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

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

  • 01 Nov 1985 Netherlands Decides Cruise Missile Deployment Sites: The Netherlands made a strategic decision regarding the definitive locations for cruise missile deployment, a significant moment during the Cold War era that highlighted geopolitical tensions between NATO and the Soviet Union.
  • 02 Nov 1985 Uneventful Day in Global History: On November 2, 1985, no significant global events were recorded. While this might appear unremarkable, such days are a reminder that not every moment in history is marked by dramatic occurrences. Daily life continued across the world, with people pursuing their routines, working, studying, and engaging in personal activities.
  • 03 Nov 1985 Radical Civic Union Wins Argentine Legislative Elections: In a significant political development, President Raúl Alfonsín's Radical Civic Union (Unión Cívica Radical) secured victory in the Argentine legislative elections, reinforcing the party's political influence during Argentina's return to democratic governance in the mid-1980s.
  • 04 Nov 1985 1985 Election Day Floods in West Virginia and Virginia: A catastrophic flooding event triggered by the remnants of Tropical Storm Juan, which caused unprecedented destruction across West Virginia and Virginia. The storm system developed from a complex meteorological interaction involving a low-pressure area and moisture from the tropical cyclone. On November 3-5, 1985, heavy rainfall saturated the region, leading to widespread flooding that devastated multiple towns and communities. The floods resulted in 62 fatalities and caused an estimated $1.4 billion in damage, making it one of the most destructive natural disasters in the region's history.
  • 05 Nov 1985 Death of Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Church President: Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away. During his leadership from 1973 to 1985, he was known for significant church reforms, including extending priesthood rights to all male members regardless of race.
  • 06 Nov 1985 Palace of Justice Siege in Bogotá: The M-19 guerrilla movement launched a devastating attack on the Palace of Justice in Bogotá, Colombia. The siege resulted in the tragic deaths of 115 people, including 11 Supreme Court justices, in a violent confrontation that shocked the nation.
  • 07 Nov 1985 Colombian Palace of Justice Siege Ends: Colombian military forces successfully concluded a 27-hour siege of the Palace of Justice in Bogota, ending a critical hostage situation involving guerrilla militants.
  • 08 Nov 1985 Garry Kasparov Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion: On November 8, 1985, Garry Kasparov made history by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion at age 22, defeating his fellow Soviet grandmaster Anatoly Karpov in a hard-fought match with a final score of 13-11. This victory marked a significant moment in chess history, signaling the rise of a new generation of chess prodigies and challenging the established chess hierarchy.
  • 09 Nov 1985 Garry Kasparov Becomes World Chess Champion: Garry Kasparov from the Soviet Union becomes the youngest World Chess Champion at age 22 by defeating Anatoly Karpov
  • 10 Nov 1985 First AIDS-themed TV Movie 'An Early Frost' Screens: 'An Early Frost' becomes the first television movie to address the AIDS epidemic, airing on NBC. This groundbreaking film played a crucial role in raising public awareness about HIV/AIDS, helping to combat stigma and misinformation during the early years of the health crisis.
  • 11 Nov 1985 Yonkers Segregation Ruling: A landmark legal decision finds the city of Yonkers, New York, guilty of systemic racial segregation in schools and housing, representing a critical moment in civil rights enforcement.
  • 12 Nov 1985 Space Shuttle STS 61-B Launch Preparation: The Space Shuttle STS 61-B vehicle was moved to the launch pad, preparing for an upcoming mission as part of NASA's ongoing space exploration efforts.
  • 13 Nov 1985 Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Disaster: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted on November 13, 1985, causing a catastrophic lahar (volcanic mudslide) that buried the town of Armero in Tolima Department. The eruption melted the mountain's glaciers, creating massive mudflows that swept through the town, resulting in approximately 23,000 fatalities. This event is considered one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in the 20th century, highlighting the devastating potential of volcanic eruptions and the importance of early warning systems.
  • 14 Nov 1985 Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Disaster: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted, causing a catastrophic mudslide that devastated nearby towns, particularly Armero. The eruption triggered massive lahars (volcanic mudflows) that killed approximately 23,000 people, making it one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in the 20th century. The event highlighted the critical importance of disaster preparedness and early warning systems in volcanic regions.
  • 15 Nov 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement Signed: The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed at Hillsborough Castle by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, marking a significant diplomatic moment in British-Irish relations. This historic agreement provided a framework for cooperation between the United Kingdom and Ireland regarding Northern Ireland, acknowledging the complex political landscape of the region.
