-
Bar Codes introduced in the UK
In 1970 (exact date unknown) Logicon Inc. created the Universal Products Identification Code (UGPIC), first used by Plessey Telecommunications in Great Britain. This system introduced an easier system for product management that would later become the UPC barcode system. -
Period: to
The Seventies
-
Computer Floppy Disks Introduced
Released by IBM sometime in 1970, computer floppy disk became commercially available in the U.S. to revolutionize the storage of information by making it portable so that all you have to do is download material and upload it elsewhere, a simplicity like the modern flash drive. -
Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine
Sir Bernard Katz, Ulf von Euler, and Julius Axelrod jointly received this prize for their studies in nerve signals, the Nobel organization saying, "for their discoveries concerning the humoral transmittors in the nerve terminals and the mechanism for their storage, release and inactivation". -
The Beatles Break-Up
On this day, Paul McCartney announced that he was leaving the Beatles and would tour with them no more because of disputes over a new manager after the death of their original manager. This led to mass hysteria and uproar from the American public, who were lodged in Beatlemania before the break-up. -
Apollo 13 Suffers Huge Setback
While en route to the Moon, astronauts signaled the famous, "Houston, we've had a problem." The problem consisted of one of the oxygen tanks exploding due to a short-circuit, not a meteorite, as initially thought by the astronauts. This endangered them, considering too much CO2 is bad for your body. However, using the Lunar Module as lifeboat, they soon returned safely, exemplifying U.S. brainpower. -
First Earth Day
Through the works of Senator Gaylord Nelson, the U.S. celebrated its very first Earth Day, which commerated the environment that Nature has given us, in addition to also raising more acitivities for helping the environment. -
Kent State Massacre
4 students ,who were not even part of the protests raging on the Kent State University campus that protested against the government cover-ups of the secret Cambodia bombings, were shot by the nation's on National Guard when ensuing confusion and chaos had led to the troops to shoot their guns after several small bouts between the protestors and guard and a possible pistol fire that attempted to control the crowd. -
18 Year Olds Allowed to Vote
Because of increasing support and pressure for the slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.", President Nixon finally signed into the U.S. Constitution the 26ht Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18. This younger, most likely different-thinking, group could alter normal trends in votes and voice a new demographics opinion. -
Aswan High Dam Completed
The Aswan High Dam was completed in Egypt on the Nile River region for the benefits of hydroelectric power and the break of the cyclical flood-drought seasons. Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser originally had U.S. and British financing, but later turned to Soviet loans to finish it. Nonetheless, Egypt could finally progress in the technological world with an electricity source. -
Best Classical Performance- Orchestra
Pierre Boulez received this Grammy for the performance of the famous Stravinsky. The song was Le Sacre Du Printemps. -
Palestinian Group Hijacks Five Planes
On Sept. 6th, 1970, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (which will be called the PFLP), hijacked 3 (with an additional 4th and 5th) European jetliners heading to the U.S. because of the leader’s opposition to the War of Attrition’s cease-fire. Taking the passengers as hostages, he was able to get his demands by releasing them in small groups. -
US Soldiers Found Guilty of Murder at My Lei Massacre
While the exact date is unknown from many of the available sources, the U.S. Army had charged 26 soldiers for the illegal killings (murder) resulting from the My Lei massacre in Vietnam on March 16, 1968 (the massacre’s date) because of violations of the Geneva Accords on handling such situations and that you are responsible for anything you do. -
The EPA is created
To add additional government authority on environmental affairs, conervation, and other such topics, the federal governement of the U.S. established the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to look over the matters and those of the future. -
The World Trade Center is Completed
After four years of hard construction work, the North tower of the World Trade Center (WTC) had finally completed, sparking the importance and impact of international trade before the creation of e-mail, the Internet, and other utilities. It would later herald this until its untimely destruction due to the 9/11 terrorists attacks. -
