What happened in March 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1📈 U.S. Trade Deficit Jumps – The U.S. foreign merchandise trade deficit surged 28% to $10.3 billion in January, driven by a flood of imports.
- Mar 2📈 Dow Hits Record High – Stock prices surged to new highs, with the Dow Jones closing at a record 1,299.36, marking a significant increase in market confidence.
- Mar 3🏟️ Darryl Strawberry Signs – Darryl Strawberry agreed to a long-term contract with the Mets, securing his future in baseball.
- Mar 4🏥 Retton Wins Title – Mary Lou Retton became the first female gymnast to win three American Cup all-around titles, showcasing her dominance in gymnastics.
- Mar 5🔬 Supersweetener Found – The structure of the sweetest substance known has been determined, promising insights into how sweetness interacts with taste buds.
- Mar 6🩰 Cunningham Dance Premiere – Merce Cunningham Dance Company opened a two-week season at City Center, featuring two classic works and three new premieres.
- Mar 7❤️ Artificial Heart Implant – Doctors in Arizona implanted an experimental artificial heart in a dying 32-year-old man whose body rejected a human heart.
- Mar 8🌍 Chilean Earthquake Aftershocks – Aftershocks from Chile's worst earthquake in 25 years continue, with a death toll reaching 151 as thousands camp in the streets.
- Mar 9🫀 Artificial Heart Success – Murray P. Haydon, the third recipient of a permanent artificial heart, took steps and ate solid food, marking a significant medical milestone.
- Mar 10🎨 Color Explodes – Spring and summer fashion trends favor casual, oversized cotton clothing, emphasizing comfort and ease of care.
- Mar 11🌍 70 Nations Meet Aid – Seventy countries convene in Geneva to discuss increasing famine aid, requiring an additional $1.5 billion for 20 African nations facing drought.
- Mar 12🛰️ Soviet-French Space Project – Soviet and French scientists plan to launch a space observatory with a gamma-ray telescope to study cosmic radiation.
- Mar 13🌍 World Leaders Pay Respects – Global leaders gathered in Moscow to honor Konstantin U. Chernenko, who was to be buried beside the Kremlin wall.
- Mar 14🔬 Telephone for the Deaf – Prof. Morton Nadler aims to create a new communication method for the deaf using television images, succeeding where Bell failed.
- Mar 15🔬 AIDS Virus Inhibited – Interferon protein shown effective against AIDS in test tubes, with potential for human treatment if used early.
- Mar 16🏛️ Brazil Restores Civilian Rule – Civilian rule was restored in Brazil today for the first time since 1964, despite the president-elect undergoing emergency surgery.
- Mar 17🎾 Top Tennis Match – Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert Lloyd meet for the 64th time in a women's tennis tournament after winning their semifinals.
- Mar 18🌪️ Florida Tornado Strikes – A tornado in Florida killed two and injured over 40, causing millions in damages to a shopping center and neighborhood.
- Mar 19🌌 Stellar Explosion Observed – Astronomers in Chile report first detailed observations of a star entering supernova stages, aiding distance measurement in the universe.
- Mar 20🌸 Spring Flower Show – A flower show returned to the city after 15 years, transforming a pier into a vibrant spring garden with hundreds of colorful blooms.
- Mar 21🚀 Satellite Launching Reset – The launch of an Atlas Centaur rocket carrying a leading commercial communications satellite has been rescheduled for Thursday night.
- Mar 22🌍 Gorbachev Policies Supported – The Soviet Politburo backed Mikhail Gorbachev's policies, signaling a readiness for improved relations with the West.
- Mar 23🚀 Rocket Launched Successfully – A twice-delayed Atlas Centaur rocket with a $41 million satellite launched successfully, marking a comeback after a previous failure.
- Mar 24🏔️ World Cup Ski Record – Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg ties the record for the most World Cup slalom ski race wins with his seventh victory.
- Mar 25🏆 Budd and Lopes Win – Zola Budd and Carlos Lopes secured the women's and men's individual titles at the world cross-country championships.
- Mar 26🌍 Sudan Airlifts Ethiopian Jews – President Nimeiry of Sudan allowed the U.S. to airlift 800 Ethiopian Jews to Israel, a significant humanitarian gesture.
- Mar 27🌊 Floods Ravage Ukraine – Heavy floods from melting ice have forced the evacuation of over 12,000 families in southern Ukraine, threatening hundreds of settlements.
- Mar 28🌍 Quake Shakes North Japan – An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale shook northern Japan, but no injuries or damage were reported.
- Mar 29💰 Mexican Debt Accord – Mexican finance officials and American bankers signed a major debt restructuring agreement, the largest for a developing country.
- Mar 30🏛️ Greece Elects President – The Greek Parliament narrowly elected a candidate from the governing Socialist Party as President in a special session.
- Mar 31🏔️ Everest Nutritionist Speaks – Priscilla Briggs, a nutrition expert, served climbers on Mount Everest and will share her experiences and insights.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: