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Major Events of November 1979: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from November 1979 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of November 1979: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis Escalation: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for demonstrations and expanded attacks on US and Israeli interests, further intensifying the Iran Hostage Crisis and heightening international tensions.
  • 02 Nov 1979 Death of Jacques Mesrine: A team of French gendarmes tracked down and killed France's most-wanted fugitive, Jacques Mesrine, after an intense manhunt. Mesrine, notorious for his criminal activities including murder, kidnapping, and bank robbery, was known as 'l'homme aux mille visages' (the man of a thousand faces) due to his skill in using disguises. He was ambushed at Porte de Clignancourt on the outskirts of Paris and killed instantly, being hit by 15 bullets.
  • 03 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis Begins: Sixty-three American diplomats and citizens were taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran. This event marked the beginning of a 444-day diplomatic crisis that would significantly strain US-Iran relations and have profound geopolitical implications.
  • 04 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis Begins: On November 4, 1979, Iranian radical students, primarily motivated by anger over the United States' acceptance of the deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for medical treatment in New York, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They seized control of the diplomatic compound and took 90 hostages, with 63 of them being American citizens. This event marked the beginning of a 444-day international crisis that would significantly strain U.S.-Iran diplomatic relations.
  • 05 Nov 1979 Khomeini Denounces United States: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran during the Iranian Revolution, publicly declares the United States as 'the Great Satan', signaling a dramatic deterioration in diplomatic relations and setting the stage for future tensions between Iran and the United States.
  • 06 Nov 1979 Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Khomeini Assumes Power: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini completes his rise to power in Iran, marking a pivotal moment in the country's political transformation. Following months of revolutionary upheaval, Khomeini establishes an Islamic theocratic government, fundamentally altering Iran's political and social landscape and significantly impacting Middle Eastern geopolitics.
  • 07 Nov 1979 Nuclear False Alarm Triggers NORAD Alert: A significant nuclear false alarm occurs when NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center detect a purported massive Soviet nuclear strike. After careful review of satellite data and early warning radars, the alert is ultimately cancelled, highlighting the tense Cold War atmosphere.
  • 08 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis Begins: 500 Iranian students loyal to Ayatollah Khomeini seize the US Embassy in Tehran, taking 90 hostages. This event marks the beginning of a 444-day diplomatic crisis that would significantly strain US-Iran relations and have profound geopolitical implications.
  • 09 Nov 1979 NORAD Nuclear False Alarm during Cold War: On November 9, 1979, a critical moment in Cold War history occurred when NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, initially detected what appeared to be a massive Soviet nuclear strike. The potential threat triggered high-level military alerts and heightened tensions. However, after a meticulous review of raw satellite data and early-warning radar systems, military officials determined the alert was a false alarm, averting a potential catastrophic misunderstanding between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 10 Nov 1979 Mississauga Train Derailment: On November 10, 1979, a 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals derailed in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto. The incident triggered a massive explosion and prompted the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history, marking a significant emergency response event in North America.
  • 11 Nov 1979 Birth of Courtenay Semel: Courtenay Semel was born, who would later become an American reality TV personality and the daughter of media executive Terry Semel. She gained public recognition through her appearances in reality television and her family's prominent media industry connections.
  • 12 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis: US Oil Import Sanctions: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, U.S. President Jimmy Carter orders a comprehensive halt to all petroleum imports from Iran, escalating economic pressure on the Iranian government during the diplomatic crisis.
  • 13 Nov 1979 Ronald Reagan Announces Presidential Candidacy: Ronald Reagan officially announced his candidacy for the 1980 United States Presidential Election in New York, a pivotal moment that would reshape American political landscape in the coming decade.
  • 14 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis: US Presidential Economic Sanctions: US President Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order 12170, which froze all Iranian assets in the United States as a direct response to the ongoing Iran hostage crisis. This significant economic measure was designed to exert diplomatic pressure on Iran during the tense international standoff.
  • 15 Nov 1979 Sir Anthony Blunt Exposed as Soviet Spy: The British government publicly identifies Sir Anthony Blunt as the fourth member of the infamous Cambridge Five Soviet spy ring, revealing his long-standing espionage activities against the United Kingdom during the Cold War.
