What happened in April 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1🗳️ Duarte's Party Victory – President Jose Napoleon Duarte's Christian Democratic Party claimed an upset victory in national elections today.
- Apr 2🌍 Galapagos Tortoises Evacuated – Naturalists rush to save giant tortoises from a brush fire in Ecuador, marking a significant conservation effort.
- Apr 3🌍 Whooping Cranes Migrate – The world's only wild flock of whooping cranes begins its 2,000-mile migration to Canada, with 15 birds already departed from Texas.
- Apr 4🗳️ France Adopts Voting Plan – The French Government announced a new voting system for parliamentary elections next year, aiming to strengthen Socialists and diversify representation.
- Apr 5📚 Soviet China Pact – China and the Soviet Union agreed on a program of educational and research exchanges for 1985-86.
- Apr 6🐋 Japan Ends Whaling – Japan formally agreed to end all commercial whaling by March 1988, yielding to years of pressure from the United States.
- Apr 7🏛️ Thailand's Grand Cremation – Thailand prepares for a $1 million cremation ceremony for the widow of the last absolute monarch, a spectacle months in the making.
- Apr 8⛵ Japanese Starts Solo Voyage – Takeo Fujita, 60, begins a solo journey from Japan to North America, aiming to drift across the Pacific in a 42-foot boat.
- Apr 9🌋 Nuclear Test Conducted – The U.S. Department of Energy announced the fourth nuclear device test of the year beneath Rainier Mesa, Nevada.
- Apr 10💉 Artificial Heart Implant – Swedish doctors successfully performed the first implant of a permanent artificial heart outside the U.S. at the Karolinska Thoracic Clinic.
- Apr 11🚀 Countdown for Shuttle – The countdown for the space shuttle Discovery's mission began today, with Challenger set for launch in 17 days.
- Apr 12🧊 Tracking Icebergs Saves Lives – The International Ice Patrol in Newfoundland tracks icebergs to protect ships in the North Atlantic's busiest shipping lanes.
- Apr 13🚀 Shuttle Lifts Off – The space shuttle Discovery launched successfully, carrying a crew of seven, including a U.S. Senator, for scientific missions.
- Apr 14🌍 Gorbachev Focuses on Diplomacy – Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the new Soviet leader, emphasizes the need for improved Soviet-American relations in a recent interview.
- Apr 15🏌️ Langer Wins Masters – Bernhard Langer became the first German golfer to win a major tournament, clinching the Masters by two shots at Augusta National.
- Apr 16🧬 Ancient DNA Extracted – Intact genetic material has been extracted from a 2,400-year-old Egyptian mummy and successfully grown in a lab.
- Apr 17🚀 Spacewalkers Save Satellite – Astronauts successfully rigged handmade snares to activate a dormant communication satellite during a spacewalk.
- Apr 18🌍 Hungary Gains World Cup Spot – Hungary became the first European nation, besides Italy, to qualify for the 1986 World Cup by defeating Austria, 3-0, in Vienna.
- Apr 19🚀 Space Shuttle Lands – The astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery prepared for a return to Earth, concluding a mission filled with surprises and achievements.
- Apr 20🚀 Space Shuttle Discovery Lands – The space shuttle Discovery landed safely today, overcoming a tire blowout and wing damage after a seven-day mission.
- Apr 21🌍 Fastest Marathon – Carlos Lopes of Portugal set a new world record in the marathon, beating the previous time by 54 seconds.
- Apr 22🔬 Cloning Ancient DNA – A Swedish scientist claims to have cloned hereditary material from cells of a 2,400-year-old mummified Egyptian infant.
- Apr 23✈️ Pan Am Route Sale – Pan American World Airways has agreed to sell its Pacific operations to United Airlines, marking a significant shift in the airline industry.
- Apr 24🎨 Reagan Hails Artists – President Reagan emphasized the importance of freedom for artists, stating that art thrives in open societies.
- Apr 25💔 5th Artificial Heart Patient Dies – Jack C. Burcham, the oldest recipient of a permanent artificial heart, died ten days after the implant at age 62.
- Apr 26🌍 Aqaba-Sinai Ferry Begins – Egypt, Jordan, and Oman inaugurated a ferry service between Nuweiba and Aqaba, enhancing regional connectivity.
- Apr 27🌍 Japan Car Export Quotas – Japan's government set new quotas for major auto makers on car exports to the U.S., aiming to regulate trade balance.
- Apr 28🦁 Zoo Celebrates Anniversary – Terry Lou Zoo marks its 37th year, with owner Frank Terry reflecting on his bond with the animals.
- Apr 29🗽 King Memorial Commission – Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar announces a $50,000 commission for a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial sculpture for the U.S. Capitol.
- Apr 30🚀 Monkeys Back in Space – For the first time in 16 years, monkeys are flying aboard an American space mission, marking a significant return to animal space research.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →