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Major Events of December 1985: 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 1985 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1985 Formation of Cosatu: The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is established, becoming a significant labor organization in South Africa during the late apartheid era, playing a crucial role in social and political movements.
  • 02 Dec 1985 Benazir Bhutto Becomes Pakistan's First Female Prime Minister: Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, making history as the first woman to hold this prestigious political position in the country. Her election marked a significant moment for women's political representation in a traditionally male-dominated political landscape.
  • 03 Dec 1985 NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission 61-B Lands: The 23rd Space Shuttle Mission (61-B) involving the Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, marking another milestone in NASA's space exploration program.
  • 04 Dec 1985 Reagan Appoints John Poindexter as National Security Adviser: President Ronald Reagan appointed Vice Admiral John Poindexter as his National Security Adviser, a critical position during the Cold War era. Poindexter would later become a central figure in the Iran-Contra affair, a significant political scandal that would impact the Reagan administration.
  • 05 Dec 1985 British Nuclear Test: Great Britain conducted a nuclear test, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the later stages of the Cold War era.
  • 06 Dec 1985 United Kingdom Joins US Strategic Defense Initiative: The United Kingdom officially became a participant in the United States' Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also popularly known as the 'Star Wars' program. This collaborative effort aimed to develop advanced missile defense technologies using ground-based and space-based systems to protect against potential nuclear attacks during the late Cold War period.
  • 07 Dec 1985 Space Shuttle Atlantis Returns to Kennedy Space Center: The US space shuttle Atlantis completed its mission and returned to the Kennedy Space Center, landing via Kelly Air Force Base. This marked another successful mission in NASA's Space Shuttle program during the mid-1980s, highlighting the ongoing advancements in space exploration and technology.
  • 08 Dec 1985 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Established: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a pivotal intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia, was formally established to promote regional cooperation and integration among member states including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives.
  • 09 Dec 1985 Argentine Junta Leaders Sentenced for Human Rights Violations: On December 9, 1985, in a landmark legal proceeding in Buenos Aires, Argentinian Junta leaders Jorge Rafael Videla and Emilio Eduardo Massera were sentenced to life imprisonment for severe human rights violations committed during the military dictatorship's 'Dirty War' period (1976-1983).
  • 10 Dec 1985 Argentine Junta Leaders Sentenced: In a landmark human rights trial, Jorge Rafael Videla and Emilio Eduardo Massera, key leaders of Argentina's military junta during the 'Dirty War' period, were sentenced in Buenos Aires for their roles in systematic human rights violations and state-sponsored terrorism.
  • 11 Dec 1985 First Unabomber Murder in Sacramento: A computer store owner in Sacramento, California, was killed by a package bomb, marking the first fatal attack in the Unabomber's domestic terrorism campaign. This tragic event would become part of a series of bombings targeting individuals associated with technology and academia.
  • 12 Dec 1985 Arrow Air Flight 1285R Crash in Gander: On December 12, 1985, Arrow Air Flight 1285R, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. The catastrophic accident resulted in the deaths of all 256 people on board, including 236 members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division who were returning from a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai Peninsula. The flight was a charter carrying U.S. servicemen back to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, making this one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in U.S. history.
  • 13 Dec 1985 Australian Cricket Test Debut Trio: Three prominent Australian cricketers - Merv Hughes, Geoff Marsh, and Bruce Reid - made their Test match debut against India on December 13, 1985. This marked the beginning of significant careers for these players who would go on to become key figures in Australian cricket during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
  • 14 Dec 1985 Wilma Mankiller Becomes Cherokee Nation's First Female Principal Chief: Wilma Mankiller made history by becoming the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, breaking traditional gender barriers in Native American tribal leadership.
  • 15 Dec 1985 Disney's European Expansion: Disneyland Paris Planned: Disney CEO Michael Eisner and French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius signed a letter of intent to develop a Disney theme park on 4,400 acres in Marne-la-VallĂ©e, located approximately 20 miles east of Paris, France. This landmark agreement marked the beginning of Disney's significant European expansion strategy.
  • 16 Dec 1985 Gambino Crime Family Leadership Shift: In a significant moment of organized crime history, Mafia bosses Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti were assassinated in front of Spark's Steak House in New York City, which paved the way for John Gotti to become the leader of the powerful Gambino crime family.
