What happened in October 1986?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1986, 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🌍 Reagan-Gorbachev Meeting – President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev are set to meet in Iceland next week, marking a significant moment in U.S.-Soviet relations.
- Oct 2🌒 Eclipse of the Sun – A partial solar eclipse will be visible across most of the United States as the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun.
- Oct 3🌒 Partial Solar Eclipse – A rare solar eclipse will cover up to 70% of the sun, dimming light over much of the United States.
- Oct 4🎬 Disney Financing Bid – Silver Screen Partners seeks to raise $300 million to finance up to 18 new Walt Disney movies in a major film venture.
- Oct 5🌊 Dutch Build $2.4 Billion Dike – Queen Beatrix inaugurated a new sea barrier, the most advanced in Dutch history, to combat flooding in the Netherlands.
- Oct 6🚀 Europeans Set Space Goals – European Space Agency plans four missions for a new space station, despite uncertainty over U.S. shuttle flights.
- Oct 7🔬 Kasparov Retains Title – Gary Kasparov kept his chess championship title with a draw against Anatoly Karpov, securing an insurmountable lead in their match.
- Oct 8🌹 Rose Is National Flower – President Reagan signed legislation designating the rose as the national flower of the United States.
- Oct 9🦠 Genetic Code Cracked – Scientists have decoded a virus causing a rare form of hepatitis, revealing its similarity to a plant disease virus.
- Oct 10🚀 Space Shuttle Atlantis – The space shuttle Atlantis was mounted atop the launching pad in Florida for tests, including astronaut escape drills.
- Oct 11🌍 Earthquake Devastates El Salvador – A strong earthquake and aftershocks hit San Salvador, causing extensive damage and killing at least 100 people.
- Oct 12🌍 Mother Teresa Survives Crash – Mother Teresa escaped unharmed from a plane crash in Tanzania that killed six people at a rural airstrip.
- Oct 13🌍 Queen Visits China – Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British monarch to visit China, marking a significant moment in diplomatic relations.
- Oct 14📈 Record Japan Trade Surplus – Japan reported a record monthly trade surplus in September, with expectations for even larger surpluses ahead.
- Oct 15🌍 New Olympic Cycle Approved – The International Olympic Committee voted to alternate the summer and winter Games every two years, starting in 1994.
- Oct 16🔬 Nobel Prize in Physics – Three pioneers in microscope design won the 1986 Nobel Prize in physics for enhancing our ability to observe nature's smallest details.
- Oct 17🔬 Nobel Prize in Economics – James M. Buchanan won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science for his innovative methods in economic and political decision-making.
- Oct 18🏅 Barcelona Hosts Olympics – Barcelona, Spain, won the right to host the 1992 Summer Olympics, with Albertville, France, designated for the Winter Games.
- Oct 19🚀 Shuttle Rocket Redesign – Sally K. Ride announced that the shuttle's rocket redesign is progressing well, indicating her willingness to fly again.
- Oct 20🏅 Canada Wins Regatta – Canada's 1984 Olympic gold medal-winning crew set a new course record at the Head of the Charles Regatta.
- Oct 21🌍 Mozambican Chief Dies – President Samora M. Machel of Mozambique was killed in a plane crash in South Africa, along with 25 others, announced the Pretoria Government.
- Oct 22💰 Record Ruby Auctioned – A rare 15-carat Burmese ruby was auctioned at Sotheby's for $1.54 million, setting a world record for a colored stone sold publicly.
- Oct 23👑 Queen Tours Hong Kong – Queen Elizabeth II concluded her visit to Hong Kong with a day at the races and a fireworks display, attracting over 600,000 spectators.
- Oct 24🔬 U.S.-Soviet Deals Proposed – Fifteen American companies, including Monsanto, propose joint ventures in the Soviet Union to strengthen its economy.
- Oct 25🏛️ Constitution Center Planned – A national center for studying the U.S. Constitution will be established near Independence Hall next year, organizers announced.
- Oct 26📜 Tax Reform Act Signed – President Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986, marking a significant overhaul of the federal income tax system, described as a revolution in tax policy.
- Oct 27🏎️ Prost Wins Championship – Alain Prost captures his second consecutive world drivers' championship by winning the Australian Grand Prix.
- Oct 28🏆 Mets Win World Series – The New York Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-5, clinching their first World Series title in 17 years amidst celebrations.
- Oct 29🗽 Statue of Liberty Birthday – A quiet ceremony marked the birthday of the Statue of Liberty, with about 1,500 attendees gathering on Liberty Island.
- Oct 30🛢️ Yamani Ousted as Oil Minister – Saudi Arabia's King dismissed Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani, a key figure in OPEC, in a surprising move that may impact global oil markets.
- Oct 31🌍 Euthanasia Leadership – The Netherlands quietly becomes a leader in voluntary euthanasia, with minimal public debate on the topic.
Happy Birthday! 1986 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1986 in real headlines. See the 1986 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: