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

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

  • 01 Sep 1987 Michael Chang Makes Tennis History at US Open: 15-year-old Michael Chang becomes the youngest man to win a match at the US Open, defeating Australian Paul McNamee in a four-set match during the tournament's opening round.
  • 02 Sep 1987 Mathias Rust Trial Begins in Moscow: West German pilot Mathias Rust, who famously flew a private Cessna aircraft into Moscow's Red Square in May 1987, goes on trial in Russia. His audacious flight through Soviet airspace and landing in the heart of Moscow became an international incident that embarrassed the Soviet military and highlighted the tensions of the Cold War era.
  • 03 Sep 1987 Burundi Military Coup of 1987: On September 3rd, 1987, a military coup took place in Burundi, led by Major Pierre Buyoya, which resulted in the overthrow of President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza. The coup suspended the country's constitution and marked a significant political transition in Burundi's governance.
  • 04 Sep 1987 Mathias Rust's Daring Flight to Moscow: On May 28, 1987, Mathias Rust, a young German aviator, executed a bold and provocative 'peace mission' by flying a small Cessna aircraft from Helsinki and landing directly in Moscow's Red Square. This audacious act was a symbolic challenge to Cold War tensions. Immediately after landing, Rust was arrested, tried, and initially sentenced to four years in a labor camp. However, his sentence was later reduced, highlighting the political sensitivity of his actions.
  • 05 Sep 1987 Gary Hart Admits to Marital Infidelity: Presidential candidate Gary Hart publicly admits to cheating on his wife during an appearance on 'Nightline', a revelation that significantly damaged his political career.
  • 06 Sep 1987 Binder Twins Surgical Separation: Benjamin and Patrick Binder, conjoined twins, underwent a complex surgical separation procedure at Johns Hopkins Hospital, marking a significant medical achievement.
  • 07 Sep 1987 First Conference on Artificial Life: Los Alamos National Laboratory hosts the world's inaugural conference on artificial life from September 7 to September 21, bringing together pioneering researchers to explore emerging scientific frontiers in computational biology and synthetic systems.
  • 08 Sep 1987 US Billboard Number 1 Hit: La Bamba: "La Bamba" by Los Lobos topped the US music charts, a popular rock adaptation of the traditional Mexican folk song, originally made famous by Ritchie Valens.
  • 09 Sep 1987 Gary Hart Political Scandal: Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart publicly admits to extramarital affair during a televised Nightline interview, which effectively ended his 1988 presidential campaign and became a pivotal moment in political media scrutiny.
  • 10 Sep 1987 Pope John Paul II's Pastoral Visit to the United States: Pope John Paul II arrived in Miami, Florida, initiating a significant 10-day pastoral tour of the United States. The pontiff was warmly welcomed by President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, and thousands of enthusiastic supporters. This visit was part of the Pope's broader mission to strengthen Catholic connections and promote dialogue in the United States during the late Cold War era.
  • 11 Sep 1987 9-1-1 Emergency Number Day: National recognition of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone number, a critical infrastructure for public safety that allows citizens to quickly request emergency assistance from police, fire, or medical services.
  • 12 Sep 1987 Ethiopia Adopts New Constitution: Ethiopia officially adopted a new constitution, marking a significant political transition and potentially reshaping the country's governance structure and legal framework.
  • 13 Sep 1987 Goiânia Radioactive Contamination Incident: A catastrophic radiation exposure event occurred when a radioactive caesium-137 source was stolen from an abandoned hospital in Goiânia, Brazil. The theft led to widespread environmental and human contamination, causing severe radiation poisoning and multiple fatalities. This incident is considered one of the most significant radiation accidents in history, highlighting critical issues of nuclear safety and public health.
  • 14 Sep 1987 Ivan Lendl Wins US Open Men's Tennis Championship: Czech tennis star Ivan Lendl defeated Sweden's Mats Wilander in a grueling four-hour and forty-seven-minute match to win his third consecutive US Open Men's Tennis title. The match score was 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4.
  • 15 Sep 1987 US-Soviet Nuclear Risk Reduction Treaty Signing: United States Secretary of State George Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze signed a landmark treaty establishing joint centers aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear war. This diplomatic effort represented a significant step towards de-escalating Cold War tensions and improving communication between the two superpowers.
  • 16 Sep 1987 Montreal Protocol Signing: The Montreal Protocol was signed by international representatives, marking a landmark global agreement to protect the Earth's ozone layer from harmful chemical depletion. This treaty aimed to phase out the production of substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were damaging the stratospheric ozone.
  • 17 Sep 1987 Philadelphia Celebrates Constitution's 200th Anniversary: The city of Philadelphia commemorated the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution with a significant celebration. President Ronald Reagan delivered a powerful speech at Independence Hall, highlighting the document's transformative impact on the United States and global democratic principles.
  • 18 Sep 1987 US and Soviet Union Sign Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: On September 18, 1987, the United States and the Soviet Union signed a historic arms control agreement to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles, marking a significant milestone in reducing Cold War tensions and nuclear proliferation.
  • 19 Sep 1987 Farm Aid III Concert in Lincoln, Nebraska: Farm Aid III, a benefit concert supporting American farmers, was held in Lincoln, Nebraska. The star-studded lineup included legendary musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, and Joe Walsh, raising awareness and funds for agricultural communities.
  • 20 Sep 1987 Walter Payton Breaks NFL Rushing Touchdown Record: Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton sets a new NFL record by scoring his 107th rushing touchdown, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history.
  • 21 Sep 1987 NFL Players Strike Over Free Agency: NFL players initiated a significant 24-day strike primarily focused on securing free agency rights. The labor dispute led team owners to recruit replacement players, dramatically disrupting the 1987 football season and highlighting the ongoing tensions between players and management regarding contract and career mobility.
  • 22 Sep 1987 NFL Players' Strike Begins: The second regular-season National Football League players' strike commences, highlighting labor disputes and negotiations in professional sports.
  • 23 Sep 1987 First International Day of Sign Languages: The inaugural International Day of Sign Languages was observed on September 23rd, marking a significant milestone in recognizing and promoting the rights of deaf individuals and the importance of sign language as a fundamental human right and means of communication.
  • 24 Sep 1987 US Nuclear Test at Nevada Site: On September 24, 1987, the United States conducted a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site, continuing its Cold War-era nuclear weapons development and testing program. These underground nuclear tests were part of the ongoing strategic nuclear capabilities research during the late Cold War period.
  • 25 Sep 1987 Fiji Coup d'État: Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka led a military coup in Fiji, overthrowing Governor-General Penaia Ganilau. This was the second significant political upheaval in Fiji that year, marking a tumultuous period in the country's political history.
  • 26 Sep 1987 NASA Space Shuttle STS-26 Launch: NASA successfully launched Space Shuttle STS-26, marking a significant milestone in space exploration following the Challenger disaster earlier that year. This mission represented NASA's return to spaceflight after a critical safety review.
  • 27 Sep 1987 Phil Niekro's Final MLB Game: Legendary Atlanta Braves pitcher Phil Niekro concluded his remarkable career with a challenging final appearance, allowing 5 runs in 3 innings, symbolizing the end of an era in baseball.
  • 28 Sep 1987 The First Intifada Begins: The Palestinian civil disobedience uprising, known as the First Intifada, commences against Israeli occupation, marking a significant moment of Palestinian resistance and political mobilization.
  • 29 Sep 1987 NFL Players Strike: NFL players initiate a labor dispute, going on strike for 24 days to negotiate better working conditions and compensation.
  • 30 Sep 1987 Roy Orbison and Friends Performance Filming: A star-studded musical performance was filmed at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles, California for Cinemax. The event featured legendary musician Roy Orbison alongside an impressive lineup of renowned artists including James Burton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and k.d. lang, capturing a unique moment in contemporary music history.