What happened in July 1982?
The top front-page story of each day in July 1982, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jul 1📊 China Begins Census – China started the largest census in history today, employing five million interviewers and American technology.
- Jul 2🏦 Bank Futures Trading Approved – The Federal Reserve approved J.P. Morgan to trade in financial futures, allowing it to act as a broker for various contracts.
- Jul 3🚀 Astronaut Spacesuit Rehearsal – The commander of the space shuttle Columbia rehearsed procedures for an upcoming spacewalk, preparing for the next shuttle flight.
- Jul 4🎆 Fireworks in 60 Towns – Connecticut reports 60 towns applied for fireworks permits this Fourth of July, despite high costs for displays.
- Jul 5🌕 Total Lunar Eclipse – A total lunar eclipse is expected to provide a spectacular display in the night sky, captivating stargazers worldwide.
- Jul 6🌍 China Conducts Census – China begins the largest census in history to determine its population, claiming about a billion citizens in a world of 4.5 billion.
- Jul 7🚀 Challenger Testing Begins – The new space shuttle Challenger was rolled into a work hangar for testing ahead of its maiden voyage scheduled for January.
- Jul 8🏗️ Moorcroft Breaks Record – Dave Moorcroft set a world record in the men's 5,000-meter run at the Oslo Games with a time of 13 minutes 42-hundredths of a second.
- Jul 9🏆 Italy and West Germany Move – West Germany defeated France on penalties to reach the World Cup final against Italy, showcasing a thrilling comeback.
- Jul 10🏛️ Rockefellers Fund Estate – Laurance and David Rockefeller offered $300,000 in challenge grants to restore Lyndhurst, a historic mansion on the Hudson River.
- Jul 11🏗️ Trump Tower Completed – Trump Tower, the tallest concrete building in the world, reaches its full height of 700 feet in New York City.
- Jul 12⚽ Italy Wins World Cup – Italy won its first World Cup in 44 years, defeating West Germany 3-1, with Paolo Rossi scoring and assisting in the victory.
- Jul 13🎶 Mozart Festival Opens – The Mostly Mozart Festival began with a concert featuring flutist James Galway, offering a relaxed summer music experience.
- Jul 14🏟️ National League Wins – The National League defeated the American League 4-1 in the All-Star Game, extending its winning streak to 11 games.
- Jul 15🌍 Jet Falls Near Volcano – A jumbo jet with 230 people flew into volcanic ash, tumbling a mile and a half before making an emergency landing in Jakarta.
- Jul 16🇮🇳 First Sikh President – Zail Singh was elected as India's seventh President, marking a significant milestone in Indian politics.
- Jul 17🏃 Decker Sets Record – Mary Decker Tabb shattered the women's world record in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 31 minutes 35.30 seconds.
- Jul 18🏛️ Queen Intruder Incident – An intruder entered Buckingham Palace and chatted with Queen Elizabeth II in her bedroom, shocking British officials and the public.
- Jul 19🏌️ Watson Wins British Open – Tom Watson won his fourth British Open championship today, becoming the fifth golfer to win both the British and U.S. Opens in the same season.
- Jul 20🏊 Lundquist Breaks Record – Steve Lundquist set a new world record for the 100-meter breast-stroke at the United States Pro tennis championships.
- Jul 21🚀 Shuttle Astronauts Walk – Two astronauts plan a three-hour space walk on the shuttle Columbia to practice techniques for future satellite repairs.
- Jul 22🏛️ General Sworn In – Gen. Guido Vildoso Calderon was sworn in as President of Bolivia today in a ceremony delayed by nine hours.
- Jul 23🎨 Turner Paintings Auctioned – Four J.M.W. Turner paintings were offered at auction, marking a significant event in the art world due to their rarity.
- Jul 24🌧️ Torrential Rains Kill 63 – At least 63 people died in floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in southern Nagasaki, Japan.
- Jul 25🧠 Brain Tissue Transplant – A groundbreaking procedure involved transplanting adrenal gland tissue into a human brain to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms.
- Jul 26🚀 Hinault Wins Tour – Bernard Hinault won the Tour de France bicycle race for the fourth time in five years, capturing the final leg in a thrilling sprint finish.
- Jul 27🌍 U.S. Grain Pact Extension – President Reagan is expected to authorize a one-year renewal of the grain trade agreement with the Soviet Union this week.
- Jul 28🏛️ Venice Restoration Hope – Venice's restoration efforts revive hope for the city's future, combating fears of its decline since the fall of the Republic in 1797.
- Jul 29✈️ Plane Crash Tragedy – A twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Texas, killing all 11 aboard, including seven children.
- Jul 30🎾 Soviet Tennis Players – Two Soviet players reached the semifinals of a USTA event, prompting discussions on their return to the U.S. for the U.S. Open.
- Jul 31✈️ Boeing 767 Certified – The Boeing Company received government certification for its new fuel-efficient 767 jetliner to begin carrying passengers.
Happy Birthday! 1982 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1982 in real headlines. See the 1982 book →
Born in July? Pick the day
Every birthday in July has its own On This Day in Headlines book: