Major Events of November 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 November 1987 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of November 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Nov 1987 René Lévesque, former Premier of Quebec, dies at 65: René Lévesque, the 23rd Premier of Quebec and founder of the Parti Québécois, died of a heart attack on November 1, 1987, in Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 65. source: britannica.com
- 02 Nov 1987 George Michael releases 'Faith' album: George Michael's debut solo album, 'Faith', was released on November 2, 1987. The album blends pop with R&B, funk, and soul influences, featuring introspective lyrics. It achieved significant commercial success, topping charts worldwide and earning critical acclaim. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 03 Nov 1987 Marcel Dionne becomes second NHL player to reach 1,700 career points: On November 3, 1987, Marcel Dionne achieved his 1,700th career point, becoming the second player in NHL history to reach this milestone after Gordie Howe. source: nhltraderumor.com
- 04 Nov 1987 Lisa Steinberg child abuse case: In 1987, 6-year-old Lisa Steinberg died after being severely beaten by her adoptive father, Joel Steinberg. The case highlighted systemic failures in child abuse detection and led to significant legal and social reforms. source: washingtonpost.com
- 05 Nov 1987 Govan Mbeki released from Robben Island after 23 years in prison: On November 5, 1987, Govan Mbeki, a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), was released from Robben Island prison after serving 23 years of a life sentence for treason. His release was part of a broader move by the apartheid government to free political prisoners amid growing domestic and international pressure. Following his release, Mbeki resumed his role in the ANC's national committee and continued to advocate for the end of apartheid. source: washingtonpost.com
- 06 Nov 1987 Birth of tennis player Ana Ivanovic: Ana Ivanovic, a Serbian former professional tennis player, was born on November 6, 1987. She achieved significant success in her career, including winning the French Open in 2008 and reaching the world No. 1 ranking. Ivanovic is known for her powerful playing style and has been a prominent figure in women's tennis. source: britannica.com
- 07 Nov 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed on November 7, 1987, by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. This landmark agreement eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons, specifically ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The treaty marked a significant step in reducing Cold War tensions and was a pivotal moment in arms control history. source: state.gov
- 08 Nov 1987 Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bombing: On November 8, 1987, a Provisional IRA bomb exploded near the cenotaph in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony. The attack resulted in 11 fatalities and 63 injuries, making it the deadliest incident in Northern Ireland in five years. The victims included civilians and a police officer, with a 12th person dying after 13 years in a coma. The bombing was widely condemned and led to significant political repercussions. source: theguardian.com
- 10 Nov 1987 Steve Bedrosian wins 1987 NL Cy Young Award: Steve Bedrosian, a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, was awarded the 1987 National League Cy Young Award. He led the majors with 40 saves and posted a 2.83 ERA over 89 innings. Bedrosian narrowly edged out Rick Sutcliffe and Rick Reuschel in the voting. source: mlb.com
- 11 Nov 1987 President Reagan nominates Judge Anthony Kennedy to Supreme Court: On November 11, 1987, President Ronald Reagan announced his nomination of Judge Anthony M. Kennedy to the U.S. Supreme Court, following the withdrawal of Judge Douglas Ginsburg due to past marijuana use. Kennedy, a federal appellate judge from California, was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on February 3, 1988, and served on the Court until his retirement in 2018. source: reaganlibrary.gov
- 12 Nov 1987 Teddy & Alice Broadway musical premiered at Minskoff Theatre: The musical 'Teddy & Alice' premiered on November 12, 1987, at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City. Directed by John Driver and choreographed by Donald Saddler, the production ran for 77 performances, closing on January 17, 1988. The cast featured Len Cariou as Theodore Roosevelt, Nancy Hume as Alice Roosevelt, and Beth Fowler as Edith Roosevelt. source: broadwayworld.com
- 13 Nov 1987 First condom commercial aired on British television: On November 13, 1987, Mates Condoms aired the first television advertisement for condoms in the UK. The campaign featured six commercials, five humorous and one serious, aimed at promoting condom use to prevent the spread of HIV. The ads addressed common social taboos associated with purchasing and using condoms, encouraging open discussions about safe sex practices. source: ibtimes.co.uk
- 15 Nov 1987 Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashes during takeoff in Denver snowstorm: On November 15, 1987, Continental Airlines Flight 1713, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14, crashed during takeoff from Denver's Stapleton International Airport amid a snowstorm. The accident resulted in 28 fatalities and 54 injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the crash to the captain's failure to have the aircraft deiced a second time after a delay before takeoff, leading to upper wing surface contamination and a loss of control during rapid takeoff rotation by the first officer. Contributing factors included the absence of regulatory or management controls governing operations by newly qualified flight crew members and confusion between the flight crew and air traffic controllers that led to the delay in departure. The safety issues discussed in the report include pilot training, aircraft deicing procedures, and wingtip vortex generation and lifespan. source: ntsb.gov
- 16 Nov 1987 Parlatino Treaty of Institutionalization signed in Lima, Peru: On November 16, 1987, the Treaty on the Institutionalization of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) was signed in Lima, Peru. This treaty established Parlatino as a permanent, unicameral institution comprising the national parliaments of Latin American countries, aiming to promote regional integration and cooperation. source: treaties.un.org
- 18 Nov 1987 King's Cross Underground Station Fire: On November 18, 1987, a devastating fire erupted at London's King's Cross Underground Station, resulting in 31 fatalities and numerous injuries. The blaze began when a discarded match ignited debris beneath a wooden escalator, rapidly engulfing the station's ticket hall. This tragedy led to significant safety reforms, including the replacement of wooden escalators and a strict smoking ban across the Underground network. source: bbc.com
- 19 Nov 1987 Max Headroom broadcast signal hijacking incident: On November 19, 1987, a mysterious hijacking of a television broadcast occurred in Chicago, where a person wearing a Max Headroom mask interrupted the signal of two local stations. The incident remains one of the most famous cases of broadcast signal intrusion, with the hijacker delivering nonsensical and surreal commentary. Despite investigations, the identity of the hijacker was never discovered, and the event has since become a part of pop culture lore. source: history.com
- 21 Nov 1987 Jonathan Pollard arrested for espionage: Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was arrested on November 21, 1985, for spying for Israel. He was convicted of passing classified information to the Israeli government, which led to significant diplomatic tensions. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 and was released in 2015 after serving 30 years. source: nytimes.com
- 22 Nov 1987 Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion incident: On November 22, 1987, two Chicago television stations, WGN-TV and WTTW, experienced broadcast signal intrusions by an unidentified individual wearing a Max Headroom mask. The first incident occurred during WGN-TV's 9:00 p.m. newscast, lasting about 25 seconds, while the second, more elaborate intrusion took place during WTTW's airing of 'Doctor Who,' lasting approximately 90 seconds. Despite investigations, the perpetrators were never identified. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 23 Nov 1987 T'Pau's 'China in Your Hand' tops UK Singles Chart: On November 8, 1987, T'Pau's 'China in Your Hand' reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, holding the top position for five consecutive weeks. The song was the band's most successful single, selling over 570,000 copies and ranking as the fifth best-selling single of 1987. source: officialcharts.com
- 24 Nov 1987 Li Peng appointed acting Premier of China: On November 24, 1987, China's National People's Congress approved the resignation of Premier Zhao Ziyang and appointed Vice Premier Li Peng as acting head of government. Li, a Soviet-trained electrical engineer, was known for his cautious approach to economic reforms and was considered a technocrat within the Chinese Communist Party. source: upi.com
- 25 Nov 1987 Typhoon Nina strikes Philippines, causing widespread devastation: Typhoon Nina, known locally as Typhoon Sisang, made landfall in the Philippines on November 25, 1987, with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (265 km/h). The typhoon caused extensive damage, particularly in the Bicol Region, resulting in at least 1,036 fatalities and leaving over 150,000 people homeless. The storm also led to significant agricultural losses and infrastructure damage, with total damages estimated at $54.5 million. source: aoml.noaa.gov
- 26 Nov 1987 Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 50-millionth guest: On November 26, 1987, Tokyo Disneyland celebrated a significant milestone by welcoming its 50-millionth guest. This achievement underscored the park's rapid growth and popularity since its opening in 1983. source: islandnet.com
- 27 Nov 1987 Les Misérables musical opens in Sydney: The Australian production of 'Les Misérables' opened at the Theatre Royal in Sydney on November 27, 1987. The cast featured Normie Rowe as Jean Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Anthony Warlow as Enjolras, Debbie Byrne as Fantine, Simon Burke as Marius, Marina Prior as Cosette, Jodie Gillies as Eponine, Barry Langrish as Thénardier, and Robyn Arthur as Madame Thénardier. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 28 Nov 1987 South African Airways Flight 295 disaster: On November 28, 1987, South African Airways Flight 295, a Boeing 747-200 Combi named Helderberg, crashed into the Indian Ocean after an in-flight fire in the cargo hold, resulting in the deaths of all 159 people on board. The official investigation, led by Judge Cecil Margo, was unable to determine the exact cause of the fire, leading to various theories and debates over the years. source: faa.gov
- 29 Nov 1987 Korean Air Flight 858 bombing occurred on November 29, 1987: Korean Air Flight 858 was a scheduled flight from Baghdad to Seoul that was bombed on November 29, 1987, by North Korean agents. The bombing resulted in the deaths of all 115 passengers and crew on board. This act of terrorism was part of North Korea's efforts to destabilize the South Korean government and has had lasting implications for inter-Korean relations. source: britannica.com
- 30 Nov 1987 Daniel Noboa's birth date: Daniel Noboa, the 48th President of Ecuador, was born on November 30, 1987, in Miami, Florida, USA. He is the son of businessman Álvaro Noboa and doctor Anabella Azín. source: bbc.com