  • 17 Dec 1985 US Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985: On December 17, 1985, President Ronald Reagan signed the Gold Bullion Coin Act (Public Law 99-185), authorizing the U.S. Treasury to mint a series of gold bullion coins with specific weight and purity standards. The act established four denominations of gold coins: $50 (one ounce), $25 (half ounce), $10 (quarter ounce), and $5 (tenth ounce), with a gold purity of 91.67%. The legislation prioritized using gold from domestic natural deposits or U.S. reserves, with a unique provision that profits from coin sales would be directed towards reducing the national debt.
  • 18 Dec 1985 First Woman Receives Jarvik VII Artificial Heart: Mary Lund made medical history by becoming the first woman to receive a Jarvik VII artificial heart at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, marking a significant milestone in cardiovascular medical technology.
  • 19 Dec 1985 First Woman Receives Jarvik VII Artificial Heart: Mary Lund made medical history on December 19, 1985, by becoming the first woman to receive a Jarvik VII artificial heart, marking a significant milestone in cardiovascular medical technology and surgical innovation.
  • 20 Dec 1985 Pope John Paul II Establishes World Youth Day: Pope John Paul II officially announces the institution of World Youth Day, a global Catholic event aimed at bringing young people together to celebrate faith, unity, and spiritual connection.
  • 21 Dec 1985 ARCO Anchorage Maritime Incident: The oil tanker ARCO Anchorage ran aground near Port Angeles, Washington, potentially causing environmental and maritime safety concerns.
  • 22 Dec 1985 Space Shuttle Challenger Preparation: The Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-L mission) is transported to Launch Pad 39B, preparing for its upcoming mission. This would tragically be the mission that ended in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.
  • 23 Dec 1985 Death of Ferhat Abbas: Ferhat Abbas, a prominent Algerian nationalist leader who played a crucial role in Algeria's independence movement, passed away. He was a key political figure in the struggle against French colonial rule.
  • 24 Dec 1985 Early Signs of Communist Decline: The fall of Communism begins with resistance gaining victory in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, signaling the early stages of the Soviet Union's eventual collapse.
  • 25 Dec 1985 Christmas Day 1985: A Quiet Moment in History: While no major global events were prominently recorded on December 25, 1985, this day represents Christmas Day, a significant cultural and religious holiday celebrated worldwide. On this day, many families and communities gathered to observe traditional Christmas festivities, exchange gifts, and share meals together. In the mid-1980s, the world was experiencing the later stages of the Cold War, with ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 26 Dec 1985 Terrorist Attacks in European Airports: A coordinated terrorist attack targeted airports in Rome and Vienna, resulting in 20 fatalities and 110 injuries. United States President Ronald Reagan publicly attributed the attacks to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, escalating tensions in the international political landscape.
  • 27 Dec 1985 Terrorist Attack on El Al Airports in Rome and Vienna: Palestinian terrorists launched coordinated attacks at the airports in Rome and Vienna, targeting El Al Israeli airline facilities. The attacks resulted in 20 fatalities and 110 people wounded. U.S. President Ronald Reagan publicly attributed responsibility to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, escalating international tensions.
  • 28 Dec 1985 Lebanese Peace Agreement: Warring Lebanese Muslim and Christian leaders signed a significant peace agreement, attempting to resolve long-standing sectarian tensions that had plagued the country during its complex civil war. This diplomatic effort represented a crucial moment in Lebanon's efforts to achieve national reconciliation.
  • 29 Dec 1985 Ronald Reagan's Presidency: On December 29, 1985, Ronald Reagan was serving as the 40th President of the United States. During this period of his presidency, Reagan was in his second term, known for his conservative policies, economic reforms, and Cold War diplomacy.
  • 30 Dec 1985 Pakistan Ends Martial Law and Restores Constitution: President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq officially ended martial law in Pakistan and restored the country's constitutional governance, marking a significant political transition for the nation.
  • 31 Dec 1985 Tragic Death of Ricky Nelson in Plane Crash: Rock and roll singer Ricky Nelson, a prominent teen idol of the 1950s and 1960s, was killed in a devastating plane crash on New Year's Eve. The 45-year-old musician was traveling to a performance in Dallas, Texas when his aircraft experienced a critical in-flight emergency. A faulty cabin heater reportedly caused a fire, forcing an emergency landing in a rural cow pasture. Despite the pilot and co-pilot surviving, Nelson and six other passengers perished from fire and smoke inhalation after attempting to escape the burning aircraft.