Havel at Columbia

The Residency: This Day in 1989

A daily event in the history of the Velvet Revolution 1989 that were highlighted to coincide with Havel's residency at Columbia University.

October 26: Dissidents call for demonstration
Havel and other organizers of the petition "A Few Sentences" call for a public gathering on Czechoslovak Independence Day (Oct. 28) to show support for a dialogue between the government and citizens' groups. (See also: Havel, Václav, "Testing Ground," in...
October 27: Havel detained by police, released to hospital
Havel and other dissidents across Czechoslovakia are detained by police on the eve of Czechoslovak Independence Day to prevent them from leading a demonstration in Prague. Complaining of breathing difficulties, Havel is released to hospital....
October 28: Independence Day demonstration in Prague
Anniversary of the foundation of an independent Czechoslovak state in 1918. Police violently suppress some 10,000 demonstrators protesting against the communist regime on Prague's Wenceslas Square. Havel is in hospital because of breathing problems and cannot attend the protest, but...
October 29: Crowd supports Havel at hospital
Some 500 people gather and chant "Long live Havel!" outside of the hospital where Havel was taken from a police station after being arrested at home in his sickbed on October 27th....
October 30: Czechoslovak security forces remain on alert
Security forces in Czechoslovakia remain on alert in the midst of a reform wave in neighboring Eastern Bloc countries and following the recent weekend of protests in Prague. Havel and other opposition activists remain guardedly optimistic about the possibility of...
October 31: East German communist leader calls for a slowing of reform push
Hundreds of thousands of East Germans in several cities demonstrate against the communist regime, while Party leader Egon Krenz warns that unrealistic demands for fast reform would endanger the stability of the country. Despite the reforms going on just across...
November 1: East Germans cross into Czechoslovakia on way to the West
East Germany eases border restrictions with Czechoslovakia, and several thousand cross into the country trying to obtain refuge in the West German embassy in Prague. Despite the reforms going on in neighboring Eastern Bloc countries, the Czechoslovak communist leadership maintains...
November 2: East German upheaval intensifies
Czechoslovakia's hard-line ally East Germany continues to soften rapidly. Thousands more East Germans continue to seek refuge at the West German embassy in Prague, top officials announce their resignations, large protests persist and the Foreign Ministry says it will consider...
November 3: East German leader purges Politburo, promises extensive reforms
After returning from meetings with Gorbachev in Moscow and the Solidarity-led government of Poland in Warsaw, East German Communist Party leader Egon Krenz dismisses several senior Politburo members and promises extensive reforms. Despite the changes going on in neighboring Eastern...
November 4: 500,000 protest in East Berlin
In the largest protest so far, at least 500,000 gather in the center of the East German capital to call for political change. Despite the reforms going on in neighboring Eastern Bloc countries, the Czechoslovak communist leadership maintains its hard-line...
November 5, 1989: Conference in Poland serves as protest forum for Czechoslovaks
An estimated 7,000 Czechoslovaks defy a travel ban to attend a conference on Central Europe at Wrocław University in Poland, where they hear Polish dissident-turned-senator Adam Michnik apologize for Poland's role in the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Havel...
November 6, 1989: Pressure on East German communists mounts
Half a million East Germans take to the streets in Leipzig to pressure the communist government for reform. The number of East German refugees who have fled to West Germany via the embassy in Prague reaches 23,000....
November 7, 1989: Protest against trial of dissident in Bratislava
A few hundred Czechoslovaks gathered to demand the freedom of lawyer and dissident Ján Čarnogurský, who was charged with sedition in August for his activity in the underground press. Police film the event, but do not disperse the demonstrators....
November 8, 1989: Havel predicts change in Czechoslovakia, but not necessarily soon
Questioned by journalists whether he thinks Czechoslovakia will soon be joining the wave of reforms in the Eastern Bloc, Havel says, "in comparison with a year or two ago, things are very different but that doesn't mean change tomorrow or...
November 9, 1989: Berlin Wall opened
The Krenz government in East Germany announces it will allow East German citizens with proper exit permission to enter West Berlin directly through checkpoints in the Berlin Wall. Thousands mob the checkpoints, making it impossible for authorities to maintain control...
November 10, 1989: Soviet leaders warn Czechoslovak regime against delay of reforms
Soviet leaders send messages to high-level Czechoslovak Communist Party officials to warn them against any foot-dragging in enacting reforms, stating that a failure to give some ground could lead to an upheaval similar to that in East Germany....
