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

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

  • 01 Mar 1987 Congress Establishes Women's History Month: The United States Congress passed a resolution officially designating March as Women's History Month, a significant milestone in recognizing and celebrating women's contributions to American society and history.
  • 02 Mar 1987 Apple Introduces Macintosh SE and Macintosh II: Apple Computer launched two groundbreaking personal computers on March 2, 1987: the expandable Macintosh SE and the open architecture Macintosh II with advanced color graphics, marking a significant moment in personal computing technology.
  • 03 Mar 1987 Ray Dandridge Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame: Ray Dandridge, a legendary third baseman in the Negro Leagues, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, recognizing his exceptional skills and contributions to baseball during an era of racial segregation. Dandridge was renowned for his outstanding defensive abilities and hitting prowess, representing a pivotal figure in African American baseball history.
  • 04 Mar 1987 Reagan Addresses Iran-Contra Affair: U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered a pivotal national address addressing the Iran-Contra Scandal, candidly acknowledging that his administration's diplomatic overtures to Iran had devolved into a controversial arms-for-hostages exchange. In a rare moment of public vulnerability, Reagan took full responsibility for the complex and ethically questionable covert operation.
  • 05 Mar 1987 Dorothy Hamill's Second Marriage: Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Dorothy Hamill married Kenneth Douglas Forsythe in a private ceremony. At 30 years old, Hamill, famous for her iconic 'Hamill Camel' spin and her gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, entered her second marriage. The union would last until their divorce in 1995, spanning approximately eight years.
  • 06 Mar 1987 MS Herald of Free Enterprise Ferry Disaster: The British ferry MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized in less than 90 seconds after departing from Zeebrugge harbor in Belgium, en route to Dover, England across the English Channel. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of 193 lives, becoming one of the most significant maritime disasters in modern British history.
  • 07 Mar 1987 Lieyu Massacre: A tragic incident where Taiwanese military personnel massacred 19 unarmed Vietnamese refugees at Donggang, Lieyu, Kinmen, representing a severe violation of human rights and international humanitarian principles.
  • 08 Mar 1987 FBI Captures Wanted Fugitive: The Federal Bureau of Investigation successfully apprehended Claude L Dallas, Jr. in California, concluding a significant manhunt.
  • 09 Mar 1987 U2 Releases Landmark Album 'The Joshua Tree': Rock band U2 released their critically acclaimed studio album 'The Joshua Tree', which would become a defining work of 1980s rock music, featuring iconic tracks like 'With or Without You' and 'Where the Streets Have No Name'.
  • 10 Mar 1987 Gavaskar Reaches Cricket Milestone: Sunil Gavaskar became the first cricket batsman to score 10,000 Test runs, setting a significant record that would inspire future generations of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar.
  • 11 Mar 1987 Wayne Gretzky Reaches 1,500 NHL Points Milestone: On March 11, 1987, Wayne Gretzky, widely known as 'The Great One', achieved a remarkable career milestone by scoring his 1,500th point in the National Hockey League. This extraordinary accomplishment further solidified his status as one of the most prolific and talented players in hockey history. Gretzky's unprecedented scoring ability and vision on the ice set him apart from his contemporaries, making this achievement a significant moment in professional hockey.
  • 12 Mar 1987 Les Misérables Opens on Broadway: The iconic musical 'Les Misérables', based on Victor Hugo's novel, premiered on Broadway, marking the beginning of its legendary run that would captivate audiences for years.
  • 13 Mar 1987 John Gotti Acquittal: Notorious mobster John Gotti was acquitted of racketeering charges, further solidifying his reputation as the 'Teflon Don' who seemed to evade legal consequences.
  • 14 Mar 1987 Katarina Witt Wins World Ladies Figure Skating Championship: East German figure skater Katarina Witt wins the World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Cincinnati, further solidifying her status as a dominant figure in the sport during the 1980s.
  • 15 Mar 1987 Last Day of Test Cricket for West Indies Legends: Larry Gomes and Joel Garner, two prominent West Indies cricket players, played their final Test cricket match, marking the end of their illustrious international careers.
  • 16 Mar 1987 Supernova 1987A Discovery: Supernova 1987A was a groundbreaking astronomical event, marking the first 'naked-eye' supernova visible since 1604. First detected on March 16, 1987, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, this stellar explosion provided astronomers with an unprecedented opportunity to study a supernova in real-time using modern scientific instruments.
  • 17 Mar 1987 Sunil Gavaskar Concludes Legendary Test Cricket Career: Renowned Indian cricket batsman Sunil Gavaskar concluded his illustrious Test cricket career with a memorable final innings of 96 runs against Pakistan, marking the end of an era in international cricket.
  • 18 Mar 1987 Breakthrough in Superconductivity Research: The American Physical Society held a landmark 'Woodstock of physics' meeting, featuring 51 presentations on high-temperature superconductors, marking a significant moment in scientific research.
  • 19 Mar 1987 Death of Louis de Broglie, Renowned French Physicist: Louis de Broglie, a prominent French physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 94. Known for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics, de Broglie made significant contributions to wave-particle duality theory.
  • 20 Mar 1987 FDA Approves First AIDS Treatment Drug AZT: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AZT (azidothymidine, also known as zidovudine), marking a critical milestone in the fight against the AIDS epidemic. This groundbreaking approval represented the first specific drug treatment for AIDS patients, offering hope during a devastating period of the health crisis.
  • 21 Mar 1987 Israeli Missile Strike on Hamas Leader: An Israeli missile strike targeted and killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the co-founder of Hamas, a prominent Palestinian Islamist organization. This event marked a significant moment in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 22 Mar 1987 Israeli Missile Strike Kills Hamas Co-Founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin: In a controversial military operation, an Israeli missile strike killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the co-founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, a prominent Palestinian Islamist organization. This targeted assassination occurred in Gaza and significantly escalated tensions in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 23 Mar 1987 FDA Approves AZT for AIDS Treatment: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Azidothymidine (AZT) as the first antiretroviral medication for treating HIV/AIDS, representing a critical breakthrough in medical response to the emerging AIDS epidemic.
  • 24 Mar 1987 Disney and France Sign Euro Disney Resort Agreement: Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac signed a landmark agreement to construct the Euro Disney Resort (now known as Disneyland Paris) and develop the Val d'Europe area in Marne-la-Vallée, Paris, France. This agreement marked a significant international entertainment and tourism development project.
  • 25 Mar 1987 Supreme Court Landmark Ruling on Affirmative Action: In a significant legal decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action plans aimed at promoting employment opportunities for women and minorities are constitutional, even if they result in selecting candidates who may be less qualified than other applicants. This ruling reinforced the principles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by recognizing the importance of addressing historical workplace inequities.
  • 26 Mar 1987 Eugen Jochum: German Conductor Dies: Eugen Jochum, a renowned German conductor who significantly influenced classical music interpretation in the 20th century, passed away in 1987. Born in 1902, he was known for his interpretations of composers like Bruckner and Beethoven.
  • 27 Mar 1987 U2's Iconic Music Video Shoot Disrupts Los Angeles: The Irish rock band U2 created a memorable moment in music video history by filming the video for their single 'Where The Streets Have No Name' on a liquor store rooftop in downtown Los Angeles. The shoot attracted thousands of spectators and caused significant traffic disruption, demonstrating the band's innovative approach to music and visual storytelling.
  • 28 Mar 1987 Club Nouveau's 'Lean On Me' Tops US Charts: Club Nouveau, a popular R&B group, reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their cover of Bill Withers' classic song 'Lean On Me'. This rendition brought a contemporary 1980s pop and funk style to the soulful original track from 1972.
  • 29 Mar 1987 Total Solar Eclipse: A rare hybrid solar eclipse occurred on March 29, 1987, at the Moon's ascending node. This unique astronomical event transitioned between total and annular eclipse phases, with a magnitude of 1.0013.
  • 30 Mar 1987 Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' Breaks Auction Record: In a landmark moment for art history, Vincent van Gogh's iconic painting 'Sunflowers' was sold at auction for an unprecedented £22.5 million ($39.7 million), dramatically tripling the previous record for an auctioned painting. This sale underscored the immense cultural and monetary value of Van Gogh's work, highlighting the artist's enduring legacy in the art world.
  • 31 Mar 1987 Indiana Wins NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: In a thrilling finale of the 49th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Syracuse Orangemen in a nail-biting match with a final score of 74-73. The game was a testament to the skill, determination, and competitive spirit of college basketball during the late 1980s.