  • 16 Nov 1979 Paul McCartney Releases 'Wonderful Christmastime': Paul McCartney released his festive single 'Wonderful Christmastime', a popular holiday song that would become a perennial Christmas music favorite, showcasing McCartney's continued musical creativity after The Beatles.
  • 17 Nov 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis Partial Release: Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini orders the release of female and African American hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking a significant moment in the ongoing Iran hostage crisis.
  • 18 Nov 1979 Iranian Revolution: Khomeini Accuses US Embassy of Espionage: On November 18, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini formally charged the United States ambassador and diplomatic personnel at the Tehran embassy with espionage activities. This accusation was a critical moment in the Iranian Revolution, escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. The charges were part of the broader context of the Iranian hostage crisis, where Iranian revolutionaries had already seized the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 days.
  • 19 Nov 1979 Carter Freezes Iranian Assets: U.S. President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States as a direct response to the ongoing Iran hostage crisis, escalating economic tensions between the two nations.
  • 20 Nov 1979 Grand Mosque Seizure in Mecca: A significant terrorist uprising occurred at the sacred Kaaba site in Mecca during the annual pilgrimage. Approximately 1,500 militants seized control of the Grand Mosque, taking around 6,000 hostages. The Saudi government, with assistance from French special forces, ultimately suppressed the revolt after an intense confrontation.
  • 21 Nov 1979 US Embassy Attack in Islamabad: A violent mob attacked the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, resulting in one fatality and significant damage to the diplomatic building. The attack was reportedly triggered by inflammatory rumors about U.S. involvement in a religious incident in Mecca.
  • 22 Nov 1979 Significant Snowstorm Impacts Midwestern United States: A substantial winter storm swept through the Midwestern United States, delivering heavy snowfall from November 21 to 22, 1979. The storm was particularly intense in South Dakota, with Sioux Falls experiencing an impressive 13 inches of accumulated snow. Snowfall across the region varied between 6 to 13 inches, causing significant disruptions to transportation, daily activities, and local infrastructure.
  • 23 Nov 1979 Carter Convenes Crisis Meeting on Iran Hostage Situation: On November 23, 1979, President Jimmy Carter gathered key members of his administration at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland, to strategize about the Iran Hostage Crisis. The meeting included Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. This crisis began on November 4 when Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking a critical moment in U.S.-Iran relations.
  • 24 Nov 1979 US Government Acknowledges Agent Orange Exposure of Vietnam Veterans: On November 24, 1979, the United States government officially admitted that military personnel deployed during the Vietnam War were exposed to Agent Orange, a highly toxic herbicide and defoliant chemical used extensively by the U.S. military during the conflict. This exposure would later be linked to numerous serious health complications for veterans, including various cancers, birth defects, and long-term medical conditions.
  • 25 Nov 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 Crash: A devastating American Airlines DC-10 crashes during takeoff from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, resulting in 275 fatalities. This remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in U.S. history, caused by an engine separation during takeoff that led to catastrophic wing damage and total aircraft failure.
  • 26 Nov 1979 China Readmitted to International Olympic Committee: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to readmit China to the Olympic movement after a 21-year absence, marking a significant diplomatic and sporting milestone. This decision symbolized China's re-engagement with the global sporting community and represented an important moment in international relations.
  • 27 Nov 1979 The Game (Jayceon Taylor) Birth: Jayceon Taylor, professionally known as The Game, was born on November 27, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. A prominent rapper in the West Coast hip-hop scene, he rose to fame in the early 2000s as part of Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and became known for his storytelling and autobiographical rap style.
  • 28 Nov 1979 Mount Erebus Disaster: A tragic aviation accident occurred when Air New Zealand Flight 901, a DC-10 sightseeing aircraft, crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica, resulting in the deaths of all 257 passengers and crew members. This catastrophic event is considered one of New Zealand's worst aviation disasters.
  • 29 Nov 1979 British Embassy in Tehran Reduces Staff: Amid rising tensions following the Iranian Revolution, the British Embassy in Tehran began a significant staff reduction, with diplomats and their families preparing to depart within approximately 10 days.
  • 30 Nov 1979 Pact of Locarno Anniversary: Commemorating the historic Pact of Locarno signed in 1925, this date marks a significant diplomatic agreement between Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy. The treaty was an early attempt to guarantee peace in Western Europe and prevent future conflicts in the aftermath of World War I.