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Good morning. Remember the little Monday-morning ritual of folding a newspaper, tuning a radio and waiting for the kitchen to wake up around you? We’ll visit that world in a moment—with a speech that briefly looked beyond the planet. First, September 21 brings books, storms, courts and a spacecraft’s final dive.
📅 On This Day — September 21
1792 — France abolished the monarchy. The National Convention ended royal rule and moved the Revolution into the era of the French Republic.
1897 — “Yes, Virginia” appeared in print. The New York Sun published its famous response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s question about Santa Claus.
1937 — The Hobbit reached readers. J.R.R. Tolkien’s story of Bilbo Baggins was first published, opening the door to Middle-earth for generations of readers.
1938 — A devastating hurricane struck New England. The storm raced into Long Island and southern New England, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds dead.
1981 — Sandra Day O’Connor won Senate confirmation. Senators voted 99–0 to confirm the first woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.
2003 — Galileo completed its journey. NASA deliberately sent the spacecraft into Jupiter, ending a mission that transformed what scientists knew about the giant planet and its moons.
From a small question in a newspaper to a spacecraft’s last signal, September 21 has a habit of widening the frame. Now let’s step into 1987, when a president carried an unexpectedly cosmic thought experiment to the United Nations.
⏪ REWIND: 1987
📰 The Headlines
🗞️ Reagan looked beyond the planet at the United Nations
On September 21, 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Much of the speech stayed firmly on Earth: arms reductions, regional conflicts, human rights and the relationship between freedom and peace.
Then Reagan introduced a striking thought experiment. He wondered how quickly the world’s differences might recede if humanity faced a threat from beyond Earth. It was not a claim about extraterrestrials; it was a rhetorical way to ask what people might recognize in one another if old divisions suddenly looked smaller.
The moment has lasted because it sounded so unlike the usual language of diplomacy. In a Cold War hall built for nations to argue and negotiate, Reagan briefly asked his audience to imagine speaking as one planet.
🎬 At the Movies
Fatal Attraction opened that weekend and immediately claimed the top spot at the domestic box office. Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer anchored a psychological thriller whose tension would keep audiences talking long after the credits—and eventually carry the film to six Academy Award nominations.
🎵 On the Charts
On the Billboard Hot 100 dated September 19, Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett reached No. 1 with “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” The duet served as the first single from Bad, arriving before the album’s sharper-edged title track and reminding listeners how quietly a blockbuster era could begin.
🏁 In Sports
On September 21, the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 43–24 on Monday Night Football. Ken O’Brien threw for 313 yards, while Johnny Hector ran for two touchdowns as the Jets broke the game open after halftime.
📺 On Television
Monday prime time in 1987 offered improvised rescues, a full shelf of CBS comedies, a television movie and a division rivalry. Affiliate schedules could vary, but the national network picture for September 21 was:
ABC — MacGyver, followed by Monday Night Football with New England visiting the New York Jets.
CBS — Frank’s Place, Kate & Allie, Newhart, Designing Women and Cagney & Lacey.
NBC — ALF, The Hogan Family and the television movie If It’s Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium.
FOX — The young network had no national Monday prime-time block; its scheduled prime-time nights were still on the weekend.
Would you have chosen MacGyver, the CBS comedy run, a movie—or the Jets and Patriots?
🏰 Disney Vault
Disneyland’s newest trip in 1987 did not stay on Earth. Star Tours opened in January, sending guests aboard a Starspeeder 3000 for a wonderfully turbulent flight toward Endor. The attraction blended Disney showmanship with Star Wars in a way that helped point theme parks toward a more cinematic future.
❤️ Health Snap
A Monday movement break does not have to become a full workout to matter. The CDC notes that even a single session of moderate-to-vigorous activity can provide immediate benefits, including reduced feelings of anxiety and lower blood pressure. A brisk walk, a few flights of stairs or another safe activity you enjoy can be a useful reset.
Ready for a quick health check-in? Take the free Health Assessment.
🎂 September 21 Birthdays
Stephen King turns 79 — born in 1947, the author behind Carrie, The Shining and It reshaped modern popular horror.
Bill Murray turns 76 — born in 1950, the actor and comedian is known for Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day.
Faith Hill turns 59 — born in 1967, the country singer’s hits include “This Kiss” and “Breathe.”
Alfonso Ribeiro turns 55 — born in 1971, the actor and television host is remembered as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Was 1987 part of your story? Share this with someone who remembers Monday-night television, a first ride on Star Tours—or hearing the opening notes of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.”
Until tomorrow, keep looking back. You never know what you’ll find.
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