Notes from the 1970s
1970 - Official U.S. Census shows that the nation’s population has reached 203,000,000
1970 – International day to recognize the importance of protecting our environment is inaugurated. First “Earth Day” is established.
1970 – The first commercial flight of Boeing’s new jumbo jet – the 747.
1970 – Four people are shot and killed by National Guardsmen on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio.
1970 – Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin die from drug overdoses in separate incidences. Hendrix was 27. Joplin was also 27 years old.
1970 – Apollo 13 mission is aborted when an oxygen leak and fire disable the spacecraft. All three astronauts return to earth safely.
1970 – Popular movies – Patton, starring George C. Scott. M*A*S*H, starring Elliot Gould and Donald Sutherland. Love Story, starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw. Popular songs – Let It Be and The Long And Winding Road, by the Beatles. ABC, by the Jackson 5. Bridge Over Troubled Waters, by Simon & Garfunkel. Tears Of A Clown, by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
1971 – Constitution is amended once again. 26th Amendment is ratified. It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
1971 – NASA launches two more successful missions to the moon, Apollo 14 and Apollo 15. David Scott and James Irwin (Apollo 15) are the first to ever drive on the moon. Apollo 15 astronauts covers much more ground because they are able to use the battery powered Lunar Rover.
1971 – The Nixon administration expands the U.S. role in Vietnam, but submits plan to begin Vietnamization – a gradual withdrawal of troops. Protests in Washington D.C. are as regular as rain.
1971 – The NBA no longer requires that a player have four years of college experience.
1971 – Popular movies – Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood. The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman. Shaft, starring Richard Roundtree. Popular songs – Riders on the Storm, by the Doors. Me and Bobby McGee, by Janis Joplin. What’s Goin’ On? by Marvin Gaye. Brown Sugar, by the Rolling Stones, Maggie May, by Rod Stewart. Joy to the World, by Three Dog Night.
1971 – At a cost of over $500,000,000 to complete, Disney opens Disney World in Orlando, Florida
1971 – Texas Instruments introduces the first “pocket” calculator. It weighs 2.5 pounds, costing around $150.
1971 – Cigarette advertising on U.S. television and radio is banned.
1971 – Joe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali in 15-rounds by unanimous decision. 1972 – George Foreman knocks out Joe Frazier. 1974 – Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman to regain heavyweight title.
1972 – President Nixon visits People’s Republic of China. Is first president to ever visit China.
1972 – Surgeon General warns that second-hand cigarette smoke causes serious medical problems.
1972 – The Equal Rights Amendment (the ERA) which prohibits gender discrimination passes through congress but fails to be ratified by ¾ of the states, thus failing to become the 27th Amendment.
1972 – Democratic presidential hopeful George Wallace is shot while campaigning in Maryland. He survives but is paralyzed from the waist down.
1972 – Five men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office complex in Washington D.C.
1972 – Munich, Germany hosts the Summer Olympics. Soviets earn more medals amidst controversy and tragedy. U.S. swimmers capture 18 gold medals and set over a dozen world records. Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals in swimming. Arab terrorists broke into the Israeli compound, murdered two athletes and kidnapped 9 others. An Israeli anti-terrorist team stormed the terrorists at the airport and all nine of the hostages were killed as well as 5 of the terrorists. American runner Frank Shorter won the marathon. TheU.S. basketball team had their victory snatched by corrupt officials, and refused their silver medal as a protest.
1972 – Richard Nixon defeats George McGovern in the presidential election.
1972 – Popular movies: The Godfather, starring Marlin Brando. Deliverance, starring Burt Reynolds and John Voight. Popular songs: Lean On Me – Bill Withers, American Pie – Don McLean, I’ll Take You There – Staple Singers, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone – the Temptations. Heart of Gold – Neil Young, Let’s Stay Together – Al Green.
1972 – Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 are the last missions to the moon. Astronaut Eugene Cernan is the last to walk on the moon.
1973 – Watergate investigation continues. The trail of evidence creeps closer and closer to the White House.
1973 – UCLA basketball team, under Coach John Wooden, wins 7th straight NCAA championship.
1973 – Secretariat wins horse racing’s Triple Crown. First horse to do so since 1948.
1973 – The U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision provides women with a Constitutional guarantee of abortion rights.
1973 – Popular movies: American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas. The Exorcist, starring Linda Blair. The Sting, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Popular songs:Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon. Superstition – Stevie Wonder. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John. Bad Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce.Tie A Yellow Ribbon – Tony Orlando & Dawn.
