Nov 20,1942 - Present
THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
1978 Air India Flight 855 crashed into the Arabian Sea due to instrument failure, spatial disorientation, and pilot error, killing all 213 people on board.
1978 Paramilitary forces open fire on peaceful protesting workers in Multan, Pakistan, known as the 1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills.
1978 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires blood donations to be labeled "paid" or "volunteer" donors.
1978 The European Court of Human Rights finds the United Kingdom guilty of mistreating prisoners in Northern Ireland, though not of torture.
1978 The final Volkswagen Beetle manufactured in Germany rolls off the production line at VW's Emden plant. Although production in Latin America continues, this marks the end of an era for the iconic "Bug" in its place of origin.
1978 The Soviet satellite Kosmos 954, containing a nuclear reactor, disintegrates in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories, sparking environmental concerns.
1978 The Crown of St. Stephen (also known as the Holy Crown of Hungary) was placed on public display in Hungary on January 31, 1978, following its return from the United States, where it had been held since World War II.
1978 U.S. Senate proceedings are broadcast on radio for the first time, enhancing transparency and accessibility in government.
1978 A harrowing event unfolds as Japan Air Lines Flight 350 crashes near Haneda Airport in an attempted pilot mass murder-suicide, resulting in the loss of 24 lives.
1978 Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314's tragic crash at Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport in Canada claims 42 lives, with seven survivors bearing witness to the harrowing ordeal.
1978 Tragedy struck in Sydney, Australia, when a bomb exploded in a refuse truck outside the Hilton Hotel, claiming the lives of two refuse collectors and a policeman.
1978 Chicago witnesses the birth of the first computer bulletin board system (CBBS), marking a pioneering moment in the digital age.
1978 Tragedy strikes Northern Ireland as the Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant near Belfast, claiming the lives of 12 individuals and inflicting severe injuries on 30 others, all of them Protestants.
1978 A dramatic incident unfolds at Larnaca International Airport when Egyptian forces launch an unauthorized intervention in a hijacking, leading to a confrontation with Cypriot authorities and resulting in the death of 15 Egyptian commandos and the destruction of their C-130 transport plane.
1978 The Yuba County Five disappear in California. Four of their bodies are found four months later.
1978 In a highly unusual and intriguing incident in 1978, the coffin of the iconic actor Charlie Chaplin was stolen from his grave in Switzerland, leaving the world puzzled and captivated by the mystery.
1978 Space exploration takes a significant leap forward as the Landsat 3 satellite is successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, contributing to Earth observation and environmental studies.
1978 President Soeharto inaugurated the Jagorawi Toll Road, Indonesia's first toll highway, connecting Jakarta, Bogor, and Ciawi in West Java, reshaping the nation's infrastructure.
1978 A tragic event unfolded in 1978 during the Coastal Road massacre when Fatah hijackers targeted an Israeli bus, resulting in the loss of at least 37 lives and injuring more than 70 individuals. This incident prompted Israel's Operation Litani.
1978 Operation Litani, a seven-day military campaign by the Israel Defense Forces, aimed at invading and occupying southern Lebanon, marking a significant event in regional geopolitics.
1978 The signing of a truce between Somalia and Ethiopia marked the end of the Ethio-Somali War, offering a glimmer of hope for regional stability.
1978 Italy was gripped by fear as former Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped and subsequently met a tragic end at the hands of his captors.
1978 A tragic aviation disaster struck Bulgaria as a Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 crashed near Gabare, claiming the lives of 73 souls.
1978 Environmental catastrophe loomed large as the supertanker Amoco Cadiz split in two after grounding on Portsall Rocks, causing the largest oil spill in history at that time off the coast of Brittany.
1978 Karl Wallenda's tragic fall from a tightrope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of high-wire performance.
1978 On this day in 1978, the first UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) troops arrived in Lebanon for a peacekeeping mission along the Blue Line. This marked the beginning of an international effort to stabilize the region and promote peace.
1978 The US Supreme Court delivered a significant judgment on this date, with far-reaching implications, although the details remain undisclosed.
1978 The neutron bomb's development is halted as President Jimmy Carter cancels the project, a decision that reverberates through global arms control discussions.
1978 The assassination of Mir Akbar Khyber set in motion the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan, reshaping the nation's political landscape.
1978 John Ehrlichman, a former aide to U.S. President Richard Nixon embroiled in the Watergate scandal, regains freedom after serving 18 months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Safford, Arizona.
1978 Afghanistan experiences a seismic political shift as the Saur Revolution unfolds, culminating in the assassination of Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
1978 Willow Island, West Virginia, becomes the site of the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history as a cooling tower under construction collapses, claiming the lives of 51 construction workers at the Pleasants Power Station.
1978 Afghanistan experiences a seismic shift as President Mohammed Daoud Khan is overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by pro-communist rebels, setting the stage for future conflicts.
1978 Japanese adventurer Naomi Uemura achieves an extraordinary feat, becoming the first person to reach the North Pole alone, highlighting human determination and exploration.
1978 In the nascent realm of cyberspace, the digital age takes its first steps towards ubiquity as the inaugural instance of unsolicited bulk commercial email, destined to be known as "spam," is sent by a marketing representative of Digital Equipment Corporation, marking the dawn of a new era in communication.
1978 Southern Angola witnessed a tragic event in 1978 when the South African Defence Force launched an attack on a SWAPO base at Cassinga, resulting in a significant loss of life.
1978 The world of mountaineering witnessed an extraordinary achievement as Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler reached the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
1978 Kolwezi, the mining hub of Shaba province in Zaire, fell to rebels in 1978, prompting a plea for international intervention from the local government, and setting the stage for a complex conflict in the region.
1978 Northwestern University witnesses a startling event as the Unabomber orchestrates the first of a series of bombings, resulting in minor injuries and setting the stage for a nationwide manhunt.
1978 "A momentous decision unfolds as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens its priesthood to ""all worthy men,"" marking the end of a 148-year-old policy of excluding black men.
1978 In the realm of student politics in Pakistan, Altaf Hussain founds the All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) at Karachi University. This organization emerges as a significant political movement, contributing to the political landscape of the country.
1978 King Hussein of Jordan marries American Lisa Halaby, who adopts the name Queen Noor, shaping the narrative of Jordan's royal family.
1978 Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as "Jon" in 1976, entered nationwide syndication, bringing humor and laughter to countless readers.
1978 The world of musical theater was forever changed in 1978 when the original production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, "Evita," premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. This groundbreaking production brought the life of Eva Perón to the stage in a memorable and transformative way.
1978 Astronomer James W. Christy's discovery of Charon, Pluto's first satellite, at the United States Naval Observatory marked a significant milestone in the study of our solar system, deepening our understanding of the distant dwarf planet.
1978 The rainbow flag, a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, soared high for the first time during the vibrant San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, a momentous occasion in the ongoing fight for equal rights and acceptance.
1978 Air Canada Flight 189, bound for Toronto, overruns the runway and crashes into the Etobicoke Creek ravine, resulting in tragic losses and emphasizing the importance of aviation safety measures.
1978 The United States Supreme Court, in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, made a historic ruling that barred quota systems in college admissions, shaping affirmative action policies in higher education.
1978 The Northern Territory in Australia was granted self-government in 1978, enabling the territory to have greater control over its affairs. This marked a significant shift in governance within Australia.
1978 The Solomon Islands gain independence from the United Kingdom, marking a significant moment in the nation's history.
1978 Mauritania experienced a bloodless coup d'état as President Moktar Ould Daddah was ousted from power, reshaping the nation's political landscape.
1978 A devastating catastrophe strikes the coastal campsite of Los Alfaques in Tarragona, Spain, as a truck carrying liquid gas crashes and explodes, claiming the lives of 216 tourists and marking a dark day in Spanish history.
1978 The Cerro Maravilla murders in 1978, where Puerto Rican police shot two nationalists, were a controversial and tragic incident that had profound political implications.
1978 The birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978 marked a historic milestone as the first human conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), opening new possibilities in reproductive medicine.
1978 Okinawa Prefecture's historic shift to left-hand traffic, reshaping the region's roadways and driving culture.
1978 U.S. President Jimmy Carter's declaration of a federal emergency at Love Canal underscored the urgent need to address toxic waste disposal issues in the country.
1978 The tragic loss of three members of the Ulrich family in 1978 AD due to an accident led to a significant legal battle known as the Ford Pinto litigation, raising important questions about product safety and corporate responsibility.
1978 A harrowing event unfolded in 1978 when a terrorist attack claimed the lives of 150 Palestinians in Beirut, Lebanon, during the tumultuous second phase of the Lebanese Civil War.
1978 Double Eagle II etched its name in history books on August 17, 1978, by becoming the first balloon to successfully cross the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, a daring journey that captured the world's imagination.
1978 Iran grapples with unspeakable tragedy as the Cinema Rex fire claims the lives of more than 400 individuals, a somber chapter in the nation's history, etched in collective memory.
1978 The FLSN's seizure of the National Congress of Nicaragua and the hostage crisis reflects the tumultuous nature of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
1978 The passing of the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment by the U.S. Congress represents an unfulfilled quest for full representation in American democracy.
1978 The papal conclave ushers in a new era as Albino Luciani is elected as Pope John Paul I, bringing fresh hope and vision to the Vatican.
1978 : During the Rhodesian Bush War, a group of ZIPRA guerrillas tragically shot down civilian Vickers Viscount aircraft (Air Rhodesia Flight 825) with a Soviet-made SAM Strela-2. This catastrophe resulted in significant loss of life.
1978 The Camp David Accords in 1978 brought together Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat for peace discussions at Camp David, Maryland, setting the stage for diplomatic efforts to address Middle East conflicts.
1978 Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was assassinated in London in 1978 by means of a ricin pellet fired from a specially-designed umbrella, a mysterious and notorious event during the Cold War.
1978 The Black Friday massacre in Tehran, where soldiers clashed with protesters, marked a turning point in Iran's history, leading to the eventual end of the monarchy.
1978 Muhammad Ali achieved a historic milestone by winning a rematch against Leon Spinks at the Superdome in New Orleans, becoming the first boxer to claim the world heavyweight title three times.
1978 Eight daring souls make a daring escape from East Germany to the West, employing a homemade hot air balloon in a daring bid for freedom.
1978 The Camp David Accords were signed by Israel and Egypt on September 17, 1978, under the mediation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter. This historic peace agreement had far-reaching implications for Middle East stability.
1978 The Solomon Islands join the United Nations.
1978 Tragedy struck in 1978 when PSA Flight 182, a Boeing 727, collided mid-air with a Cessna 172, resulting in a devastating crash in San Diego.
1978 Aarno Lamminparras hijacks Finnair Flight 405 in Oulu, Finland.
1978 Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation, gains independence from the United Kingdom, marking a momentous step toward self-determination and sovereignty for its people in the South Pacific.
1978 Ken Warby set a world water speed record of 275.97 knots at Blowering Dam, Australia, showcasing remarkable aquatic prowess.
1978 Pope John Paul II's election in 1978 marked a historic moment as the first non-Italian pontiff in centuries, bringing new perspectives to the papacy.
1978 The world of aviation is shrouded in mystery as Australian civilian pilot Frederick Valentich vanishes over the Bass Strait south of Melbourne, after reporting contact with an unidentified aircraft.
1978 Dominica gains its independence from the United Kingdom.
1978 France conducts the Aphrodite nuclear test, marking the 25th test in a series of 29 from 1975, as the world grapples with the complexities of nuclear deterrence.
1978 A tragic air disaster unfolded as a chartered Douglas DC-8 crashed near Colombo, Sri Lanka, on this date, claiming the lives of 183 individuals, a solemn day in aviation history.
1978 The maiden flight of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet adds a powerful asset to the US military's arsenal and air superiority capabilities.
1978 The tragic mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, orchestrated by Jim Jones, serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of cults.
1978 Sri Lanka bears the brunt of a devastating cyclone, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,000 lives in the country's eastern region. This natural disaster serves as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictable force.
1978 The Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 comes into effect, reshaping Europe's broadcasting landscape by reallocating longwave and mediumwave frequencies. This technical adjustment mirrors the continent's evolving communications needs.
1978 A dark chapter in San Francisco's history unfolds as Mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former supervisor Dan White, leaving a lasting impact on the city's politics and LGBTQ+ rights movement.
1978 In the Turkish village of Fis, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is founded, marking the inception of a significant political and social movement in the region.
1978 Following the tragic murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein assumes the role of San Francisco's first female mayor, marking a historic moment in American politics.
1978 Spain enters a new era of governance as its citizens overwhelmingly ratify the Spanish Constitution of 1978 through a momentous referendum.
1978 In 1978, Arab nations united in solidarity against various regional issues, reshaping the dynamics of the Middle East and impacting global geopolitics.
1978 Notorious mobster Jimmy Burke orchestrates the audacious Lufthansa heist in 1978, perpetrating the largest cash robbery in American history and leaving an indelible mark on organized crime lore.
1978 U.S. President Jimmy Carter's announcement of recognizing the People's Republic of China and severing diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) marks a significant shift in international relations.
1978 A transformative moment in Chinese history as Deng Xiaoping leads the Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, heralding a new era of economic reform.
1978 Tragedy strikes as Alitalia Flight 4128 crashes into the Tyrrhenian Sea during its approach to Falcone Borsellino Airport in Palermo, Italy, claiming the lives of 108 souls.
1978 The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally commenced, paving the way for a renowned international off-road endurance race.
1978 Spain's transition to democracy is realized, marking the end of a 40-year fascist dictatorship and heralding a new era of political freedom and governance.
1978 The Blizzard of 1978, a powerful Nor'easter, descends upon New England with relentless winds and heavy snowfall, becoming one of the region's most infamous natural disasters in history.
1978 A historic milestone in international patent law, the first international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty are filed, streamlining the patent process for inventors around the world.
1978 The streets of Tbilisi echo with the voices of thousands of Georgians protesting Soviet attempts to alter the constitutional status of the Georgian language, a demonstration of resilience against suppression.
