1979 Newspapers

Historic Newspapers has the largest collection of historic newspapers in the world, featuring over 4 million originals from the nation’s most renowned news outlets.

The 1970s in America was a time of social change, political confusion, and violent conflicts. This fascinating decade is chronicled with our collection of authentic 1979 newspapers, from sources such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

FROM $39.99
1979 Newspapers

1979 Newspaper Headlines

If you’re curious about this year in particular, then 1979 newspaper articles are a great way to gain a deeper insight into the events that took place, within the context that they were happening. Important 1979 headlines include the collapse of the horrific Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, the assassination of Lord Mountbatten by the IRA, and the eradication of the Smallpox virus. An authentic 1979 newspaper is a wonderful way to celebrate the highs and lows of this year in history.

January 1, 1979 
The United States and the People’s Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations.

February 18, 1979
The Sahara Desert experiences snow for thirty minutes.

February 26, 1979 
A total solar eclipse occurs in North America.

March 29, 1979 
America’s most serious nuclear power plant accident occurs at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.

April 22, 1979
The Albert Einstein Memorial is unveiled at The National Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C.

May 25, 1979 
John Spenklelink is executed in Florida, in the first use of the electric chair in America after the death penalty was reintroduced in 1976.

May 25, 1979 
Etan Patz disappears in New York City at the age of 6, with the incident sparking the missing children’s movement.

June, 1979 
McDonald’s first introduces the Happy Meal.

June 2, 1979
Pope John Paul II visits his native Poland, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country.

June 11, 1979
John Wayne, American actor (b. 1907) dies from stomach cancer.

June 18, 1979 
President Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna.

July 8, 1979 
Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill.

July 16, 1979
Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam Hussein replaces him.

August 10, 1979 
Michael Jackson releases his first breakthrough album Off The Wall. The album sells 7 million copies in the United States alone, making it a 7x platinum album.

September 1, 1979
The U.S. ‘Pioneer 11’ becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn, when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 km.

September 23, 1979 
The largest anti-nuclear demonstration to date is held in New York City, when almost 200,000 people attend.

October 14, 1979 
A major gay rights march in the United States takes place in Washington D.C., involving many tens of thousands of people.

October 15, 1979 
The 6.4 Mw Imperial Valley earthquake affected Southern California and northern Baja California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), causing 91 injuries and $30 million in damage.

November 4, 1979
3,000 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take ninety hostages; 53 of whom are American. The radicals demand that the United States send the former Shah of Iran back to stand trial.

November 7, 1979 
Senator Ted Kennedy announces that he will challenge President Jimmy Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination.

November 14, 1979 
President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and U.S. banks in response to the hostage crisis.

December 6, 1979
The world premiere for Star Trek: The Motion Picture is held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

December 9, 1979
The eradication of the smallpox virus is certified. Smallpox is therefore the first human disease to be driven to extinction.

December 24, 1979
The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.

More from this Decade

ReviewsReviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5

based on 136 reviews

Michele Ames March 25 2024

Awesome artifact from the past. I appreciated how quickly it arrived.

Jake Seigle March 23 2024

Amazing!!!

tnoushin March 21 2024

Great product. Great packaging. Glad that you offer such products. It's amazing!

Cara Lowell March 21 2024

What a beautiful and sentimental gift it truly turned out to be. My father has it on display now, it was an amazing gift for his 75th birthday!

Michelle G. March 11 2024

A bit pricey for the smaller town papers, but I'm happy with my purchase overall.

customer March 4 2024

Came in great condition and made for a great 80th birthday gift.n

Lucia Hernandez March 1 2024

Best gift ever

Trish February 20 2024

Birthday boy … truly enjoyed!!!

Mac February 16 2024

35 year- old NYT’s arrived quickly and in great condition.