What happened in December 1977?
The top front-page story of each day in December 1977, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Dec 1🌍 Gifts to Nursing Home – Village Nursing Home raised $101,632 to avoid closure, surpassing its $100,000 goal just before the deadline.
- Dec 2🎭 Nutcracker Ballet Opens – The New York City Ballet launched its annual monthlong run of 'The Nutcracker' at the New York State Theater, delighting fans.
- Dec 3🌏 Thailand, Vietnam Diplomacy – Thailand and Vietnam announced plans to establish full diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors, marking a significant step in regional cooperation.
- Dec 4🌍 Carter to Visit Egypt – President Carter is reported to plan a visit to Egypt around January 4 or 5, according to a Yugoslav report from Cairo.
- Dec 5👑 Bokassa Crowned Emperor – Jean-Bedel Bokassa crowned himself Emperor of the Central African Empire in a lavish ceremony at a stadium.
- Dec 6🚢 Navy Denies Salvage Aid – The U.S. Navy declined to fund the salvage operation for the Alexander Hamilton, the last historic Hudson River sidewheel steamboat.
- Dec 7🌍 Quake in Soviet Central Asia – A 7-point earthquake struck Tashkent in Soviet Central Asia, reported by the Soviet press agency. No immediate details on damage or casualties.
- Dec 8🌋 Mount Etna Erupts – Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted, spewing jets of molten lava into the air. No immediate threat to nearby residents reported.
- Dec 9🌍 Ice Shelf Pierced – Engineers have successfully drilled through 1,380 feet of ice in Antarctica, reaching a hidden extension of the Pacific Ocean.
- Dec 10🚀 Soviet Space Launch – Two Soviet cosmonauts were launched into space aboard Soyuz 26 in an attempt to dock with an orbiting research station.
- Dec 11🔬 Nobel Prizes Awarded – The Nobel Prizes were presented today, with Americans leading the list of laureates in various categories.
- Dec 12🚀 Soviet Astronauts Dock – Soyuz 26 successfully docked with Salyut 6, enabling a two-man crew to begin experiments in orbit 135 to 170 miles above Earth.
- Dec 13🌍 Kenya Bans Trophy Trade – Kenya halted the multimillion-dollar trade in animal skins and trophies to protect its endangered wildlife.
- Dec 14🏛️ Cairo Conference Begins – The Cairo conference for Middle East peace negotiations commenced, featuring key talks between Israel and Egypt.
- Dec 15❤️ First Artificial Heart – Surgeons announced the successful use of a newly developed total artificial heart in a groundbreaking medical procedure.
- Dec 16🦠 Smallpox Eradicated – The World Health Organization declared the Asian strain of smallpox officially eradicated, marking a significant public health milestone.
- Dec 17🔥 Supertankers Collide – Two supertankers collided off South Africa, catching fire. Officials are confident firefighting efforts will prevent explosions and oil spills.
- Dec 18🏨 OPEC Price Talks Open – OPEC's ministerial meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, is set to open, focusing on oil pricing and production strategies.
- Dec 19✈️ Jet Crash in Madeira – A Swiss airliner crash-landed near Madeira, resulting in 13 fatalities, 23 missing, and 21 survivors, according to maritime authorities.
- Dec 20🚀 Soviet Astronaut Spacewalk – Georgi Grechko, a Soviet astronaut, completed a spacewalk lasting nearly 90 minutes outside the Salyut-6 space station.
- Dec 21🔬 Crustacean Found In Antarctica – Scientists discovered a crustacean and fossils hidden for 120,000 years beneath thick ice in Antarctica.
- Dec 22🌍 Iran Earthquake Casualties – An earthquake in Iran's coal region has resulted in at least 519 deaths and 671 injuries, with many victims trapped in collapsed buildings.
- Dec 23🌍 Iran Earthquake Toll – The death toll from an earthquake in Iran neared 600, with floods hampering rescue efforts in affected villages.
- Dec 24🔬 Solar Cell Patent Granted – RCA Corporation received a key patent for solar cells aimed at converting sunlight into electricity at competitive costs by the mid-1980s.
- Dec 25🎄 Christmas in Bethlehem – In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, crowds gather in Manger Square, blending Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures during the festive season.
- Dec 26🏛️ Snoopy at the Louvre – Famous characters like Snoopy and Raggedy Ann find a home in the majestic halls of the Louvre, showcasing cultural crossover.
- Dec 27🌌 Soviet Space Station Plans – The Soviet Union announced plans to establish a permanent scientific space station following recent astronaut launches.
- Dec 28🎭 Chaplin Interred Privately – Charlie Chaplin, the iconic filmmaker and actor, was buried in a private ceremony in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.
- Dec 29👑 Pope Backs Crown Return – Pope Paul reportedly supports the U.S. decision to return the crown of St. Stephen to Hungary, coordinating with the Vatican.
- Dec 30🏛️ Carter's Presidency Begins – President Carter and Rosalynn walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, marking the Democrats' return to the White House.
- Dec 31✈️ Plane Crash Kills 24 – All 24 people aboard an Ecuadorean airliner died when it crashed into a mountain in southern Ecuador.
Happy Birthday! 1977 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1977 in real headlines. See the 1977 book →
Born in December? Pick the day
Every birthday in December has its own On This Day in Headlines book: