks of pregnancy in a significant democratic process.
- Sep 25⚽ Pele's Farewell Game – Pele played his farewell match in New Jersey, emphasizing soccer's role in American sports culture and its significance to fans.
- Sep 26🚀 Soviet Launches Satellite – The Soviet Union launched a new research satellite, Intercosmos-17, in cooperation with three other Communist countries.
- Sep 27🌋 Hawaiian Volcano Erupts – Kilauea volcano in Hawaii flared up, producing new lava fountains nearly 100 feet high, though no inhabited areas are threatened.
- Sep 28🚀 Space Shuttle Tests – NASA selects the Long-Duration-Exposure Facility for the Space Shuttle, planning 40 experiments in Earth orbit.
- Sep 29👶 Siamese Twins Separated – Six-and-a-half-month-old Siamese twins were successfully separated in a five-hour operation at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, L.I.
- Sep 30🚀 Salyut 6 Station Launched – The Soviet Union successfully orbited the Salyut 6 space station, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
Happy Birthday! 1977 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1977 in real headlines. See the 1977 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: