On this day

December 13, 1989

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Portrait 1080 × 1920 PNG · created on your device

Filter by:

Headlines from December 13, 1989

More Pessimistic Dinkins Warns Of Fewer New Programs for City

By Todd S. Purdum

LEAD: Mayor-elect David N. Dinkins, adopting the fiscal pessimism that a faltering economy has forced upon him, warned New Yorkers yesterday not to expect major increases in city services next year and said, ''Government simply cannot afford to do all that needs to be done.''

Metropolitan Desk1287 words

Hanover Chooses New President

By Michael Quint

LEAD: The Manufacturers Hanover Corporation raided the senior management of its archrival, the Chemical Bank, yesterday, naming Thomas S. Johnson as president of Manufacturers Hanover. The bank's chairman, John F. McGillicuddy, said, ''We look to Tom as my successor.''

Financial Desk741 words

18 Nations Ban Steel Subsidies

By Clyde H. Farnsworth, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: The Bush Administration announced today that countries that provide two-thirds of the steel imported into America had signed agreements to end Government subsidies like low-cost loans and export incentive payments that help their steelmakers.

Financial Desk866 words

Deutsche Bank Names New Leader

By Ferdinand Protzman, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: Deutsche Bank A.G., West Germany's largest commercial bank, today named Hilmar Kopper as the successor to Alfred Herrhausen, who was murdered by terrorists on Nov. 30. In his new job, Mr. Kopper will head the biggest bank and one of the most powerful industrial empires in West Germany.

Financial Desk789 words

Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of December 13, 1989, covering December 13, 1989.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Storm Front by Billy Joel

    Storm Front

    Billy Joel

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    7
  2. 2
    Album cover for Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli

    Girl You Know It's True

    Milli Vanilli

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    39
  3. 3
    Album cover for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson

    Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814

    Janet Jackson

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    11
  4. 4
    Album cover for Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul

    Forever Your Girl

    Paula Abdul

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    74
  5. 5
    Album cover for Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block

    Hangin' Tough

    New Kids on the Block

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    69

Notable Births

Hellen Obiri

1989Hellen Obiri, Kenyan runner[†]

Hellen Onsando Obiri is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. She is the only woman to have won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country. Obiri is a two-time Olympic 5,000 metres silver medallist from the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she also placed fourth over the 10,000 metres. She is a two-time world champion after winning the 5,000 m in 2017 and again in 2019, when she set a new championship record. Obiri also took world bronze for the 1,500 metres in 2013 and silver in the 10,000 m in 2022. She won the 3,000 metres race at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, claimed silver in 2014, and placed fourth in 2018. She is the 2019 World Cross Country champion. Obiri triumphed in the 2023 Boston Marathon, her second marathon race. She places fifth in the half marathon on the world all-time list.

Katherine Schwarzenegger

1989Katherine Schwarzenegger, American author[†]

Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger Pratt is an American author.

Taylor Swift

1989Taylor Swift, American singer-songwriter[†]

Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and cultural impact, Swift is one of the world's best-selling artists, the highest-grossing performer, the richest female musician, and the first billionaire with music as the main income.

Historical Events

The Troubles

1989The Troubles: Attack on Derryard checkpoint: The Provisional Irish Republican Army launches an attack on a British Army temporary vehicle checkpoint near Rosslea, Northern Ireland. Two British soldiers are killed and two others are wounded.[†]

The Troubles were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Although the Troubles mostly took place in Northern Ireland, at times violence spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.

Historical Context for December 13, 1989

In 1989, the world population was approximately 5,234,431,732 people[†]