November 11, 1989: Czechoslovak dissidents plan for December rally
Havel is at his country home in Hrádeček, meeting with other dissidents to plan a rally for International Human Rights Day on December 10....
November 12, 1989: Czechoslovak dissidents plan for December rally
Havel is at his country home in Hrádeček, meeting with other dissidents to plan a rally for International Human Rights Day on December 10....
November 13, 1989: Travel restrictions for Czechoslovaks lifted
The Czechoslovak government announces that it will no longer require its citizens to obtain exit permits before traveling to the West. Many see the move as a merely symbolic tactic, and Prime Minister Adamec is quoted as saying that "travelling...
November 14, 1989: Bush to discuss changes in the Eastern Bloc with NATO allies
U.S. President George Bush announces that he will meet with leaders of NATO member states in early December to discuss the rapid changes in Eastern Bloc states. Bush also praised the Czechoslovak government's lifting of travel restrictions and says that...
November 15, 1989: Gorbachev endorses changes in Eastern Europe
Speaking at a student meeting in Moscow, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev emphasized his support for the 'process of renewal' underway in Eastern European states, stating, "It's time to remember that the modern world does not consist of two mutually exclusive...
November 16, 1989: Police disperse peaceful demonstration in Bratislava
A peaceful student demonstration in Bratislava on the eve of International Student Day puts the already-wary authorities on the alert. Plans are in place to control the approved student march in Prague the following day. Havel is out of Prague...
November 17, 1989: Police violently suppress demonstration in Prague; the Velvet Revolution begins
A student demonstration in Prague is met with police violence, and the events that will come to be known as the Velvet Revolution are underway. Havel is at his country home in Hrádeček, but returns to Prague after receiving news...
November 18, 1989: Havel leads theater strike
Havel leads a strike of Prague theaters to protest the beating of students on November 17....
November 19, 1989: Civic Forum founded
Havel and other opposition spokespeople form Civic Forum [Občanské fórum], a coalition organization of those who oppose communist control in Czechoslovakia. Over the following weeks the group enters into negotiations with the Communist Party for reform....
November 20, 1989: 300,000 demonstrate in Prague
An estimated 300,000 people demonstrate in the streets of Prague. Czechoslovak Television breaks its blackout on the growing unrest in the country, showing live footage of demonstrations in Prague and other Czechoslovak cities. At a Civic Forum press conference, Havel...
November 21, 1989: Prime Minister meets with Civic Forum
Prime Minister Ladislav Adamec agrees to meet with representatives of Civic Forum, but refuses to admit Havel to his offices....
November 22, 1989: Havel makes first address to demonstrators
Havel makes his first public address since the beginning of the Revolution, speaking from the balcony of the Melantrich publishing house to a crowd of 200,000 on Wenceslas Square....
November 23, 1989: Civic Forum moves into new headquarters at the Laterna Magika Theater
Civic Forum moves into its new headquarters, the Laterna Magika theater in Prague. Demonstrations continue throughout Czechoslovakia....
November 24, 1989: Communist Party Presidium resigns; crowds cheer Havel and Dubček
Demonstrations continue in Prague and in other cities in Czechoslovakia. Civic Forum holds a press conference and announces the resignation of Communist Party Secretary Miloš Jakeš and other party leaders. Following the press conference, Havel and Dubček are cheered by...
November 25, 1989: Rally on Letná Plain in Prague draws 500,000
Civic Forum again announces the resignations of the Communist Party at a rally attended by an estimated 500,000 Czechoslovak citizens on Letná Plain in Prague. It is the largest demonstration of the Revolution thus far....
November 26, 1989: Communists begin negotiating a new government with opposition representatives
Havel and other Civic Forum leaders meet with Prime Minister Ladislav Adamec to negotiate a new government. After the meeting Havel appears with Dubček and Adamec before a crowd of one million on Letná Plain in Prague, where Adamec is...
November 27, 1989: Millions of Czechoslovaks observe strike called by opposition
Millions of Czechoslovak citizens observe a two-hour strike called by Civic Forum, demonstrating the popular success of the Revolution....
November 28, 1989: Czechoslovak Communist Party renounces monopoly on power
Havel and other Civic Forum leaders meet with the Communist government for the third time. The government announces their agreement to renounce "the leading role of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia" and to form a new government....
November 29, 1989: Guarantee of communist power removed from Czechoslovak constitution
The Federal Parliament unanimously votes to remove provisions for the leading role of the Communist Party from the Czechoslovak constitution. Havel and other Civic Forum leaders appeal to the army and security forces to "protect the interests of the people"...
November 30, 1989: Czechoslovak border opened
The Czechoslovak government announces that it will open the southern border with Austria. Havel and other Civic Forum leaders continue meetings with the government to discuss the formation of a new government....
December 1, 1989: Havel meets with minority party leaders
Havel meets with the chairman of the People's Party, a former Communist Party satellite, and gains his support for the formation of a new government....
December 2, 1989: Havel warns that delay on transition will lead to conflict
At a Civic Forum press conference Havel warns that any attempt by the government to slow the process of transition away from communist dominance would lead to confrontation. The government begins disarming the People's Militia, the Communist Party's own forces....
December 3, 1989: Opposition leaders reject new cabinet
Havel and Civic Forum leaders reject Adamec's proposed cabinet, which would give 16 of the 21 posts to Communist Party members. Civic Forum calls for a mass "gathering of citizens" to protest....
December 4, 1989: Protestors call for new cabinet's resignation
150,000 protestors gather to call for the resignation of Adamec's new cabinet. Havel's name again figures prominently in the crowd's chants. Civic Forum announces that the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic had already agreed to a new regional government...
December 5, 1989: Havel chosen as Civic Forum's nominee for president
Havel and Civic Forum continue negotiations with Adamec's government. At a Civic Forum meeting, leaders come to a decision that Havel will be the Forum's nominee for President of Czechoslovakia....
December 6, 1989: Negotiations with Prime Minister Adamec break down
Havel tells journalists that Adamec has promised to present a revised cabinet in the next two days, but later in the day Adamec indicates that he is prepared to resign rather than give in to opposition "ultimatums."...
December 7, 1989: Prime Minister resigns; Havel says he is prepared to take on presidency
Ladislav Adamec resigns as prime minister. Asked at a press conference about the possibility that he would run for President, Havel expresses reluctance but eventually states, "If the only service I could perform for my country would be to do...
December 8, 1989: Communists agree to minority role in government
During negotiations with Havel and Civic Forum, communist leaders agree to surrender control of the government and to take a minority role in a coalition cabinet. Also, President Gustáv Husák announces an amnesty for political prisoners....
December 9, 1989: President Husák announces he will resign after swearing in new government
President Gustáv Husák announces that he will resign after the new cabinet is formed on December 10. Both Communist Party officials and opposition leaders tell journalists of their support for Havel as Husák's successor....
December 10, 1989: Havel nominated for presidency
A new government is sworn in, with the Communist Party in a minority role. Husák resigns and Civic Forum nominates Havel for President of Czechoslovakia....
December 11, 1989: Czechoslovaks celebrate arrival of democracy
At noon, factory whistles, car horns and jangling keys ring-in the arrival of democracy throughout Czechoslovakia. "Havel na hrad [Havel to the Castle]" campaign posters begin appearing around Prague....
December 12, 1989: Electoral-procedure debates begin in Federal Assembly
The Communist Party and the opposition negotiate over the procedure for electing a president to replace Husák. The Communists push to change the constitution and have the President elected by popular ballot rather than by the Parliament. This is widely...
December 13, 1989: Electoral controversy resolved; Czechoslovakia ready for first new president in fourteen years
Opposition and Communist leaders resolve to maintain the Parliamentary-vote system of electing a new President of Czechoslovakia, clearing the way for Havel to win the office....
December 14, 1989: Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union begin talks on troop withdrawal
Civic Forum member and new Foreign Minister Jiří Dienstbier announces that he has begun talks with Soviet officials on the withdrawal Soviet troops from Czechoslovak territory....
December 15, 1989: Concerns of national divide over Presidential election
Havel announces that he would be willing to take on the role of President if elected. Alexander Dubček, the leader of the "Prague Spring" reforms in 1968, is now seen as Havel's major rival for the post. The rivalry could...
December 16, 1989: Havel talks with Dubček to avoid national split over presidency
Appearing on state television, Havel again states that he would accept the nomination for President of Czechoslovakia as a "temporary working President." Havel holds talks with Alexander Dubček in order to avoid a struggle between the two over the Presidency....