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Major Events of April 1981: 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 April 1981 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of April 1981: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 1981 Wayne Gretzky breaks NHL assist record: On April 1, 1981, Wayne Gretzky surpassed Bobby Orr's single-season assist record by recording his 103rd assist of the season in a game against the Colorado Rockies. This milestone contributed to his total of 109 assists that season, setting a new NHL record. source: upi.com
  • 02 Apr 1981 Belgian government collapses amid political crisis: On April 2, 1981, the Belgian government, led by Prime Minister Wilfried Martens, collapsed due to a political crisis over the issue of the country's linguistic divide. The coalition government, which included multiple parties, struggled to address tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flanders and the French-speaking Wallonia regions. This event marked a significant moment in Belgian politics, leading to a period of instability and subsequent elections. source: bbc.com
  • 03 Apr 1981 Osborne 1: First Successful Portable Computer: On April 3, 1981, Osborne Computer Corporation introduced the Osborne 1, the first commercially successful portable computer. Weighing 24.5 pounds and priced at $1,795, it featured a 5-inch monochrome CRT display, dual 5¼-inch floppy disk drives, and ran the CP/M 2.2 operating system. Its design was inspired by the Xerox NoteTaker prototype from 1976. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 04 Apr 1981 Henry Cisneros becomes first Mexican-American mayor of San Antonio: On April 4, 1981, Henry Cisneros was elected mayor of San Antonio, Texas, becoming the first Mexican-American to lead a major U.S. city in the 20th century. At 33, he secured 62% of the vote, defeating businessman John Steen. Cisneros's victory marked a significant milestone in American politics, reflecting the growing influence of the Mexican-American community in urban governance. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 05 Apr 1981 Nancy Lopez wins Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship: On April 5, 1981, Nancy Lopez secured victory at the Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship, finishing with a score of 277 (−11) at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. She won by two strokes over Carolyn Hill. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 06 Apr 1981 Formation of Mark Eyskens' Belgian Government: On April 6, 1981, Mark Eyskens was sworn in as Prime Minister of Belgium, leading a coalition government comprising the Christian People's Party (CVP), the French-speaking Socialist Party (PS), and the Dutch-speaking Socialist Party (SP). This government succeeded the Martens IV cabinet and was the fifth since the 1978 legislative elections. Eyskens, previously the Minister of Finance, aimed to address Belgium's economic challenges, including the restructuring of the Walloon steel industry. However, the government faced internal conflicts, particularly over the financing of the Cockerill-Sambre steel combine, leading to its resignation on September 21, 1981. source: upi.com
  • 07 Apr 1981 End of Soyuz-81 Military Maneuvers in Eastern Europe: The Soviet-led Warsaw Pact military exercises, code-named Soyuz-81, concluded on April 7, 1981. These maneuvers, which began on March 17, involved forces from Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. Official reports stated that the objectives were achieved, and participating troops were returning to their respective countries. source: upi.com
  • 08 Apr 1981 Deadly grain elevator explosion in Corpus Christi: On April 8, 1981, a catastrophic explosion occurred at a grain elevator in Corpus Christi, Texas, resulting in multiple fatalities and significant injuries. The explosion was attributed to a buildup of grain dust, which is highly combustible. This incident raised concerns about safety regulations in grain handling facilities. source: nytimes.com
  • 09 Apr 1981 Bobby Sands elected as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone: On April 9, 1981, imprisoned IRA member Bobby Sands was elected as the Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Northern Ireland, while on hunger strike in the Maze Prison. Sands, representing the Anti H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner campaign, secured 30,492 votes, defeating Ulster Unionist Party candidate Harry West, who received 29,046 votes. This election marked a significant moment during the 1981 Irish hunger strike, drawing international attention to the prisoners' demands for political status. Sands passed away on May 5, 1981, after 66 days on hunger strike. source: news.bbc.co.uk
  • 10 Apr 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia launch delayed due to computer issue: On April 10, 1981, the inaugural launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia was postponed when a backup computer failed to communicate with two of the primary computers during pre-launch checks. Engineers identified a timing discrepancy between the computers, requiring a reprogramming that would take at least a day to complete. Consequently, the launch was rescheduled for April 12, 1981. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 11 Apr 1981 President Reagan discharged from hospital after assassination attempt: On April 11, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was discharged from George Washington University Hospital, 12 days after being shot in an assassination attempt. He was accompanied by his wife, Nancy Reagan, as he returned to the White House to continue his recovery. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 12 Apr 1981 First Space Shuttle launch occurs on April 12, 1981: The first Space Shuttle launch, STS-1, took place on April 12, 1981, with the orbiter Columbia. This historic mission marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration, allowing for reusable spacecraft and paving the way for future missions. The launch was a significant milestone for NASA and the United States in the field of space technology. source: nasa.gov
  • 13 Apr 1981 Janet Cooke's Pulitzer Prize for "Jimmy's World": In April 1981, Janet Cooke, a reporter for The Washington Post, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her article "Jimmy's World," which profiled an alleged 8-year-old heroin addict in Washington, D.C. The story sparked public concern and led to an investigation revealing that Cooke had fabricated the entire account. She admitted to the fabrication, returned the prize, and resigned from the newspaper. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 14 Apr 1981 First Space Shuttle Columbia returns to Earth after STS-1 mission: On April 14, 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia successfully completed its first mission, STS-1, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This historic flight marked the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, demonstrating the shuttle's capabilities for future missions. The mission lasted 54 hours and included a series of critical tests for the shuttle's systems. source: nasa.gov
  • 15 Apr 1981 Reagan pardons FBI agents Felt and Miller: On April 15, 1981, President Ronald Reagan granted full and unconditional pardons to W. Mark Felt and Edward S. Miller, former top FBI officials convicted of authorizing illegal break-ins during the 1970s search for radical anti-war fugitives. Reagan stated that to punish them further after three years of criminal prosecution would not serve the ends of justice, emphasizing their service to the nation with great distinction. source: reaganlibrary.gov
  • 16 Apr 1981 Copperfield musical opens in NYC: The musical 'Copperfield,' based on Charles Dickens's novel, opened on April 16, 1981, at the ANTA Playhouse in New York City. Directed and choreographed by Rob Iscove, the production featured a book, music, and lyrics by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. Despite critical acclaim, the show closed on April 26, 1981, after 13 performances. source: csmonitor.com
  • 17 Apr 1981 Mid-air collision between Air U.S. Flight 716 and Sky's West Parachute Center Cessna near Loveland, Colorado: On April 17, 1981, Air U.S. Flight 716, a Handley Page HP-137 Jetstream, collided mid-air with a Cessna TU-206A operated by Sky's West Parachute Center near Loveland, Colorado. The collision resulted in the deaths of all 13 occupants aboard the Jetstream and two of the six occupants aboard the Cessna. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the accident was caused by the Cessna pilot's failure to establish communication with air traffic control and his unauthorized ascent into controlled airspace without an altitude-encoding transponder. Contributing factors included the Denver Center's routine condoning of such operations and the failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other. Additionally, existing regulations did not prohibit parachute jumping in or immediately adjacent to federal airways. source: asn.flightsafety.org
  • 18 Apr 1981 Longest professional baseball game in history: On April 18, 1981, the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings began the longest professional baseball game in history. The game lasted 33 innings over two months, with the first 32 innings played on April 18–19, 1981, and the decisive 33rd inning completed on June 23, 1981. The Pawtucket Red Sox won 3–2. Notably, future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs participated in the game. source: mlb.com
  • 19 Apr 1981 Longest professional baseball game suspended after 32 innings: On April 19, 1981, the International League game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox was suspended after 32 innings, tied 2-2, at 4:07 a.m. The game, which began on April 18, was resumed on June 23, 1981, and concluded with the PawSox winning 3-2 in the 33rd inning. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 20 Apr 1981 Toshihiko Seko wins 1981 Boston Marathon men's race: On April 20, 1981, Toshihiko Seko of Japan won the Boston Marathon men's race with a time of 2:09:26. Craig Virgin of the United States finished second in 2:10:26, and Bill Rodgers, also from the U.S., placed third with a time of 2:10:34. source: upi.com
  • 21 Apr 1981 US announces sale of AWACS radar planes and F-15 enhancements to Saudi Arabia: On April 21, 1981, the Reagan administration officially announced its decision to sell five AWACS radar planes and F-15 enhancement equipment to Saudi Arabia. This move was part of a broader arms package intended to bolster Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities. The announcement followed a period of congressional review and was met with significant opposition from various quarters, including members of Congress and advocacy groups concerned about regional stability and the potential impact on U.S.-Israel relations. source: reaganlibrary.gov
  • 22 Apr 1981 Chilean Copper Workers Strike: On April 22, 1981, copper workers in Chile initiated a significant strike to demand better working conditions and wages. This event highlighted the ongoing labor struggles in the country during a tumultuous period. source: reuters.com
  • 23 Apr 1981 Reagan announces Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): On April 23, 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from nuclear missile attacks. The initiative aimed to develop ground-based and space-based systems to intercept and destroy incoming missiles, marking a significant shift in U.S. defense policy during the Cold War. The announcement sparked considerable debate regarding its feasibility and implications for arms control. source: archives.gov
  • 24 Apr 1981 U.S. ends grain embargo against USSR: On April 24, 1981, President Ronald Reagan lifted the 15-month grain embargo imposed by the previous administration in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Reagan stated that the embargo had been ineffective and had unfairly burdened American farmers. The decision was made after consulting with national security advisers and U.S. allies, and it aimed to correct what was perceived as a mistake by the previous administration. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 25 Apr 1981 Kiss on My List by Daryl Hall & John Oates: On April 25, 1981, "Kiss on My List" by Daryl Hall & John Oates was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song held the top position for three consecutive weeks, starting from April 11, 1981. It was a significant hit for the duo, contributing to their popularity during the early 1980s.
  • 26 Apr 1981 Jari Project Abandoned: The Jari Project, a significant venture in Brazil aimed at developing the region's resources, was officially abandoned on April 26, 1981. This decision was influenced by various economic and environmental factors. source: theguardian.com
  • 27 Apr 1981 Xerox Star Information System launched: On April 27, 1981, Xerox Corporation introduced the Xerox 8010 Star Information System, a pioneering personal computer designed for business professionals. It featured a bitmapped display, a graphical user interface with icons and folders, and Ethernet networking, marking a significant advancement in office computing. source: britannica.com
  • 28 Apr 1981 Reagan presents economic recovery program to Congress: On April 28, 1981, President Ronald Reagan addressed a joint session of Congress, presenting his comprehensive economic recovery program. The plan aimed to reduce federal spending, cut tax rates, provide regulatory relief, and implement a stable monetary policy to combat inflation and stimulate economic growth. source: reaganlibrary.gov
  • 29 Apr 1981 Peter Sutcliffe's trial for the Yorkshire Ripper murders begins: On April 29, 1981, Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, stood trial at the Old Bailey in London. He was charged with 13 counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder. Sutcliffe admitted to the killings but pleaded not guilty to murder on grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming he was directed by God to kill prostitutes. The jury ultimately found him guilty on all counts, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. source: crimeandinvestigation.co.uk
  • 30 Apr 1981 16th Academy of Country Music Awards held on April 30, 1981: The 16th Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony took place on April 30, 1981, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by Larry Gatlin, Don Meredith, and Tammy Wynette, the event honored outstanding achievements in country music. Notable winners included Barbara Mandrell as Entertainer of the Year, George Jones as Male Vocalist, and Dolly Parton as Female Vocalist. source: en.wikipedia.org