News of the Day: 1979

Friday, Jan. 26, 2001 | 9:43 a.m.

Feb. 7: Khomeini Government Celebrated

Story: Thousands of Iranians marched peacefully through the Iranian capital Tuesday to celebrate the 1-day-old "provisional government" of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar pushed what could be his own government's last major pieces of legislation through Parliament, denounced as "illegal" by the Moslem religious leader.

March 31: Thousands Fleeing Pa. Town as Reactor Nears 'Meltdown'

Story: Thousands of residents packed up and fled their homes near the Three Mile Island power plant Friday while nuclear engineers sought a way to shut down its overheated reactor in the next few days without setting off a catastrophic "meltdown."

May 14: Britons Vote In First Woman PM

Story: Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party won a sizeable victory Thursday in Britain's general election.

June 12: American Hero John Wayne Dies

Story: John Wayne, the American Hero, died of cancer Monday. He was 72 years old and fought for life until the very end.

Nov. 5: Iranians Take Over U.S. Embassy

Story: Moslem students battled U.S. Marines for three hours and seized the U.S. Embassy Sunday, taking at least 59 Americans hostage, to press demands that the deposed shah be extradited to Iran to face Islamic justice.

Dec. 9: Sandaled Nun Accepts Nobel for Poor

Story: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, winner of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, arrived Saturday to accept the award in the name of "the poorest of the poor" who she has served for the last 30 years.