Major Events of August 1997: 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 August 1997 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1997: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1997 Steve Jobs Returns to Apple: Steve Jobs made a triumphant return to Apple Computer, Inc. during the Macworld conference in Boston, marking a pivotal moment in the company's history. His comeback would ultimately lead to Apple's remarkable transformation and technological renaissance in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
02 Aug 1997 Death of Fela Kuti: Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician, political activist, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, passed away. Born in 1938, Kuti was renowned for his revolutionary music and powerful political activism, challenging social and political norms in Nigeria through his art and outspoken criticism of military regimes.
03 Aug 1997 Mohammad Khatami Becomes Iranian President: Moderate Muslim cleric Mohammad Khatami took office as Iran's president, delivering a message of peace and criticizing the 'high-handedness' of certain powerful countries, particularly the United States.
04 Aug 1997 Major UPS Teamsters Union Strike Begins: A significant labor dispute erupts as approximately 185,000 United Parcel Service (UPS) drivers, members of the Teamsters Union, go on strike. The walkout is triggered by unresolved disagreements over pension fund terms and the company's reliance on part-time workers. The strike causes widespread disruption to shipping services across the United States, impacting businesses and consumers nationwide.
05 Aug 1997 Ramzi Yousef World Trade Center Bombing Trial: Ramzi Yousef, the primary architect of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, began his trial in federal court. Yousef was a key figure in an early Al-Qaeda terrorist plot that attempted to destroy the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
06 Aug 1997 Apple and Microsoft Strategic Alliance: At the Macworld Expo, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates announced a groundbreaking five-year strategic alliance between Apple Computer and Microsoft. The landmark agreement included cross-licensing of patents, Microsoft's commitment to release Office for Macintosh, making Internet Explorer the default browser on Mac systems, collaboration on Java compatibility, and Microsoft's $150 million investment in Apple stock.
07 Aug 1997 Space Shuttle Discovery STS-85 Mission Launch: The Space Shuttle Discovery launched on mission STS-85 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This scientific mission involved various research experiments and satellite deployments, marking another significant milestone in NASA's Space Shuttle program.
08 Aug 1997 Randy Johnson's 19-Strikeout Game: In a remarkable pitching performance, Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners struck out 19 Chicago White Sox batters, tying the American League record for most strikeouts in a single game. This extraordinary feat highlighted Johnson's dominance as one of the most powerful pitchers of his era.
09 Aug 1997 Sharon Tate Murders Anniversary: August 9th marked the anniversary of the infamous 1969 Manson Family murders, where actress Sharon Tate and four others were brutally killed by followers of Charles Manson. This tragic event shocked the nation and became a defining moment in American criminal history, symbolizing the dark side of the counterculture movement.
10 Aug 1997 Formosa Airlines Flight 7601 Crash: A tragic aviation disaster occurred when Formosa Airlines Flight 7601 crashed near Beigan Airport in the Matsu Islands of Taiwan, resulting in sixteen fatalities. The incident highlighted ongoing aviation safety concerns in the region.
11 Aug 1997 Clinton Discusses Line Item Veto: President Bill Clinton delivered remarks about the line item veto, a legislative mechanism that allows the president to cancel specific provisions in spending bills without vetoing the entire legislation. This discussion highlighted ongoing debates about presidential power and budgetary control.
12 Aug 1997 IBM Personal Computer Launch: IBM releases its groundbreaking Personal Computer (PC), a pivotal moment in computing history that would revolutionize personal technology and set industry standards for decades to come.
13 Aug 1997 South Park Debuts on Comedy Central: South Park, the groundbreaking animated comedy series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, premiered on Comedy Central. The show follows the lives of four elementary school boys – Eric Cartman, Kenny McCormick, Kyle Broflovski, and Stan Marsh – in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. Known for its irreverent humor, satirical social commentary, and controversial themes, the series quickly became a cultural phenomenon that challenged traditional television comedy.
14 Aug 1997 Timothy McVeigh Sentenced to Death: Timothy McVeigh, the perpetrator of the Oklahoma City bombing, was formally sentenced to death by a federal court. This marked a significant moment in the aftermath of the 1995 terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
15 Aug 1997 Omagh Car Bombing: A devastating car bomb explosion in Omagh, Northern Ireland, killed 29 people and injured over 200. The Real Irish Republican Army (Real IRA), a splinter group of the Provisional IRA, claimed responsibility for this tragic terrorist attack, which was one of the deadliest incidents during the Northern Ireland conflict.
