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This Year in History:
1988
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 31
January 31
Doug Williams leads Redskins to Super Bowl victory
On January 31, 1988, in San Diego, California, Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins—now known as theWashingtonCommanders—becomes the first African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, scoring four…
February 14
February 14
Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen falls after sister dies
On February 14, 1988, U.S. speed skater Dan Jansen, a favorite to win the gold medal in the 500‑meter race at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, falls during competition,…
February 24
February 24
Supreme Court defends right to satirize public figures
The U.S. Supreme Court votes 8‑0 to overturn the $200,000 settlement awarded to the Reverend Jerry Falwell for his emotional distress at being parodied in Hustler, a pornographic magazine. In…
March 7
March 7
Writers Guild of America strike begins
After rejecting what the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) said was a final offer, representatives of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) called a strike for all…
March 10
March 10
Disco sensation Andy Gibb dies at the age of 30
With his heart greatly weakened from years of cocaine abuse, musician Andy Gibb succumbs to an inflammatory heart virus on March 10, 1988. He was only 30 years old. With…
March 12
March 12
Hail causes stampede at soccer match in Nepal
On March 12, 1988, a sudden hail storm prompts fans at a soccer match inKathmandu, Nepal, to flee. The resulting stampede killed at least 70 people and injured hundreds more.…
March 16
March 16
President Reagan orders troops into Honduras
As part of his continuing effort to put pressure on the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua, President Ronald Reagan orders over 3,000 U.S. troops to Honduras, claiming that Nicaraguan soldiers…
April 11
April 11
Cher wins Best Actress Oscar for “Moonstruck”
On April 11, 1988, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the actress and singer Cher collects the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Moonstruck (1988). Cherilyn…
April 14
April 14
Soviets agree to withdraw from Afghanistan
Representatives of the USSR, Afghanistan, the United States and Pakistan sign an agreement calling for the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan. In exchange for an end to the disputed…
April 28
April 28
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 miraculously lands after losing roof
On April 28, 1988, a seemingly routine, 35‑minute flight from Hilo to Honolulu turns into terror when an 18‑foot‑long section of the upper fuselage suddenly tears off Aloha Airlines Flight…
May 9
May 9
Woman convicted of killing two in Excedrin tampering
Stella Nickell is convicted on two counts of murder by a Seattle, Washington, jury. She was the first person to be found guilty of violating the Federal Anti‑Tampering Act after…
May 15
May 15
Soviets begin withdrawal from Afghanistan
More than eight years after they intervened in Afghanistan to support the procommunist government, Soviet troops begin their withdrawal. The event marked the beginning of the end to a long,…
June 25
June 25
Teenager Debbie Gibson earns a #1 hit with “Foolish Beat”
On June 25, 1988, 17‑year‑old Debbie Gibson becomes the youngest person ever to write, produce and perform her own #1 pop single when her single “Foolish Beat” reaches the top…
July 3
July 3
U.S. warship downs Iranian passenger jet
In the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy cruiser Vincennes shoots down an Iranian passenger jet that it mistakes for a hostile Iranian fighter aircraft. Two missiles were fired from the…
July 20
July 20
“Die Hard” debuts, makes Bruce Willis a movie star
On July 20, 1988, Die Hard, an action film starring Bruce Willis as wisecracking New York City cop John McClane, opens in theaters across the United States. A huge box‑office…
July 23
July 23
Guns N’ Roses make popular breakthrough with “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
On July 23, 1988, the band Guns N’ Roses made its big popular breakthrough when their first hit single, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” entered the Billboard Top 40. In the…
August 8
August 8
Gangsta rap hits the mainstream with the release of N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton”
On August 8, 1988, hip hop group N.W.A—”Niggaz With Attitude” launch their debut album, Straight Outta Compton. The recording, which would go triple platinum, revolutionized the hip hop genre, bringing…
August 8
August 8
Lights go on at Wrigley
On August 8, 1988, the Chicago Cubs host the first night game in the history of Wrigley Field. The first‑ever night game in professional baseball took place nearly 60 years…
August 9
August 9
Hockey’s “Great One” gets traded
On August 9, 1988, Edmonton Oilers center Wayne Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley in return for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas…
August 18
August 18
A Seattle judge involved in a sex scandal dies by suicide
The Honorable Gary M. Little shoots himself just hours before the Seattle Post‑Intelligencer releases an article accusing him of abusing his power by sexually exploiting juvenile defendants who appeared before…
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