Major Events of December 1983: 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 December 1983 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of December 1983: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Dec 1983 EPA Official Rita Lavelle Convicted of Perjury: Rita Lavelle, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was convicted of perjury on December 1, 1983, marking a significant moment in government accountability and legal proceedings.
- 02 Dec 1983 Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Music Video Debuts: Michael Jackson's groundbreaking music video for 'Thriller' was broadcast for the first time on MTV, marking a pivotal moment in music video history. The innovative video, directed by John Landis, revolutionized the music video genre with its cinematic quality, elaborate choreography, and horror movie narrative.
- 03 Dec 1983 France's Nuclear Test at Mururoa Atoll: France conducted a nuclear test at the Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era.
- 04 Dec 1983 US Navy Aircraft Attack Syrian Missile Sites in Lebanon: US Navy aircraft from USS warships attacked Syrian missile sites in Lebanon in response to an F-14 being fired upon by an SA-7 surface-to-air missile. During the engagement, an A-6 Intruder and an A-7 Corsair were shot down. Lieutenant Mark Lange was killed, while another pilot was rescued, and a third was captured by Syrian forces.
- 05 Dec 1983 Dissolution of the Military Junta in Argentina: On December 5, 1983, Argentina marked a significant turning point in its political history with the dissolution of the military junta that had ruled the country during a brutal period of state terrorism. This event signaled the return to democratic governance following years of oppressive military rule, which included the infamous 'Dirty War' characterized by widespread human rights violations.
- 06 Dec 1983 Jerusalem Bus Bombing: A terrorist attack occurred in Jerusalem when a bomb planted on a bus exploded, resulting in the tragic death of six Israeli civilians. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and violence in the region during this period.
- 07 Dec 1983 2 jets collided at Madrid Airport killing 93
- 08 Dec 1983 Space Shuttle Columbia 6 Mission Landing: The Space Shuttle Columbia successfully completed its 9th mission, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This mission marked another milestone in NASA's Space Shuttle program, demonstrating the growing reliability and capabilities of reusable spacecraft during the early 1980s.
- 09 Dec 1983 Australian Dollar Floats Freely: In a significant economic reform, Federal Treasurer Paul Keating allows the Australian Dollar to float freely in international currency markets, marking a pivotal moment in Australia's monetary policy.
- 10 Dec 1983 Democracy Restored in Argentina: On December 10, 1983, Argentina marked a pivotal moment in its political history with the inauguration of President Raúl Alfonsín, effectively ending years of military dictatorship and restoring democratic governance. This transition symbolized a critical turning point for the nation, signaling the end of a dark period of authoritarian rule and the beginning of a new era of civilian leadership.
- 11 Dec 1983 Pope John Paul II's Historic Lutheran Church Visit: Pope John Paul II made a groundbreaking ecumenical gesture by visiting a Lutheran church in Rome, marking the first time a Pope had done so. This event symbolized significant interfaith dialogue and understanding between Catholic and Lutheran communities.
- 12 Dec 1983 Terrorist Attack on US Embassy in Kuwait: A devastating truck bomb exploded at the United States Embassy in Kuwait City, marking a significant terrorist incident during the Cold War era. The bombing targeted American diplomatic personnel and infrastructure, highlighting the volatile geopolitical tensions in the Middle East during the early 1980s.
- 13 Dec 1983 Harrods Bombing by Provisional IRA: A car bomb planted by the Provisional IRA outside Harrods department store in London kills 6 Christmas shoppers and injures 90, demonstrating the intense political violence in Northern Ireland during the 1980s.
- 14 Dec 1983 Communist Youth Congress in Greece: The 3rd Congress of the Communist Youth of Greece convened, bringing together young political activists to discuss party strategy and ideological direction.
- 15 Dec 1983 US Combat Troops Withdraw from Grenada: The last 80 US combat soldiers withdrew from Grenada, marking the conclusion of the United States military intervention in the Caribbean nation.
- 16 Dec 1983 The Who Announces Disbandment: A spokesperson for the iconic rock band The Who officially announced the group's intention to disband, marking a significant moment in rock music history.
