What happened in January 1981?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1981, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jan 1🎻 Perlman Salutes Disabled – Itzhak Perlman held a preview recital at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the United Nations International Year of the Disabled.
- Jan 2🌍 Greece Joins Common Market – Greece officially became the 10th member of the Common Market, marking a significant step in its economic integration with Europe.
- Jan 3🌍 Palau Becomes Republic – The Palau Islands in the western Pacific have declared independence, becoming the Republic of Belau, marking a significant geopolitical change.
- Jan 4🏇 Dynanite Wins La Brea – Bill Shoemaker drove Dynanite to an upset victory over Bold 'n Determined in the $54,250 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita.
- Jan 5🎾 Mandlikova Competes – Hana Mandlikova, fresh from a long journey, faced off against her coach Betty Stove in a tennis match at Georgetown University.
- Jan 6🌋 Steam Rises From Volcano – Light steam was observed rising from Mount St. Helens, indicating minor seismic activity as scientists monitor the volcano.
- Jan 7🏛️ Reagan's Election Official – Ronald Reagan's election as the 40th President of the United States was confirmed with the tally of electoral votes by Congress.
- Jan 8🖼️ Cave Art Discovered – A Canadian archeologist found the first examples of Stone Age cave art in the British Isles, dating back 15,000 to 13,000 B.C.
- Jan 9🌍 Cold Wave Strikes Italy – Snow blanketed Palermo, Sicily, for the first time in 19 years as a cold wave swept Italy, blocking highways and isolating villages.
- Jan 10⚽ Brazil Wins Soccer Final – Brazil defeated Uruguay in the mini World Cup final in Montevideo, showcasing South America's soccer dominance ahead of the 1982 World Cup.
- Jan 11🔬 Mammalian Cloning Success – Scientists reported the first successful cloning of mammals using cells from mouse embryos, marking a significant breakthrough in genetic research.
- Jan 12🛥️ Brazil Ferryboat Toll – The search for victims from a ferryboat sinking in Brazil ends with 230 confirmed dead, but officials fear the toll could reach 300.
- Jan 13🌍 Reagan Inaugural Address – President-elect Ronald Reagan's inaugural address is finalized, expected to be brief and pragmatic amidst cold weather.
- Jan 14📜 Leonardo Codex Exhibition – The 470-year-old da Vinci manuscript, Codex Leicester, will be exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art for Reagan's inauguration.
- Jan 15🌍 Significant Oil Find – Phillips Petroleum Company announces a significant oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, boosting prospects for energy supply.
- Jan 16🌍 Earthquake Shakes California – Northern California experienced its strongest earthquake of the year, causing brief blackouts but no reported injuries.
- Jan 17🔭 NASA Space Telescope Site – Johns Hopkins University selected for the Space Telescope Science Institute, a key center for astronomical research.
- Jan 18🎉 Reagan Inauguration Festivities – Ronald Reagan and Nancy attended the opening ceremony of the most expensive inaugural celebration in U.S. history, featuring fireworks and laser displays.
- Jan 19🎈 Pope Mass for Walesa – Pope John Paul II celebrated a private mass for Lech Walesa and his Polish delegation, discussing labor movement issues.
- Jan 20🇺🇸 Reagan Inaugurated President – Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States, marking a significant political shift in American governance.
- Jan 21🚀 Space Shuttle Simulation – Astronauts and flight controllers began a full-scale simulation of the first flight of the space shuttle Columbia amid optimism for its launch.
- Jan 22🌧️ Philippine Floods Kill 103 – Severe floods in the southern Philippines, caused by heavy rains, have resulted in 103 fatalities and seven missing.
- Jan 23🔬 Gene-Linking Machine Developed – A Canadian biotech firm demonstrated a machine for rapid, automatic assembly of genetic material, marking a significant scientific advancement.
- Jan 24🌍 Quake Strikes China – A major earthquake struck Sichuan Province near Tibet, killing at least 100 people and causing significant damage.
- Jan 25🌍 Islamic Summit Opens – Leaders of 37 Muslim nations and the P.L.O. convene for an Islamic summit conference focusing on collective action against Israel.
- Jan 26❄️ Cold Wave in India – More than 270 people have died from a month-long cold wave in northern India, with roads blocked by snow.
- Jan 27🚀 Space Shuttle Overview – The space shuttle is designed to make space travel more routine and cost-effective, with a fleet expected to operate through the century.
- Jan 28❤️ Artificial Heart Approved – An artificial heart received approval for its first human use from the University of Utah's College of Medicine, marking a major medical breakthrough.
- Jan 29🏭 Oil Price Controls Lifted – President Reagan abolished remaining price controls on domestic oil and gasoline, fulfilling a pledge to deregulate the industry.
- Jan 30🏛️ Reagan Names Key Diplomats – President Reagan nominated Walter J. Stoessel Jr. and James L. Buckley to key State Department posts in his new administration.
- Jan 31🎨 Tissue Paper Fashion – An exhibition at the Institute for Art and Urban Resources questions whether fashion can be considered art.
Happy Birthday! 1981 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1981 in real headlines. See the 1981 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: