What happened in June 1978?
The top front-page story of each day in June 1978, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jun 1🌍 World Cup Begins – The 11th World Cup soccer championship kicks off in Argentina, with over a billion viewers expected to watch the matches.
- Jun 2⚽ World Cup Opener – The 11th World Cup soccer championship began with a scoreless tie between West Germany and Poland at River Plate Stadium.
- Jun 3🛢️ Saudis Capping Oil Gas – Saudi Arabia begins capturing large amounts of natural gas previously flared off, reducing waste and enhancing energy efficiency.
- Jun 4💎 Big Diamond Found – A 353.9-carat diamond, named Premier Rose, was discovered in South Africa, becoming one of the most valuable gems in history.
- Jun 5🐋 Whale Tribute Event – Over 700 people gathered at Cabrillo Beach, California, to create a sand whale and promote the message: 'Save the Whale.'
- Jun 6🎾 Vilas Defeats Ashe – Guillermo Vilas defeated Arthur Ashe 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals of the French Open tennis championships.
- Jun 7🔬 Solar Energy Project – A $525,000 solar energy project for Gilroy Foods Inc. has been approved by the Department of Energy, set to harness solar power in Maryland.
- Jun 8🌍 Ethiopia Faces Famine – Ethiopia is confronting a severe famine, potentially worse than the 1973-74 disaster, with officials warning of dire consequences.
- Jun 9🎭 – The Off-Broadway musical 'Piano Bar' debuted at the Westside Chelsea Theater, exploring life and relationships in a piano bar setting.
- Jun 10🚀 Skylab Stabilized – The Skylab space station was stabilized after being dormant, allowing for potential future use or a controlled descent.
- Jun 11🏇 Affirmed Wins Triple Crown – Affirmed, ridden by Steve Cauthen, wins the Belmont Stakes, completing the Triple Crown after victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
- Jun 12🔭 New Telescope Breakthrough – A revolutionary astronomical instrument combining six telescopes is nearing completion atop Mount Hopkins, Arizona.
- Jun 13🌍 Earthquake Rocks Japan – A powerful earthquake struck Japan's Honshu island, killing at least 21 and injuring 350, with significant damage reported.
- Jun 14🎸 U.S.S.R. Rock Concert – A free concert featuring major American artists will be held in Leningrad on July 4, marking a historic cultural exchange in the Soviet Union.
- Jun 15⚽ Brazilians Win World Cup – Brazil defeated Peru 3-0 in the World Cup soccer championship, showcasing a strong performance after earlier disappointments.
- Jun 16🎭 Ballet Performance Triumph – Alicia Alonso's performance in the White Swan pas de deux at the National Ballet of Cuba thrilled audiences at the Metropolitan Opera House.
- Jun 17🌍 Carter and Torrijos Treaty – President Carter and Brig. Gen. Omar Torrijos conclude treaties for the Panama Canal, marking a new era of cooperation.
- Jun 18🌍 New Chinese Road Opens – The Karakoram Highway opens, connecting China's Sinkiang Province to Pakistan, enhancing trade and accessibility.
- Jun 19⚽ World Cup Teams Compete – Brazil tied Argentina and the Netherlands tied West Germany, leaving six teams still in contention for the soccer championship.
- Jun 20🤝 Ali Meets Brezhnev – Muhammad Ali discussed peace with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, marking a significant moment in U.S.-Soviet relations.
- Jun 21🎨 Von Hirsch Art Sale – The sale of masterpieces collected by Robert von Hirsch began spectacularly, fetching over $5 million for 70 Old Master drawings.
- Jun 22🌞 Summer Arrives – Summer officially began at 2:10 PM, marking the longest day of the year with a temperature of 72°F in Central Park.
- Jun 23🖼️ Record Art Auction – London auction sets record with $13.4 million in sales from Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance masterpieces.
- Jun 24💡 G.E. Sells Siemens Stake – General Electric transfers its 21.45% interest in Osram GmbH to Siemens AG, solidifying Siemens' ownership of the lamp manufacturer.
- Jun 25🌌 Black Hole Discovered – British scientists report the discovery of a second black hole in the constellation Scorpio using an X-ray satellite.
- Jun 26⚽ Argentina Wins World Cup – Argentina captures the World Cup title in a dramatic overtime victory against the Netherlands, final score 3-1.
- Jun 27✈️ Canadian Jet Crash – An Air Canada jetliner with 107 aboard crashed into a ravine during takeoff, resulting in 2 fatalities and over 100 injuries.
- Jun 28🚀 Polish Astronaut Launched – The Soviet Union launched a Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian commander and the world's first Polish astronaut into orbit.
- Jun 29🎾 Connors Advances at Wimbledon – Jimmy Connors progresses to the third round of Wimbledon, attracting a record crowd of 38,290 spectators.
- Jun 30🎥 Tribute to Filmmaker – Henry King, 87, honored despite recent accident causing physical difficulties.
Happy Birthday! 1978 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1978 in real headlines. See the 1978 book →