What happened in October 1979?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1979, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Oct 1🌪️ Typhoon Strikes Japan – Typhoon Owen caused landslides and floods in Japan, resulting in at least seven fatalities and over 30 injuries.
- Oct 2✝️ Pope Visits U.S – Pope John Paul II began his pastoral visit to the United States, urging Americans to fulfill their noble destiny of service to the world.
- Oct 3🕊️ Pope's U.N. Address – Pope John Paul II delivered a significant address at the United Nations, emphasizing peace and understanding among nations.
- Oct 4🕊️ Pope Visits Battery Park – Pope John Paul II pays homage to American ideals of freedom at Battery Park, framed by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
- Oct 5🌪️ Tornado Devastates Connecticut – A tornado struck north-central Connecticut, leaving two dead and 115 families homeless, with over 140 people hospitalized.
- Oct 6📈 Stocks Up Broadly – Stock prices advanced broadly in heavy trading, with the Dow Jones industrial average closing at its highest level in almost a year.
- Oct 7🕊️ Pope and President Plea – Pope John Paul II and President Carter united at the White House, calling for global peace during the Pope's visit to the U.S.
- Oct 8🎈 Balloons Over Albuquerque – About 350 colorful hot air balloons filled the sky over Albuquerque during the 1979 International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, attracting 40,000 spectators.
- Oct 9⛵ Medieval Ship Discovered – Archeologists unearthed a medieval ship built on a Viking design in Stockholm, dating back to the 13th century.
- Oct 10🔬 Gene Injection Breakthrough – Scientists reported success in injecting a single gene into a defective cell, curing its fatal genetic flaw at NIH and Rockefeller University.
- Oct 11⚾ Orioles Win World Series – The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in the opener of the World Series, played in cold conditions.
- Oct 12🩻 Nobel Prize for X-Ray – An American and a Briton won the 1979 Nobel Prize for developing a revolutionary X-ray technique for clear medical imaging.
- Oct 13🌽 Record Corn Crop Expected – A record corn crop of 7.39 billion bushels is being harvested, reflecting a 4% increase from last year, according to the Agriculture Department.
- Oct 14🏛️ U.S. Magistrates Get Powers – U.S. magistrates are set to gain new responsibilities to enhance efficiency in the federal court system, aiding in clearing dockets.
- Oct 15🌪️ Typhoon Heads for Philippines – A powerful typhoon with winds up to 144 mph is approaching the Philippines, prompting alerts across the nation.
- Oct 16🌍 Powerful Quake Rocks California – A 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook southern California and northern Mexico, injuring at least 70 and causing significant damage along a 150-mile stretch.
- Oct 17🔬 Antimatter Detected – Scientists detected a stream of antimatter from interstellar space using a high-altitude balloon, marking a significant scientific breakthrough.
- Oct 18🌍 France and China Ties – France and China signed agreements to enhance economic, cultural, and technological cooperation, aiming to strengthen relations until the year 2000.
- Oct 19⚾ Pittsburgh Celebrates Pirates – Pittsburgh celebrated the Pirates' World Series win with a parade, leading to police intervention due to crowd control issues.
- Oct 20🥇 U.S. Wins 7 Gold – American boxers excelled, winning seven gold medals at the World Cup, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming Moscow Olympics.
- Oct 21🎤 Chicago Concert Arrests – At least 66 people were arrested during a sold-out concert by Earth, Wind and Fire in Chicago, mostly for disorderly conduct.
- Oct 22🌍 Submarine Study Ends – The first submarine exploration of Lake Tahoe, one of the world's deepest lakes, was cut short by storms, ending the planned dives.
- Oct 23🌍 Sun Turbulence Peaks – Scientists predict a turbulent period for the sun, with increased magnetic activity and potential solar explosions affecting space.
- Oct 24🌍 Mudflow Buries Village – A mudflow near Puerto Montt, Chile, has likely killed at least 30 people, with rescue efforts underway.
- Oct 25🎭 Vienna State Opera Debut – The Vienna State Opera makes its U.S. debut at the Kennedy Center, featuring Beethoven's 'Fidelio' conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
- Oct 26🖼️ Record Sale for Painting – Frederic Edwin Church's masterpiece 'Icebergs' sold for $2.5 million, setting a record for American paintings at auction.
- Oct 27🏛️ President Park Assassinated – South Korean President Park Chung Hee was shot dead by the head of the intelligence agency, leading to a government takeover.
- Oct 28🌋 Volcano Eruption Likely – The US Geological Survey indicates that Kilauea volcano in Hawaii may erupt soon due to increased seismic activity.
- Oct 29🏗️ Libyan Tower Planned – The Libyan Government plans to build a 23-story headquarters in Manhattan for its UN delegation and consulate staff amid rising oil profits.
- Oct 30🌋 Japan Volcano Activity – Mount Ontake erupted, releasing smoke and steam, marking its first recorded eruption. No casualties reported.
- Oct 31🎨 Beethoven's Ninth Symphony – Leonard Bernstein conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the Kennedy Center, marking the opera's U.S. debut.
Happy Birthday! 1979 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1979 in real headlines. See the 1979 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: