What happened in May 1978?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1978, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1📈 U.S. Stock Rally – The U.S. stock market rally continues, attracting significant foreign investment from countries like Britain and West Germany.
- May 2🎉 New Orleans' First Black Mayor – Ernest N. Morial takes office as the first black mayor of New Orleans, declaring a new era in the city's political landscape.
- May 3☀️ Solar Society Rising – A national goal to achieve over half of U.S. energy from solar sources by 2020 is now considered realistic and achievable.
- May 4🧊 Vast Iceberg Drifting – An enormous iceberg, 36 times the size of Bermuda, is drifting in the South Atlantic, posing potential environmental concerns.
- May 5🌪️ Tornado Strikes Florida School – A tornado hit an elementary school in Clearwater, Florida, killing two children and injuring 96 others.
- May 6🌊 New Wave Energy Patent – A New Jersey businessman received a patent for a method to generate electricity from sea waves, marking a potential breakthrough in renewable energy.
- May 7🌍 U.N. Noise Pollution Report – A U.N. report highlights trucks as the primary source of noise pollution affecting Europe and North America.
- May 8🌍 Beatification of Nun – Sister Maria Enrichetta Cominici, who established settlements for her order in India, was beatified in Rome, marking a significant religious milestone.
- May 9🌋 Mount Etna Erupts – Mount Etna continues to erupt, pouring lava into a natural basin without threatening nearby villages or farmland.
- May 10🚀 Missions to Venus Planned – The U.S. and Soviet Union plan to launch two missions each to Venus this year, marking a significant scientific investigation of the planet.
- May 11🌍 Saudi Oil Exports Drop – Saudi Arabia's oil exports fell by 30% to 6.2 million barrels per day, significantly impacting global oil markets.
- May 12🎨 Diaghilev's Ballet Era – The Age of Diaghilev, a pivotal period in ballet history, showcased collaborations that modernized the art form.
- May 13🛰️ New Communications Satellite – An experimental communications satellite by the European Space Agency was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, marking a step towards operational networks.
- May 14🛰️ Satellite Fired Into Orbit – A spacecraft motor aboard the Orbital Test Satellite was successfully fired, placing it in a stationary orbit 22,300 miles from Earth.
- May 15👑 Queen Stops Runaway Coach – Queen Elizabeth II intervened to stop a runaway four-horse team dragging an overturned coach in Windsor.
- May 16🌍 Tribe Found in Volcano – A tribe of primitive cave dwellers has been discovered living in the crater of an extinct volcano in the Philippines.
- May 17🦠 Genetically Altered Mosquitoes – Scientists released 150,000 genetically altered mosquitoes in California to combat a form of sleeping sickness.
- May 18🌌 Colonies in Space – A Soviet astrophysicist predicts vast artificial biospheres in space could support 10 billion people within 250 years.
- May 19🌍 Italian Abortion Law Passed – Italy's Parliament legalized abortion for the first time, marking a significant change in the nation's reproductive rights.
- May 20✈️ New Tokyo Airport Opens – Narita Airport officially opened today with a ceremonial purification by a Shinto priest, marking a significant milestone in Japan's transportation.
- May 21🏞️ Museum Opens in Tel Aviv – A new museum tracing the history and life of Jews dispersed across countries opened at Tel Aviv University.
- May 22🏛️ Olympic Committee Visits Olympia – The International Olympic Committee returned to Olympia, Greece, reflecting on its historical roots and the significance of the site.
- May 23🏇 Equine Stars at Belmont – Affirmed, the new champion, made a memorable appearance at Belmont's stable area, marking a significant moment in horse racing.
- May 24🎷 Jazz Tribute Planned – A tribute to jazz will be held at the White House on June 18, honoring the Newport Jazz Festival's 25th anniversary with over three dozen musicians performing.
- May 25🌍 Japan-Britain Nuclear Pact – Japan signed a long-term contract with Britain for the transport and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from 1982 through 1990.
- May 26🎨 Giscard Proposes Arms Monitoring – President Valery Giscard d'Estaing proposed disarmament measures, including satellite monitoring of arms, at the U.N. General Assembly.
- May 27🏙️ First Casino Opens – Legalized casino gambling began in Atlantic City, attracting crowds and hopes for economic revival in the area.
- May 28🏆 Johns Hopkins Wins Lacrosse – Johns Hopkins defeated Cornell 13-8 in the NCAA lacrosse final, ending Cornell's two-and-a-half-year dominance.
- May 29⚽ World Cup Begins – The FIFA World Cup, the world's most popular sporting event, kicks off in Argentina, uniting fans globally for the tournament.
- May 30🎨 Blockbuster Art Opening – The National Gallery of Art in Washington prepares to open its new East Building, showcasing a diverse range of exhibitions and acquisitions.
- May 31📈 Vietnam Resettlement Plan – Vietnam plans to resettle 10 million people over 20 years, relocating many Chinese residents from Ho Chi Minh City to rural areas.
Happy Birthday! 1978 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1978 in real headlines. See the 1978 book →