1973 – OPEC nations begin oil embargo, driving up prices and creating long lines at the gas pumps. Rationing and the production of more fuel efficient vehicles begin. The national speed limit is dropped to 55 mph.
1973 – Miami Dolphins become the NFL’s first undefeated Super Bowl champs (17-0) beating the Washington Redskins 14-7 in the championship bowl game.
1973 – In Paris, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho sign a cease fire agreement on Vietnam.
1973 – President Nixon’s top advisors begin resigning as pressure from the Watergate investigation mounts.
1973 – Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns over a tax evasion scandal. His resignation comes in lieu of criminal charges. Gerald Ford, from Michigan, is sworn in as new Vice President. IRS investigation and audit reveals that Nixon owes $432,787.13 in back taxes.
1974 – In Supreme Court case United States v. Richard M. Nixon the court rules that executive privilege does not apply and the president must hand over taped recordings of White House and Oval Office conversations.
1974 – As the House of Representatives draws up impeachment charges against President Nixon, and several of his top aides are sentenced following criminal convictions, the president announces his resignation. Gerald Ford is inaugurated as the 38th president.
1974 – Hank Aaron hits home run #715, passing Babe Ruth’s career record. Finishes his career with 755 home runs.
1974 – The Oakland A’s win their 3rd straight World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
1974 – The Heimlich maneuver is introduced as first aid for choking.
1974 – Popular movies: The Godfather, Part II, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Robert Duvall. Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, both directed by Mel Brooks.Chinatown, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Popular songs: Rock The Boat – the Hues Corporation. Band on the Run – Paul McCartney & Wings. Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Barry White. The Way We Were – Barbara Streisand.
1975 – Former White House officials, John Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman, and John Mitchell are each sentenced to three years in prison for their role in the Watergate scandal.
1975 – The last U.S. troops and officials are withdrawn from Saigon as Communist forces from North Vietnam finish their conquest of South Vietnam. Thousands of refugees board boats hoping to be picked up by U.S Navy ships off the Vietnamese coast. Thousands perish. Eventually 130,000 Indochinese refugees come to the U.S.
1975 – The first personal computer, the Altair 8800, is introduced in kit form.
1975- NBC’s successful comedy/variety show, Saturday Night Live, debuts.
1975 – Popular movies: Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry.Popular songs: Black Water – the Doobie Brothers. Shining Star – Earth, Wind, & Fire. You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt. Best of My Love – the Eagles. Get Down Tonight – KC & the Sunshine Band. Mandy – Barry Manilow. Kashmir – Led Zeppelin. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen.
1976 – NASA accepts its first female astronaut applicants.
1976 – The National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association merge, but only 4 teams from the ABA are accepted and brought into the NBA.
1976 – Punk rock, with its unique style and fashion, makes its debut in London. Two better known groups are the Sex Pistols and the Clash.
1976 – Frampton Comes Alive, a live album by Peter Frampton, becomes the best selling live album of all time.
1976 – America celebrates its 200th birthday. July 4th Bicentennial celebrations occur all over the country. Tall ships visit New York City, and Washington D.C. hosts huge celebration.
1976 – The United States Naval Academy accepts female students/officer candidates for the first time.
1976 – Good Morning America makes its debut on ABC.
1976 – Montreal, Canada hosts the summer Olympic games. The Soviet Union and East Germany earn more medals than the United States. American outstanding track performers included hurdler Edwin Moses and Decathlete Bruce Jenner, both of whom earned gold. American swimmer John Naber became the first man to break the 2-minute barrier in the 200-meter backstroke, and won a total of four gold medals and a silver.
1976 – Indiana University men’s basketball team completes an undefeated season, winning the NCAA championship game against the Michigan Wolverines 86-68.
1976 – The Cincinnati Reds defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series, 4 games to 0.
1976 – Democrat Jimmy Carter defeats incumbent Gerald Ford in the presidential election. Electoral votes: 297-240.
1976 – Popular movies: All the President’s Men – starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. Carrie – starring Sissy Spacek. Rocky – starring Sylvester Stallone. Popular Songs: If You Leave Me Now – Chicago, Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry, Afternoon Delight – Starland Vocal Band, Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen, Baby I Love Your Way– Peter Frampton, I Wish – Stevie Wonder, Rock’n Me – Steve Miller.