Cigarette Ads Banned
In order to allow the last of these ads in, this ban took effect the day after the New Year football games. Studies had shown that tobacco was unhealthy and that it mainly caused lung disease, cancer, and other illnesses. Stopping these commercials would stop the influence of teens and underage people from buying them. Tobacco companies complied so as to be free of the PSAs aired after their commercials, which opposed smoking. This later extended to radios, not just TVs. -
VCRs Introduced
Though the exact date isn't well known, VCRs allowed people to watch movies and TV shows at anytime if said program happened to be on a video tape, which was then inserted in order to entertain the owners. -
Grammy for Best Classical Performance- Orchestra
(Date Unknown)
Carlo Maria Giulini received the award for the preformance fo Mahler's Symphony #1 in D, a very beautiful piece. -
Noble Prize for Medicine/Physiology
Earl W. Sutherland, Jr., "for his discoveries concerning the mechanisms of the action of hormones", was given the Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology. Knowing the functions of different hormones can help scientists determine why there are certain behavorial changes or phenomena. -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Ed. Decision
After Swann filed suit because their child was not bussed to a school right near the new, nice neighborhood they had moved into in the hopes of going to said school, the Supreme Court decided that districts could do that to promote integration by balancing the school racial differences. -
Amtrak is created
After the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 passed, the private company Amtrak was created to provide nation-wide rail systems strictly adherent to passenger service that the act had revived. -
Pentagon Papers Released
After major information leaks concerning the state of the Vietnam War and relations, Daniel Ellsburg discussed the studies with the New York Times, who then began to publish parts of it on this day. Many were outraged to find that presidential administrations had been lying to them and covering-up operations. -
George Harrison Organizes Benefit Concert for Bangladesh
The famous Beatle member George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organized two benefit concerts that would support refugee relief for those in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) after the Bhola Cyclone last year and the atrocities committed in the Bangladesh Liberation War. It had raised US$243,418 for the good of Bangladesh. -
Direct Dialing Between New York and London
Though the dates are unknown, international direct dialing between New York and London was underway. Direct Dialing in itself, was a breakthrough in communication technology because you did not have to wait for an operator. Fast, international communication was possible, opening trade opportunities and prosperity. -
The U.S. Leaves the Gold Standard
As other nations coninually left the Gold Standard and the U.S. dollar continued to be devalued, Nixon and his advisors, without counsulting the international monetary network, left the gold standard, an action known as the Nixon Shock, This effectively ended price gougers like France from coming and the U.S. economy noticeably did better. From there, fiat money was used. -
Attica State Prison Riots
On this day, prisoners in the Attica State Prison protested and eventually rioted against officers in the prison because they felt that their rights were being violated due to practices of the officers, like one shower per week or one toilet paper roll per month, something that seemed inhumane and cruel. -
Disney World Opens
The magical world of Walt Disney's Disney World opened at Orlando, Florida. One of the only Disney property theme parks, it featured popular attractions like Adventuerland, Fantasyland, Main Street U.S.A., and many more all for the price of $4.95, something that would seem cheap today. Over 5,500 cast members were also present and still are. -
The London Bride Comes to Lake Havasu
After being brought to Lake Havasu City, AZ, from London due to it being exhausted and rebuilt stone by stone, the London Bridge was dedicated on this day, wihch brought in many tourists to the city, just as the founder had hoped. -
The Microprocessor is Introduced
Intel introduced the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004 on this day. hough many devices required different chips, this was one of the absolute smallest that could be used in many things, like your car stereo system, cell phone, coffee maker, and many other things we use today. Without it, we would still have over-sized pieces of technology. -
China Joins the U.N.
China, in addition to having a Soviet power in the Security Council, also established itself a greater international reputaion, as one of the only major countries near it were the U.S.S.R., Japan, and the French Indochina. This would cause problems in communication, and having a U.N. seat could help set a new direction. -
D.B. Cooper
D.B. Cooper is the name used to refer to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. He then extorted $200,000 in a ransom and parachuted to an unknown fate. Manhunts and FBI investigations have gone nowhere and still remains unsolved today. -
Nixon Visits China
When Nixon's trip was announced, politicos and bureaucrats around the world were indeed shocked. The status quo of world politics had just been shaken up. On February 17, 1972, Richard Nixon set out on his historic trip to China. Two years of effort had led to the moment, yet no one knew if the Chinese were prepared to agree to anything. The script had yet to be written. Nixon did not even know if there would be a meeting with Chairman Mao. "We were embarking," Nixon remembered, "on a voyage of -
The Wars Act is Passed
(Date Unknown)
This was passed because Nixon authorized the invasion of Cambodia, Laos and later Hanoi and Haiphong. It requires that the president account for action within 30 days and taking troops into foreign wars. -
Grammy for Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
This Grammy was awarded to Georg Solti after the performance of Mahler's Symphony #7 in E Minor. -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Gerald M. Edelman and Rodney R. Porter, "for their discoveries concerning the chemical structure of antibodies", they jointly received this Nobel Prize. Anitbodies, as we all know, aid in fighting infection and sickness. Knowing their structure could help doctors determine why an infection persists or gets cured. -
Nixon Visits U.S.S.R.
(Exact Date Unknown)
In May 1972 Nixon paid a state visit to Moscow to sign 10 formal agreements, the most important of which were the nuclear arms limitation treaties known as SALT I (based on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks conducted between the United States and the Soviet Union beginning in 1969) and a memorandum, the Basic Principles of U.S.-Soviet Relations, summarizing the new relationship between the two countries in the new era of détente. -
George Wallace Shot Whilst Campaigning
On May 15, 1972, while campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, Wallace was shot four times by would-be assassin Arthur Herman Bremer. The attempt left him paralyzed below the waist, and abruptly ended his campaign. Investigation into the shooting found that Bremer's act was not motivated by politics, but by a yen to become famous. -
Watergate Scandal Begins
On the morning of June 17th, 1972, security guard Frank Wills at the Watergate Hotel discovered a burglary in the Democratic National Committee’s offices, an event that would ultimately trigger more government distrust and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. -
Supreme Court Rules Against Death Penalty`
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down state and federal capital punishment deeming it was “cruel and unusual”, which is therefore unconstitutional because it violated the Eighth Amendment and the due process guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment. -
Title IX Signed Into Law By Nixon
On July 1, 1972, Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX of the Education Amendments. Few people noticed at the time, but eventually it became the single greatest force for full participation of females in education, both academics and sports, that influence our world today. -
KKK Riots in NYC
(Barely any sources found)
The KKK rioted in Central Park (date unknown; assume a month), which resulted in 3 deaths. This, being held by the KKK, is most likely a race riot or other type of riot. -
Pocket Calculators Introduced
(Date is approximate)
Battery operated, hand held calculators were sold in this year in the U.S.A to introduce a portable, reliable, and easy to use device that shapes our technology today. Without it, the mechanisms we have today would seem mathmatically impossible and our technological advancements would be near to nothing. -
Mark Spitz Wins 7 Gold Medals
(Date is Olympic Start)
At age twenty-two, in 1972, he made history. At the Olympics, he won seven gold medals and broke another seven world records. He won the one-hundred meter butterfly, the two-hundred meter butterfly, the one-hundred meter free-style, the two-hundred free-style, the four-hundred meter free-style, the eight-hundred meter free-style, and the four-hundred meter medley relay. Only Phelps today surpasses him. -
Terrorists Attack Munich Olympics
On Sept. 5th, 1972, Palestinian terrorists associated with the 1970 hijackings killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, 9 being hostages killed in a gunfight that also killed 5 terrorists. This brought worldwide attention to the Palestinian situation, actually showing the world that there is a Palestine. -
M*A*S*H TV Show Premiers
