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

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

01 Dec 1987 NASA awards $5 billion contracts for Space Station Freedom construction: On December 1, 1987, NASA awarded contracts totaling $5 billion for the construction of the Space Station Freedom, a manned orbital outpost. The contracts were awarded to McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., Boeing Aerospace Co., Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International, and General Electric Co. These contracts were expected to create approximately 12,000 jobs across the United States. source: washingtonpost.com
02 Dec 1987 Hustler Magazine v. Falwell Supreme Court Case: On December 2, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell. The case involved a parody advertisement published by Hustler magazine that depicted Reverend Jerry Falwell in a satirical and offensive manner. Falwell sued for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Court's decision, issued on February 24, 1988, held that public figures cannot recover damages for emotional distress caused by parodies unless the publication contains a false statement of fact made with actual malice. source: law.cornell.edu
03 Dec 1987 First human heart transplant performed in South Africa: On December 3, 1987, Dr. Chris Barnard performed the first successful human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. The recipient, Louis Washkansky, lived for 18 days after the surgery, marking a significant milestone in medical history and organ transplantation. This groundbreaking procedure opened new avenues for treating heart disease. source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
04 Dec 1987 IBM ships OS/2 Standard Edition 1.0 ahead of schedule: IBM announced OS/2 Standard Edition 1.0 on April 2, 1987, with an initial shipping date set for the first quarter of 1988. However, the company began shipping the operating system to U.S. customers in December 1987, ahead of schedule. OS/2 1.0 was a multitasking operating system designed to run on Intel 80286 processors, offering improved memory management and compatibility with existing PC-DOS programs. source: os2museum.com
05 Dec 1987 Tim Brown wins Heisman Trophy: On December 5, 1987, Tim Brown, a wide receiver and kick return specialist from the University of Notre Dame, was awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to receive this honor. He secured 1,442 points in the nationwide balloting, surpassing quarterback Don McPherson of Syracuse, who received 831 points. Brown's exceptional performance throughout the season, including notable punt returns, solidified his position as the nation's top college football player. source: washingtonpost.com
06 Dec 1987 Christa Rothenburger sets women's 500m speed skating world record: On December 6, 1987, East German speed skater Christa Rothenburger set a new world record in the women's 500-meter event with a time of 39.39 seconds at the World Cup in Calgary, Canada. This performance surpassed her previous record of 39.43 seconds set earlier that year. source: en.wikipedia.org
07 Dec 1987 Gorbachev's US Summit Visit: On December 7, 1987, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Washington, D.C., for a summit with U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The primary focus was the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear missiles. The summit also addressed regional conflicts and human rights issues. Gorbachev's visit marked a significant step in U.S.-Soviet relations during the Cold War. source: reaganlibrary.gov
08 Dec 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed: On December 8, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in Washington, D.C. This landmark agreement mandated the elimination of all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, marking the first time the superpowers agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals by eliminating an entire class of weapons. source: britannica.com
09 Dec 1987 First Intifada begins in the West Bank: The First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, began on December 9, 1987, in the West Bank. It was characterized by widespread protests, civil disobedience, and violent confrontations, marking a significant turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The uprising lasted until the early 1990s and led to increased international attention on the Palestinian cause. source: britannica.com
10 Dec 1987 Jascha Heifetz, renowned violinist, dies at 86: Jascha Heifetz, a Russian-born American violinist celebrated for his technical proficiency and musical interpretation, died on December 10, 1987, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 86 years old. Heifetz had been hospitalized since October 16 for treatment of injuries sustained from a fall in his home in Beverly Hills. The immediate cause of death was not reported. source: britannica.com
11 Dec 1987 Allan Border scores 205 runs against New Zealand in Adelaide Test: In the second Test of the 1987–88 series against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval, Allan Border scored 205 runs, becoming Australia's highest Test run-scorer at that time. This innings was pivotal in Australia's performance during the match. source: espncricinfo.com
12 Dec 1987 Oklahoma sets NCAA steals record: On December 12, 1987, the University of Oklahoma men's basketball team achieved a remarkable defensive feat by recording 33 steals in a game against Centenary College. This performance was highlighted by Mookie Blaylock's individual record of 12 steals, setting a new NCAA individual record at the time. The Sooners dominated the game, winning 152-84. source: vice.com
13 Dec 1987 Cleveland Browns set club record for most points scored in a quarter, 28: On December 13, 1987, the Cleveland Browns achieved a franchise record by scoring 28 points in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals, leading to a 38-24 victory. source: profootballarchives.com
14 Dec 1987 Devastating West Memphis-Shelby County Tornado: On December 14, 1987, an F3 tornado struck West Memphis, Arkansas, and Shelby County, Tennessee, causing significant destruction. The tornado killed six people, injured over 100, and left 1,500 homeless. It destroyed 235 homes, 35 businesses, and a school in West Memphis, with damage estimates ranging from $22 million to $35 million. The tornado's path was approximately 25 miles long and up to 300 feet wide. source: weatherbug.com
15 Dec 1987 Production I.G Animation Studio Founded: Production I.G was established on December 15, 1987, by producer Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and character designer Takayuki Goto as I.G Tatsunoko, a branch of Tatsunoko Production. The 'I' and 'G' in the name represent the initials of the founders. In 1993, the studio was renamed Production I.G. Since then, it has produced numerous acclaimed anime series and films. source: productionig.com
16 Dec 1987 Roh Tae-woo wins South Korean presidential election: On December 16, 1987, Roh Tae-woo, candidate of the ruling Democratic Justice Party, won South Korea's first direct presidential election in 16 years, securing 36.6% of the vote. His main opponents, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, received 28.0% and 27.0%, respectively. Roh's victory marked a significant step toward democratization in South Korea. source: washingtonpost.com
17 Dec 1987 Gustáv Husák resigns as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia: On December 17, 1987, Gustáv Husák, aged 74, resigned from his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, a role he had held since 1969. He was succeeded by Miloš Jakeš, 65, who had been a Central Committee Secretary and was known for his focus on economic affairs. Despite the leadership change, Husák retained his position as President of Czechoslovakia and continued to serve on the Presidium of the Communist Party. source: washingtonpost.com
18 Dec 1987 First release of the Perl programming language: The Perl programming language was first released on December 18, 1987, by Larry Wall. Initially developed for text processing, Perl has since evolved into a versatile language used for various applications, including web development and system administration. Its flexibility and powerful text manipulation capabilities have made it a popular choice among programmers. source: perl.org
19 Dec 1987 Garry Kasparov becomes World Chess Champion for the second time: Garry Kasparov successfully defended his title as World Chess Champion against Anatoly Karpov in a match held in Seville, Spain. The match concluded on December 19, 1987, with Kasparov retaining his championship after a series of intense games that included several draws. This victory solidified Kasparov's status as one of the greatest chess players in history. source: britannica.com
20 Dec 1987 Doña Paz ferry disaster occurred in the Philippines: The Doña Paz ferry disaster, which took place on December 20, 1987, is considered one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. The ferry collided with an oil tanker, resulting in a fire that led to the deaths of over 4,300 people, with only 24 survivors. The tragedy highlighted significant safety issues in the Philippine maritime industry. source: britannica.com
21 Dec 1987 Soyuz TM-4 mission to Mir: On December 21, 1987, the Soviet Union launched Soyuz TM-4, carrying cosmonauts Vladimir Titov, Musa Manarov, and Anatoli Levchenko to the Mir space station. Titov and Manarov embarked on a long-duration mission, setting a new spaceflight record by spending nearly 366 days in orbit. Levchenko returned to Earth a week later with the crew of Soyuz TM-3. The mission was notable for its scientific experiments and spacewalks. source: en.wikipedia.org
22 Dec 1987 Unity Accord signed between ZANU and ZAPU in Zimbabwe: On December 22, 1987, Zimbabwe's two major nationalist movements, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) led by Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) led by Joshua Nkomo, signed the Unity Accord. This agreement aimed to end the ethnic violence that had plagued the country since the early 1980s, particularly the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland. The accord led to the merger of ZANU and ZAPU into the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), with Mugabe becoming the new President of Zimbabwe after constitutional reforms on December 31, 1987. source: en.wikipedia.org
23 Dec 1987 Tom Barrasso records 100th NHL win, becoming youngest to do so: On December 23, 1987, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Tom Barrasso achieved his 100th NHL victory at 22 years and 9 months, making him the youngest player to reach this milestone. He led the Sabres to a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, stopping 35 shots. source: hookedonhockeymagazine.com
24 Dec 1987 Death of M.G. Ramachandran, Influential Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran, known as M.G. Ramachandran, passed away on December 24, 1987, at the age of 70. He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death, and was also a renowned film actor and producer. His death led to widespread mourning and unrest in Tamil Nadu. source: en.wikipedia.org
25 Dec 1987 Oklahoma ice storm causes widespread power outages and damage: A severe ice storm struck Oklahoma from December 25 to 27, 1987, coating areas from near Duncan through Norman to Tulsa with up to 2 inches of ice. This led to power outages affecting 75,000 homes, some lasting over a week, and caused approximately $10 million in damages. The storm also resulted in flooding in rivers southeast of the affected region. source: weather.gov
26 Dec 1987 Les Misérables opens at National Theatre of Iceland in Reykjavik: On December 26, 1987, the musical 'Les Misérables' premiered at the National Theatre of Iceland in Reykjavik, marking its first performance in Iceland. source: brainyhistory.com
27 Dec 1987 Steve Largent sets NFL career reception record: On December 27, 1987, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent became the NFL's all-time leader in career receptions, surpassing Charlie Joiner's previous record of 750. In a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Largent caught six passes, bringing his total to 752 receptions. He finished the game with 95 receiving yards and one touchdown, contributing to the Seahawks' 41-20 loss. source: profootballhof.com
28 Dec 1987 Ronald Gene Simmons' mass murder in Arkansas: On December 28, 1987, Ronald Gene Simmons, a retired Air Force sergeant, killed two people in Russellville, Arkansas, during a shooting spree. This was part of a larger series of murders he committed between December 22 and 28, 1987, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals, including 14 family members. Simmons was arrested, convicted, and executed by lethal injection on June 25, 1990. source: en.wikipedia.org
29 Dec 1987 Prozac introduced in the United States: Prozac, the brand name for fluoxetine, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 29, 1987. It became the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to be marketed, revolutionizing the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Its introduction marked a significant advancement in psychiatric medication, leading to widespread use and further research into SSRIs. source: fda.gov
30 Dec 1987 Robert Mugabe becomes executive president of Zimbabwe: On December 30, 1987, Robert Mugabe assumed the role of executive president of Zimbabwe, consolidating the positions of head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This constitutional amendment abolished the position of Prime Minister, which Mugabe had held since 1980, and granted him sweeping executive powers. The same day, Mugabe signed a Unity Accord with Joshua Nkomo, leader of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), leading to the formation of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). source: britannica.com
31 Dec 1987 New Year's Eve celebrations in 1987: New Year's Eve 1987 was marked by various celebrations around the world, including notable events in major cities. In New York City, the iconic ball drop in Times Square continued its tradition, drawing large crowds. Globally, many countries celebrated with fireworks and festivities, welcoming the new year with hopes and resolutions. source: britannica.com