16 Aug 1997 Krishan Kant Elected Vice President of India: Krishan Kant was elected as the Vice President of India, marking a significant moment in the country's political leadership transition.
17 Aug 1997 "I'll Be Missing You" Tops US Charts: Puff Daddy and Faith Evans' memorial song "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G., reached number one on the US Billboard charts, reflecting the significant cultural impact of the track.
18 Aug 1997 Devastating Typhoon Winnie Strikes East China: On August 18, 1997, Typhoon Winnie made landfall in East China, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The powerful tropical cyclone resulted in 140 confirmed fatalities and injured over 3,000 people. The typhoon's intense winds and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to infrastructure, agricultural lands, and coastal communities, highlighting the region's vulnerability to severe weather events.
19 Aug 1997 Egon Krenz Sentenced for Communist Era Crimes: A Berlin court sentenced Egon Krenz, the last hard-line Communist leader of East Germany, to six years in prison for his responsibility in the deaths of hundreds of people who attempted to flee to West Germany during the Cold War era.
20 Aug 1997 Souhane Massacre during Algerian Civil War: On August 20, 1997, a devastating massacre occurred in the village of Souhane, Algeria, during the ongoing Algerian Civil War. Over 60 civilians were brutally killed, and an additional 15 were kidnapped, highlighting the extreme violence and human rights abuses of this conflict.
21 Aug 1997 Beni-Ali Massacre in Algeria: A tragic mass killing occurred in Beni-Ali, Algeria, with estimates of 60 to 100 people killed, reflecting the ongoing violent conflicts and political instability in the region during this period.
23 Aug 1997 Death of John Kendrew: Nobel Laureate Molecular Biologist: John Kendrew, a distinguished British molecular biologist and Nobel Prize winner, passed away on August 23, 1997. He was renowned for his groundbreaking work in discovering the three-dimensional structure and function of myoglobin, a critical protein in muscle tissue. His research significantly advanced the field of structural biology and protein crystallography.
24 Aug 1997 Death of Louis Essen, Pioneering English Physicist: Louis Essen, a renowned English physicist known for his significant contributions to precision measurement and scientific instrumentation, passed away. He was particularly famous for his work on measuring the speed of light with unprecedented accuracy.
25 Aug 1997 Egon Krenz Convicted for Berlin Wall Shoot-to-Kill Policy: Egon Krenz, the former leader of East Germany, was found guilty by a German court for his role in the infamous shoot-to-kill policy at the Berlin Wall. This landmark legal decision held a high-ranking communist official accountable for human rights violations during the Cold War era, specifically targeting the deadly border enforcement that resulted in numerous deaths of East Germans attempting to flee to the West.
26 Aug 1997 Independent International Commission on Decommissioning Established: On August 26, 1997, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was established in Northern Ireland as a critical component of the Northern Ireland peace process. This commission played a pivotal role in overseeing the disarmament of paramilitary groups during the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, helping to pave the way for a more stable and peaceful future.
27 Aug 1997 Major Cigarette Manufacturers Settlement in Florida: Cigarette manufacturers agree to a landmark $11.3 billion settlement in a lawsuit addressing smoking-related health impacts. The comprehensive settlement includes substantial financial compensation and mandates wide-ranging public health measures, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases in other states like Mississippi.
28 Aug 1997 Amusement Park Ride Malfunction in Belgium: On August 28, 1997, visitors at a Belgian amusement park experienced a harrowing incident when they were trapped upside down on a ride for approximately 90 minutes. The prolonged suspension caused significant distress and raised serious safety concerns about the park's ride maintenance and emergency protocols.
29 Aug 1997 Netflix Founded: Netflix was launched as an innovative internet DVD rental service by entrepreneurs Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings in California. This groundbreaking startup would later revolutionize the entertainment industry by pioneering online streaming and original content production.
30 Aug 1997 First WNBA Championship: The Houston Comets defeated the New York Liberty to win the inaugural Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Championship, marking a historic moment for professional women's basketball in the United States.
31 Aug 1997 Death of Princess Diana in Paris Car Crash: Princess Diana, her partner Dodi Al-Fayed, and driver Henri Paul tragically died in a fatal automobile accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris. The crash occurred shortly after midnight, and Diana was pronounced dead at 4:00 a.m. This event shocked the world and led to unprecedented global mourning.