The series was developed by Larry Gelbart and premiered in the US on September 17, 1972, and ended February 28, 1983, with the finale becoming the most-watched television episode in U.S. television history with 105.97 million viewers. The series covered a three-year military conflict, spanned 251 episodes, and lasted eleven seasons. Many of the stories in the early seasons are based on real-life tales told by real MASH surgeons who were interviewed by the production team. -
Pong is Launched
(Exact Date Unknown)
PONG arcade machines started in late 1972 with Atari PONG which had an immediate success, resulting in around 19,000 PONG machines sold. Soon after PONG entered the one year old video game market, numerous companies copied the game (an easy task as it was built with simple electronic chips and a regular TV set). Some PONG clones could play against the players. Some others played variants such as Football and Hockey. Some PONG games even played a "Breakout" mode. -
SSI Introduced
Supplmental Security Income was introduced in the U.S. by the government to help the aged, blind, and disabled who have little or no income; it provides cash for needs in clothing, food, and shelter to aid those who are out the streets. -
HBO Launched
HBO, home box office, was born in November, 1972 and initially used microwave to broadcast its signal. On December 13, 1975, HBO began broadcasting via satellite - just in time to show the famous "Thrilla in Manilla" boxing match between Joe Frazier and Mohammad Ali. Early HBO presentation was simple, and downright primitive compared to the glossy, state-of-the-art presentation that HBO cultivates today. -
Last Man on the Moon
o Eugene Cernan, commander of the Apollo 17 space flight to the moon, is the accordingly the last man to walk on the moon as they lifted off the moon on approximately Dec. 17th, a memory for the U.S. and a sign of U.S. achievement. -
Abortion Legalized in U.S.
On January 22nd, 1973, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. Even now, the ruling is still controversial with people debating over certain limits or banning it outright. The moral rights of freezing this fetus and debate over where life begins usually sets the stage for argumentation, and there many on both sides of the argument. -
U.S. Pulls Out of Vietnam
March 29th marked the day of the final U.S. troops withdrawing from the Vietnam Warzone, with Nixon saying, “The day we have all worked and prayed for has finally come.” Though it signaled peace, it would not be the end of hostilities in Vietnam until Saigon fell to the Communists. -
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
Pierre Boulez was awarded this Grammy for the erformance of Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra. -
Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology
Karl von Frisch, Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen,"for their discoveries concerning organization and elicitation of individual and social behaviour patterns", were awarded this Nobel Prize. This is almost in relation to anthropology studies that deal with human behaviors. In addition to Sutherland's hormone discovery in '71, this discovery can aid in why certain phenomena or behaviors occur. -
Sears Tower Built
In May 1973, the building that would hold the world record for tallest building for almost 25 yrs. was completed and dubbed the Sears Tower after 4 years of planning and construction. The record it held for such an expansive time period showcases the wonders of American engineering and construction. -
Paul Getty III Kidnapped
Paul Getty III, grandson of incredibly rich oil tycoon Paul Getty I, was kidnapped on July 10th and was held for ransom until November because his frugal grandfather refused to pay the ransom of $17 million until a letter with his grandson’s ear was received with another ransom of $3.2 million dollars. Even then, the grandfather did not pay it to the fullest and poor Paul Getty III was traumatized and had a stressful later life. -
UPC Barcodes Come to America
Though the date is not explicitly known, George Laurer, an IBM engineer, is credited with inventing the modern UPC barcode system, but the date is unknown. It would affect and influence the way the modern world handles transactions today, with nearly all stores having such a scanner and products with a label in today's era. -
U.S. VP Resigns
Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned after being charged with tax evasions and accused of accepting bribes, as well as being charged with extortion and conspiracy. Unlike the first V.P. to resign, who resigned to become a senator, these criminal charges were more likely responsible. -
OPEC Doubles Oil Prices
Due to losses experienced by Egypt and Syria in the Yom Kippur war, a result of U.S. military assistance to Israel, Arab-dominated OPEC used a 70% increase in oil prices when said losing nations had the tide against them on October 17. This eventually went of 130% more (effectively doubling prices) by December. -
The War Powers Act
o At the of the Vietnam War, the War Powers Act was established to limit the president’s ability of sending in troops into combat situations, a scenario much like what President LBJ did with the Tonkin Resolution that had begun the bloodshed and horrors of this war. The president can only send in troops with Congressional approval and can only be sent for 60 days unless a declaration of war or a mandate is made by Congress. -
Endangered Species Act
On Dec. 28, Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law to strengthen “inadequate” conservation laws, especially for critically endangered or almost instinct species of life. Many species did recover after this was passed and continue to thrive more today. -
Girls Allowed to Play Little League Baseball
Due to a ruling from the previous year by Sylvia Pressler, girls with athletic dreams were finally allowed into the Little League sports of baseball and softball. Pressler said, “The institution of Little League is as American as the hotdog and apple pie. There is no reason why that part of Americana should be withheld from girls." This does make logical sense. This also could have signaled more involvement for women, or girls, in many other things. -
National Speed Limit 55
To lessen the impact of oil price spikes and supply disruptions, President Nixon signed the National Maximum Speed Law that capped the speed limit at 55 in U.S highways. However, this law was unpopular and was found to have a noncompliance rate of 83%, leading to it being repealed in 1995. -
Patty Hearst Kidnapped
The Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped Ms. Hearst on February 4th in her Berkeley apartment to serve as another member of their ‘army’ against the ‘war’ on those with status and money like her father, William Randolph Hearst. This was achieved through harsh physical and psychological treatment that almost guaranteed Hearst’s cooperation and even alliance. Such an alliance would make her father comply and popularize the movement. -
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
Georg Solti was awarded this Grammy (again) for the performance of Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
Albert Claude, Christian de Duve and George E. Palade,"for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization of the cell", were awardede the Nobel Prize. Cells tructure and functions can help doctors determine the causes of illnesses and provide cures for diseases that affect certain cells. -
U.S. President Nixon Resigns
Due to a loss of support and certainty of impeachment from the handling of the Watergate Scandal, President Nixon resigned on August 9th, 1974 after addressing the public the evening before. He is also the first president ever to do so. -
President Ford Pardons Nixon
President Ford pardoned former President Nixon on Sept. 18th, 1974 as issued by Proclamation 4311. This was met by a dip in his approval ratings, from 71% to 49%. Perhaps the American people, already unhappy with cover-ups and this scandal, did not like the idea of pardoning Nixon. -
Freedom of Information Act Passed over Ford's Veto
On Nov. 20, 1974, as well as the day following, the House of Representatives and the Senate majority voted to override Ford’s veto to the Freedom of Information Act’s 1974 Amendments. This occurred after the Watergate Scandal, and opposition to the bill were mainly concerned about leaks. It secured the public’s right for access to information. -
Catalytic Converters Introduced On Cars
Though the date was not found, catalytic converters began being used in vehicles in response to EPA restrictions. In automobiles, this typically results in 90% conversion of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into less harmful gases. A catalytic converter works by using a catalyst to stimulate a chemical reaction in which the by-products of combustion are converted to produce less harmful and/or inert substances, such as the very poisonous carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. -
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
Pierre Boulez, again, won this Grammy for the performance of Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe (Complete Ballet). -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1975
David Baltimore, Renato Dulbecco and Howard Martin Temin,"for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumour viruses and the genetic material of the cell", were awarded the Prize. Along with the cell structure and function discoveries of the previous year, their discoveries would help with finsing cures to diseases and illnesses affecting the cells. -
Microsoft Founded
Bill gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. Microsoft rose to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems. Even today, not many companies stand up to the immense wealth and technology Gates and Microsoft have to use and spread. -
Saigon Falls to the Communists
The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period leading to the formal reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. Thousands of Vietnamese and Americans were evacuated as Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh Sity, as it is now called, fell to the North Vietnamese Communists. -
Betamax VCR's Released
(Date Error?)
