What happened in November 1991?
The top front-page story of each day in November 1991, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Nov 1🌊 Storm Damages Bush Compound – A severe North Atlantic storm heavily damaged President Bush's vacation home in Southern Maine, causing significant property damage.
- Nov 2🏇 Breeders' Cup Preparations – The sun shone on Churchill Downs as 90 top racehorses prepared for the Breeders' Cup, racing's richest day with $10 million in prizes.
- Nov 3🌍 Zambia Swears In New Leader – Frederick Chiluba was sworn in as President of Zambia in a rare democratic transition, witnessed by tens of thousands.
- Nov 4🕊️ Middle East Talks Progress – The Madrid peace conference marked the start of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on self-rule for occupied territories.
- Nov 5🔬 Stem Cells Isolated – Researchers in California announced they have isolated human stem cells, crucial for understanding immune and blood systems.
- Nov 6🌍 Moscow Aerial Inspection Treaty – The Soviet Union agreed to allow aerial inspections, paving the way for a treaty enabling European nations and the U.S. to overfly each other's territories.
- Nov 7🌍 South Africa to Olympics – South Africa will send a racially integrated team to the Olympic Games in Barcelona, ending a 32-year absence, sports officials announced.
- Nov 8🏀 Magic Johnson Retires – Magic Johnson announced his retirement from basketball after revealing he is HIV positive, becoming a prominent spokesperson for AIDS awareness.
- Nov 9🏀 Magic Johnson's Announcement – Magic Johnson revealed he is HIV positive, retiring from basketball, which shocked fans worldwide and sparked discussions on AIDS awareness.
- Nov 10🌍 Palestinians Seek Peace – The evolving Middle East peace process sees Palestinians adjusting to new realities, indicating a shift in their approach to negotiations.
- Nov 11🧠 Brain Imaging Breakthrough – Researchers capture first images of the human brain recalling a word, revealing new insights into memory function.
- Nov 12🔬 Virus Halted in Mouse Brain – Scientists demonstrated that antibodies can clear certain viral infections from the brain in mouse experiments.
- Nov 13🌍 U.S. Mideast Talks Planned – The U.S. is preparing for a major Middle East conference to discuss trade and regional issues following recent peace talks.
- Nov 14🌍 U.S. Calls North Korea Atom Plan – U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker declares North Korea's nuclear ambitions a global concern, seeking international cooperation to address the issue.
- Nov 15🌌 Asteroid Photo Released – NASA released the first close-up photograph of a rocky asteroid, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Nov 16✈️ U.S. Postal Aid – The U.S. Postal Service offers low-cost airlift for aid packages to Baltic nations and Soviet Republics until March 31.
- Nov 17🏈 Glassboro State Playoff – Glassboro State clinched its first NCAA Division III playoff spot with a 21-16 win over Montclair State, securing the New Jersey State Athletic Conference title.
- Nov 18🏛️ Yeltsin's Economic Control – Boris Yeltsin issues decrees asserting Russian control over oil and gold reserves, opening doors to foreign trade amid a faltering Soviet economy.
- Nov 19🐋 Whale Species Recovery – California gray whale proposed for removal from endangered species list, marking a significant conservation success.
- Nov 20📜 Dead Sea Scrolls Published – Biblical scholars gained access to unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls, shedding light on early Christianity and Judaism.
- Nov 21✈️ NASA Reduces Jet Drag – NASA has achieved a breakthrough in eliminating drag-inducing turbulence on jet wings, potentially reducing fuel consumption for future supersonic airliners.
- Nov 22🌍 Yeltsin Honored in Germany – Boris N. Yeltsin, President of the Russian republic, began a three-day visit to Germany to foster cooperation between Russia and Germany.
- Nov 23🌍 Ozone Data Collected – An American device on a Soviet satellite sends back crucial data on the ozone layer, confirming a record drop over Antarctica.
- Nov 24🔭 Gas Cloud Discovered – Astronomers detected a vast cloud of gas molecules at the universe's edge, offering insights into early stars and galaxy formation.
- Nov 25🏆 Argonauts Win Grey Cup – The Toronto Argonauts captured the Grey Cup, marking a significant moment in Canadian football history.
- Nov 26🔬 Invisible Machines Created – Scientists gain the ability to manipulate matter at the atomic level, paving the way for future technological advancements.
- Nov 27📜 Dead Sea Scrolls Access – Restrictions on scholars' access to the Dead Sea Scrolls have been lifted, allowing for broader research and publication.
- Nov 28⚽ Women Win Soccer Final – The U.S. women's soccer team defeated Germany 5-2, securing a spot in their first world championship match.
- Nov 29⚽ Historic Women's Soccer Match – The U.S. women's soccer team plays Norway in the first women's world championship, marking a significant milestone in sports history.
- Nov 30🏛️ Folger Troupe Revived – The Folger Shakespeare Theater, nearly closed six years ago, is moving to a new venue that will double its seating capacity.
Happy Birthday! 1991 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1991 in real headlines. See the 1991 book →
Born in November? Pick the day
Every birthday in November has its own On This Day in Headlines book: