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Major Events of March 1998: 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 March 1998 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of March 1998: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Mar 1998 Titanic reaches $1 billion box office milestone: On March 1, 1998, the film Titanic became the first movie to gross over $1 billion at the box office. This milestone marked a significant achievement in film history and solidified the movie's status as a cultural phenomenon. source: boxofficemojo.com
  • 03 Mar 1998 Russian Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhailov dismissed: On March 3, 1998, Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed Viktor Mikhailov, the Minister of Atomic Energy, from his position. Mikhailov had been overseeing Russia's nuclear energy sector since 1992. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 04 Mar 1998 Supreme Court landmark decision on same-sex sexual harassment: On March 4, 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case regarding same-sex sexual harassment in the workplace. This decision established that sexual harassment laws apply regardless of the genders involved, marking a significant advancement in workplace rights. source: scotusblog.com
  • 05 Mar 1998 First woman space shuttle commander selected: On March 5, 1998, NASA announced that Eileen Collins would become the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. This historic selection marked a significant milestone for women in aerospace and inspired future generations of female astronauts. source: nasa.gov
  • 06 Mar 1998 Austria to return Nazi-confiscated artworks: On March 6, 1998, Austria announced plans to return artworks that had been confiscated by the Nazis during World War II. This decision was part of a broader effort to address historical injustices and restore cultural heritage to rightful owners. source: nytimes.com
  • 08 Mar 1998 Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers linebacker, dies at 61: Ray Nitschke, the Hall of Fame linebacker who anchored the Green Bay Packers defense during their 1960s championship era, died of a heart attack in Venice, Florida, at age 61. source: packers.com
  • 09 Mar 1998 Sitaram Kesri resigns as Congress Party President: On March 9, 1998, Sitaram Kesri resigned as president of the Indian National Congress, paving the way for Sonia Gandhi to assume leadership. Kesri, 78, did not provide a specific reason for his resignation but expressed support for Gandhi's potential leadership. Gandhi, 51, had been a prominent campaigner for the party in the 1998 parliamentary elections, though the party did not improve its seat count significantly. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 10 Mar 1998 US military begins anthrax vaccination program: The Department of Defense initiated the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) to protect military personnel against potential biological threats, starting with troops deployed to high-risk areas. source: dvidshub.net
  • 12 Mar 1998 Beatrice Wood passes away at 105: Beatrice Wood, the American artist and studio potter known for her contributions to the American art scene, died at the age of 105. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 13 Mar 1998 Groundbreaking astronomical discovery: universe's accelerating expansion: On March 13, 1998, astronomers announced evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, a finding that reshaped our understanding of cosmology. This discovery was pivotal in the study of dark energy. source: nasa.gov
  • 14 Mar 1998 Northern Iran earthquake: A powerful earthquake struck northern Iran on March 14, 1998, causing significant destruction and loss of life. The disaster prompted a national and international response for aid and recovery efforts. source: usgs.gov
  • 15 Mar 1998 Titanic tops U.S. box office with $17.6 million: On March 15, 1998, 'Titanic' led the U.S. box office with a weekend gross of $17.6 million, marking its 13th consecutive week at number one. The film's cumulative domestic earnings reached approximately $471.4 million by that date. source: upi.com
  • 17 Mar 1998 Democratic Fund-Raiser Pleads Guilty in Campaign Finance Scandal: An unnamed Democratic fund-raiser entered a guilty plea related to charges in a campaign finance scandal, highlighting ongoing issues of financial impropriety in political fundraising.
  • 19 Mar 1998 China's major economic reforms announced: On March 19, 1998, China officially announced a series of major economic reforms aimed at modernizing its economy and improving efficiency. These reforms included restructuring state-owned enterprises, implementing market-oriented policies, and encouraging foreign investment. The goal was to transition from a centrally planned economy to a more market-driven one, fostering growth and global integration. source: reuters.com
  • 22 Mar 1998 OPEC oil production cut agreement: On March 22, 1998, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and non-OPEC member Mexico agreed to reduce oil production by a total of 1.5 million barrels per day to stabilize global oil prices. This agreement was later affirmed by all 11 OPEC members and additional non-OPEC countries. source: news.bbc.co.uk
  • 23 Mar 1998 70th Academy Awards ceremony: The 70th Academy Awards ceremony was held on March 23, 1998, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Hosted by Billy Crystal, the event honored films released in 1997, with "Titanic" winning 11 awards, including Best Picture. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 24 Mar 1998 Jonesboro school shooting tragedy: On March 24, 1998, a tragic school shooting occurred in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where two students opened fire at Westside Middle School, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to ten others. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 25 Mar 1998 Major earthquake in Balleny Islands region: On March 25, 1998, a major earthquake occurred in the Balleny Islands region of Antarctica. The earthquake was significant, with a magnitude of 8.1, and was felt across the region. source: iris.edu
  • 26 Mar 1998 Oued Bouaïcha massacre during Algerian Civil War: In the municipality of Bouira Lahdab, near Had Sahary, 47 people, including 27 children under sixteen, are killed by about fifteen men carrying axes and knives. Three young women are also kidnapped. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 27 Mar 1998 FDA approves Viagra for treating erectile dysfunction: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra, a medication developed by Pfizer, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. source: fda.gov
  • 29 Mar 1998 Tennessee wins 1998 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: On March 29, 1998, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers secured their sixth NCAA Women's Basketball Championship by defeating the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters 93-75 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. This victory capped an undefeated season for Tennessee, finishing with a 39-0 record. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 30 Mar 1998 Kentucky wins 60th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: On March 30, 1998, the University of Kentucky Wildcats clinched their 60th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship by defeating the Utah Utes 78-69 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This victory marked Kentucky's sixth national title in men's basketball. source: en.wikipedia.org