- 17 Dec 1983 Harrods Bombing by Provisional IRA: A Provisional IRA car bomb exploded outside Harrods Department Store in London during the Christmas shopping season, killing six people and injuring 90 civilians. This terrorist attack was part of the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland known as 'The Troubles'.
- 18 Dec 1983 NBA San Diego Clippers Break Road Losing Streak: On December 18, 1983, the San Diego Clippers (now the Los Angeles Clippers) dramatically ended their historic 29-game road losing streak, a remarkable moment in NBA basketball history. This achievement represented a significant psychological breakthrough for the struggling franchise, demonstrating resilience in the face of prolonged adversity.
- 19 Dec 1983 FIFA World Cup Trophy Theft in Brazil: The original FIFA World Cup trophy, known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, was stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This historic theft shocked the sports world and highlighted security vulnerabilities in sports memorabilia protection.
- 20 Dec 1983 PLO Evacuation from Lebanon: Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman Yasser Arafat and 4,000 of his loyalist fighters evacuate Lebanon, marking a significant moment in the Lebanese Civil War and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
- 21 Dec 1983 First Heart Transplant Patient's Passing: Louis Washkansky, the world's first heart transplant recipient, passes away in Cape Town, South Africa, 18 days after his groundbreaking surgical procedure. His case was a pivotal moment in medical history, demonstrating the potential of organ transplantation.
- 22 Dec 1983 Diplomatic Meeting between Egypt and PLO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a diplomatic meeting with PLO leader Yasser Arafat, likely discussing ongoing Middle Eastern political relations and potential peace negotiations during a critical period in regional diplomacy.
- 23 Dec 1983 First Scientific Report on Nuclear Winter: The prestigious scientific journal Science published groundbreaking research detailing the potential global environmental consequences of nuclear warfare. The report outlined how a large-scale nuclear conflict could trigger catastrophic atmospheric changes, leading to prolonged darkness, dramatic temperature drops, and severe disruptions to global ecosystems and agriculture.
- 24 Dec 1983 Severe 1983 United States Cold Wave: A historic and devastating cold wave swept across the United States, considered the most severe in 50 years. The Upper Midwest experienced dangerously low temperatures well below zero, accompanied by life-threatening wind chills. Extensive snow coverage stretched from the Pacific Northwest to the Appalachian Mountains, causing significant disruption to daily life and posing serious risks to human safety.
- 25 Dec 1983 Death of Joan Miró, Renowned Surrealist Painter: Joan Miró, the celebrated Spanish surrealist painter known for his distinctive abstract and imaginative style, died at his home in Majorca at the age of 90. A pivotal figure in 20th-century art, Miró was instrumental in developing surrealism and abstract expressionism, creating works that challenged traditional artistic conventions.
- 26 Dec 1983 Soviet Nuclear Test in Kazakhstan: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear weapons test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeastern Kazakhstan, continuing Cold War-era nuclear weapons development and testing.
- 27 Dec 1983 Pope John Paul II Forgives Attempted Assassin: Pope John Paul II visited Mehmet Ali Ağca in Rebibbia prison in Rome, personally forgiving him for the assassination attempt that occurred on 13 May 1981 in St. Peter's Square. This extraordinary act of personal mercy demonstrated the Pope's commitment to Christian principles of forgiveness and reconciliation.
- 28 Dec 1983 United States to Withdraw from UNESCO: The United States announced its intention to leave the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 31, 1984, signaling diplomatic tensions and disagreements with the organization.
- 29 Dec 1983 Discovery of Polymerase Chain Reaction: Kary Mullis, while working for Cetus Corporation, discovered the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a groundbreaking technique that would revolutionize molecular biology and genetic research.
- 30 Dec 1983 Salvadoran Guerrilla Military Base Capture: Leftist guerrillas made a strategic military maneuver by capturing a Salvadoran army base located 40 miles north of San Salvador. In a bold operation, they seized control of the base and maintained occupation for six hours before voluntarily withdrawing. This marked a significant milestone as the first time these guerrilla forces had successfully captured a military installation during the ongoing Salvadoran Civil War.
- 31 Dec 1983 Nigerian Military Coup: A military coup led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the civilian government of the Second Nigerian Republic, ending the democratic governance and establishing military rule.