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Major Events of February 1987: 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 February 1987 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of February 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1987 Deere and Company Labor Strike Resolution: A 163-day labor strike against Deere and Company concludes with workers accepting a wage freeze, marking a significant moment in labor negotiations during the late 1980s.
  • 02 Feb 1987 Philippines Adopts New Constitution: Following the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines formally adopts a new constitution, marking a significant transition in the country's political landscape after the fall of the Marcos regime.
  • 03 Feb 1987 Supernova 1987A Observed: Supernova 1987A was first observed, marking the first naked-eye visible supernova in 383 years since 1604. This astronomical event was a significant moment in modern astronomy, allowing scientists to study a stellar explosion in unprecedented detail.
  • 04 Feb 1987 Congress Overrides Reagan's Clean Water Act Veto: The United States Congress successfully overrode President Ronald Reagan's veto of the Clean Water Act, demonstrating the legislative branch's commitment to environmental protection and water quality regulations.
  • 05 Feb 1987 Soyuz TM-2 Space Mission Launch: The Soviet Union launched the Soyuz TM-2 spacecraft as part of its ongoing space exploration program, continuing the nation's efforts in manned space missions during the late Cold War era.
  • 06 Feb 1987 Supernova 1987A First Observed: Astronomers first detect Supernova 1987A, a significant astronomical event located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which would become one of the most studied supernovae in modern history.
  • 07 Feb 1987 Madonna's 'Open Your Heart' Tops US Charts: Madonna's hit single 'Open Your Heart' reached the number one position on the US music charts, highlighting her continued dominance in the pop music scene during the late 1980s.
  • 08 Feb 1987 NBA All-Star Game Thriller: The 37th NBA All-Star Game was an electrifying overtime contest where the Western Conference narrowly defeated the Eastern Conference 154-149 in Seattle, Washington, showcasing exceptional basketball talent and competitive spirit.
  • 09 Feb 1987 Robert McFarlane Suicide Attempt: Former US National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane attempted suicide, marking a dramatic personal crisis during the complex political landscape of the Reagan administration era.
  • 10 Feb 1987 Lupao Massacre: On February 10, 1987, Philippine military troops committed a tragic massacre in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, killing 17 unarmed civilians. This event was part of the ongoing internal conflict during the post-Marcos era, highlighting the human rights violations that occurred during this turbulent period in Philippine history.
  • 11 Feb 1987 Philippines Adopts New Constitution: The new Constitution of the Philippines officially goes into effect, marking a significant political transition following the end of the Marcos era and establishing a democratic framework for governance.
  • 12 Feb 1987 Civil Rights Lawsuit: KKK Murder Damages Awarded: In a landmark civil rights case, the survivors of a Black man murdered by Ku Klux Klan members were awarded $7 million in damages, marking a significant legal victory against racial violence and systemic racism in the United States.
  • 13 Feb 1987 Record Baseball Salary Arbitration Award: Detroit Tigers' pitcher Jack Morris was awarded a groundbreaking salary of US$1.85 million through arbitration, which at the time represented the highest arbitration award in Major League Baseball history. This event highlighted the evolving economic landscape of professional sports and players' increasing negotiating power.
  • 14 Feb 1987 Record NBA Crowd at Detroit Pistons Game: The Philadelphia 76ers vs Detroit Pistons game at Pontiac Silverdome drew a record crowd of 53,745 spectators, marking the largest NBA attendance to date. This event highlighted the growing popularity of professional basketball in the mid-1980s.
  • 15 Feb 1987 ABC-TV Broadcasts Amerika Mini-Series: ABC Television network begins broadcasting the controversial mini-series 'Amerika', a fictional narrative exploring a hypothetical Soviet invasion and occupation of the United States.
  • 16 Feb 1987 John Demjanjuk Trial Begins in Jerusalem: The trial of John Demjanjuk, an American autoworker of Ukrainian descent, commenced in Jerusalem. He was accused of being 'Ivan the Terrible', a notoriously brutal Nazi concentration camp guard responsible for operating gas chambers at the Treblinka extermination camp during World War II.
  • 17 Feb 1987 Don Mattingly Wins Record-Breaking Salary Arbitration: New York Yankees' first baseman Don Mattingly won a landmark salary arbitration case, securing $1.975 million, which broke the previous record set by Jack Morris just four days earlier. This event was significant in the ongoing evolution of player compensation in Major League Baseball.
  • 18 Feb 1987 Birth of Hartleigh Nguyen, AI Researcher: Hartleigh Nguyen, a distinguished AI researcher, was born on February 18, 1987. Known for groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, Nguyen would later contribute significantly to the technological advancements in machine learning and computational research.
  • 19 Feb 1987 Reagan Lifts Trade Boycott Against Poland: President Ronald Reagan officially lifts the trade boycott against Poland, signaling a potential thaw in diplomatic relations during the late Cold War era.
  • 20 Feb 1987 Unabomber Bomb Attack in Salt Lake City: On February 20, 1987, a bomb exploded at a computer store in Salt Lake City, Utah, in an attack attributed to Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber. This incident was part of a series of domestic terrorist bombings targeting technological and academic institutions between 1978 and 1995.
  • 21 Feb 1987 Syrian Military Intervention in Beirut: Syrian army strategically marches into Beirut, Lebanon, further complicating the ongoing Lebanese Civil War and demonstrating Syria's regional military influence.
  • 22 Feb 1987 Death of Andy Warhol: Andy Warhol, the iconic American pop artist, filmmaker, and cultural provocateur, passed away on February 22, 1987, due to complications following gallbladder surgery. At the age of 58, Warhol left behind a transformative legacy in modern art, having revolutionized the visual art landscape with his bold, commercial-inspired works like the Campbell's Soup Cans and portraits of Marilyn Monroe.
  • 23 Feb 1987 Supernova 1987A Observed in Large Magellanic Cloud: On February 23, 1987, astronomers witnessed a remarkable astronomical event: Supernova 1987A, the first naked-eye supernova visible since 1604. Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, this stellar explosion provided scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to study a nearby supernova in real-time, offering invaluable insights into stellar evolution and cosmic phenomena.
  • 24 Feb 1987 Supernova 1987A Discovery: Astronomers discover Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a significant astronomical event that provides unprecedented insights into stellar evolution and cosmic phenomena.
  • 25 Feb 1987 Supernova 1987A Observed: Astronomers witnessed Supernova 1987A, the first supernova visible to the naked eye since 1604, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study stellar evolution and cosmic phenomena.
  • 26 Feb 1987 USSR Resumes Nuclear Testing: The Soviet Union ended a 19-month nuclear test moratorium by conducting a nuclear weapons test at the Eastern Kazakh / Semipalatinsk test site, escalating Cold War tensions.
  • 27 Feb 1987 White House Chief of Staff Resigns: Donald Regan resigned from his position as White House Chief of Staff during the Reagan administration, signaling potential internal tensions within the executive branch.
  • 28 Feb 1987 Death of Nora Kaye, Prominent Ballet Dancer: Nora Kaye, a distinguished American ballet dancer known for her significant contributions to modern dance, passed away at the age of 67. Kaye was a renowned performer and influential figure in the mid-20th century dance world, having performed with prestigious companies and helped shape contemporary ballet techniques.