  • 16 Nov 1985 Reagan-Gorbachev Geneva Summit: First Historic Meeting: On November 16, 1985, President Ronald Reagan arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, for a landmark summit meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. This was their first face-to-face encounter, representing a critical moment in Cold War diplomacy. The summit aimed to ease tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and explore potential arms reduction negotiations.
  • 17 Nov 1985 Howard Stern Begins Broadcasting on WXRK FM: Radio personality Howard Stern launches his iconic radio show on 92.3 WXRK FM in New York City, marking a significant moment in American radio broadcasting history.
  • 18 Nov 1985 Enterprise Space Shuttle Transferred to Smithsonian: The Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101) is flown from Kennedy Space Center to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, and officially transferred to the Smithsonian Institution, marking an important moment in space exploration history.
  • 19 Nov 1985 Reagan-Gorbachev First Summit Meeting: U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War diplomacy. This historic meeting represented a significant step towards reducing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and would eventually lead to important arms reduction negotiations.
  • 20 Nov 1985 Microsoft Windows 1.0 Launch: Microsoft released Windows 1.0, its first graphical personal computer operating environment, marking a significant milestone in personal computing history. The operating system introduced a user-friendly interface that allowed users to navigate computer screens more intuitively, moving beyond text-based command-line interfaces.
  • 21 Nov 1985 US and UK Economic Sanctions Against Apartheid South Africa: The United States and United Kingdom jointly imposed comprehensive economic sanctions on South Africa as a direct response to the country's systemic racial segregation policy of apartheid. These sanctions were part of an international effort to pressure the South African government to dismantle its discriminatory racial policies and promote racial equality.
  • 22 Nov 1985 Record-Breaking US Citizenship Ceremony: A historic naturalization event took place, marking the largest single swearing-in ceremony in United States history, with 38,648 immigrants becoming US citizens simultaneously, symbolizing the nation's ongoing immigration and integration process.
  • 23 Nov 1985 EgyptAir Flight 648 Hijacking and Commando Raid: On November 23, 1985, EgyptAir Flight 648 was hijacked by the Abu Nidal terrorist group while en route from Athens to Cairo. The aircraft was forced to land in Malta, where Egyptian commandos launched a storming operation. Tragically, the raid resulted in 60 fatalities due to gunfire and explosions, highlighting the extreme violence of terrorist hijackings during the 1980s.
  • 24 Nov 1985 Egyptian Commandos Resolve Hijacking in Malta: Egyptian special forces stormed a hijacked Boeing aircraft in Malta, resulting in a deadly confrontation that left approximately 60 people killed during the rescue operation. This dramatic incident highlighted the intense tensions surrounding international terrorism in the mid-1980s.
  • 25 Nov 1985 Soviet Air Force Antonov An-12 Shot Down in Angola: During the Angolan Civil War, a Soviet Air Force Antonov An-12 cargo aircraft was shot down near Menongue in Angola's Cuando Cubango Province by South African Special Forces. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 21 lives, including 8 crew members and 13 passengers, highlighting the intense military conflict in the region during the mid-1980s.
  • 26 Nov 1985 French Nuclear Test at Mururoa Atoll: France conducted a nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia, continuing its nuclear weapons testing program. This event was part of the Cold War era's nuclear proliferation and raised significant environmental and geopolitical concerns.
  • 27 Nov 1985 Ireland-UK Diplomatic Progress: A significant diplomatic milestone occurs as the Republic of Ireland gains a consultative role in Northern Ireland affairs, marking an important step in improving cross-border relations and potentially easing tensions in the region.
  • 28 Nov 1985 Formation of Belgium's 6th Martens Government: On November 28, 1985, Wilfried Martens formed his sixth government in Belgium, continuing his significant role in Belgian political leadership during the 1980s. This government represented a continuation of Martens' political influence and the complex coalition politics of Belgium during that period.
  • 29 Nov 1985 Assassination of Gerard Hoarau in London: Gerard Hoarau, a prominent exiled political leader from the Seychelles, was assassinated in London, England. His murder highlighted the political tensions and potential international intrigue surrounding opposition figures from the Seychelles during the mid-1980s.
  • 30 Nov 1985 50th Iron Bowl: Alabama Triumphs Over Auburn: On November 30, 1985, the historic 50th Iron Bowl college football rivalry game was played in Birmingham, Alabama. In a thrilling and closely contested match, the Alabama Crimson Tide narrowly defeated the Auburn Tigers with a score of 25-23. This game was part of one of the most intense and long-standing rivalries in college football, representing a significant moment in the state's sporting history.