On this day
Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
Portrait 1080 × 1920 PNG · created on your device
LEAD: The first fiber-optic telephone cable across the Atlantic goes into service today, vastly increasing the number of calls that can be placed to Europe at one time.
LEAD: Hedda Nussbaum testified yesterday that she lied to the police last year about Lisa Steinberg's injuries to provide a ''cover story'' for Joel B. Steinberg, her former lover who is charged with beating to death the 6-year-old child they raised.
LEAD: When Lyn Conlan's personal problems began interfering with her job at the U.S.T. corporate headquarters here, she met with the newest therapist in the company's employee assistance program: a computer nicknamed Dr. Bob.
LEAD: In a stunning reversal at a well-regarded regional bank-holding company, the First Fidelity Bancorporation said last night that it would lose $145 million to $190 million in the current quarter because of bad loans and that its chief executive and a vice chairman had resigned.
LEAD: Simone de Beauvoir, writing in 1948: ''In Bedford Street is the only place in New York where you can read and work through the day, and talk through the night, without arousing curiosity or criticism: Chamby's.''
Music on My Birthday
The Top 50 albums for the chart week of December 14, 1988, covering December 14, 1988.
U2
Anita Baker
Soundtrack
Guns N' Roses
Bon Jovi
1988Nicolas Batum, French basketball player[†]
Nicolas Madelin Victor Andre Batum is a French professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also a member of the French national team and earned a silver medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
1988Nate Ebner, American football player[†]
Nathan Ebner is an American former professional football player who was a safety and special teamer in the National Football League (NFL). He was a rugby sevens player for the United States national rugby sevens team.
1988Vanessa Hudgens, American actress and singer[†]
Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her mainstream recognition. Through Hollywood Records she released two albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008).
1988Hayato Sakamoto, Japanese baseball player[†]
Hayato Sakamoto is a Japanese professional baseball shortstop with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
1988Jean Schramme, Belgian mercenary, farmer, and convicted murderer (born 1929)[†]
Jean "Black Jack" Schramme was a Belgian mercenary and planter. He managed a vast estate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 1967.
In 1988, the world population was approximately 5,141,992,542 people[†]