Betamax (sometimes called Beta) is a home videocassette tape recording format developed by Sony, released on May 10, 1975. The cassettes contain 1/2-inch (12.7mm)-wide videotape in a design similar to the earlier, professional 3/4-inch (19.05mm) U-matic format. The format is generally considered obsolete, though it is still used in specialist applications by a small minority of people. -
First Black Man wins Wimbledon
Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win the Wimbledon Open. It came as somewhat of a surprise to the tennis establishment as he beat the favorite, Jimmy Connors. After winning a tennis scholarship to UCLA, Ashe was taken under the wing of tennis star Pancho Gonzales, who recognized the young player’s potential, which led to this moment of victory. -
Jimmy Hoffa Disappears
Hoffa went to the Red Fox Restaurant outside of Detroit to allegedly meet three men, a Detroit labor leader, an important local mobster, and a powerful figure in New Jersey Teamster politics. After waiting, Hoffa was seen getting into a car in the restaurant parking lot with several other men. Investigators are pretty sure that he never got out of the car alive and was pronounced legally dead 7 years after his disappearance. -
Computerized Supermarket Checkouts Are Introduced
Though the exact date could not be discerned, self-checkouts began appaering at around this time. A supermarket checkout now allows the operator to scan the barcodes of a basket of items, and produces an itemized bill for the customer, utilizing the barcode system founded in 1973. this ultimately helps the store and customers get through faster and more efficiently. -
President Ford Assassination Attempts
Squeaky Fromme attempted to kill President Ford on this day and failed, spending 34 years in prison before being released. Later, on the 22nd, Sara Jane Moore, related the Queaky Fromme attempt, also attemped to take his life, but failed and was spent 32 years in prison. While Fromme allegedly did so in relation to the environment, Moore really had no idea of why she wanted to kill Ford. -
Francisco Franco Dies
Francisco was a Spanish military general and head of state of fascist Spain from October 1936 until his death in November 1975. He participated in the Rif War in Morocco, becoming the youngest general in Europe by 1926. Because fo his takeover, Spain had also remained neutral through out the course of the world wars. His death also heralded a democratic transition. -
Nadia Comaneci Given Seven Perfect 10s
(Date is Olympic Start)
Comaneci earned a total of seven perfect ten scores at those Olympic Games. She won three gold medals for the all-around competition, uneven bars, and balance beam. She also won a silver medal for the team competition and a bronze medal for the floor exercise. Comaneci became the first Romanian to win the all-around title and she was also the youngest all-around champion at 14 years old. -
Red Dye #2 is Banned
Because of carcinogen fears and an experiment in which several aged female rats were fed the dye (and developed tumors), the FDA had decided to ban Red Dye #2 from any use at all, ranging from food to cosmetics, on Feb. 13th, 1976, according to most sources. -
Apple Computer Launched
Apple was established on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. They were hand-built by Wozniak and first shown to the public at the Homebrew Computer Club. The Apple I was sold as a motherboard (with CPU, RAM, and basic textual-video chips)—less than what is today considered a complete personal computer. The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 and was market-priced at $666.66 ($2,572 in 2011 dollars). -
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
Georg Solti and Raymond Minshull jointly received this Grammy for the performance of Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra. -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1976
Baruch S. Blumberg and D. Carleton Gajdusek,"for their discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases", were awarded this prize, heralding a third year of discoveries that can benefit humans by preventinginfection and disease. -
Karen Ann Quilan
(Date is of nursing home transfer)
Karen Ann Quinlan was the first modern icon of the right-to-die debate. Quinlan collapsed at a party after swallowing alcohol and the tranquilizer Valium on 14 April 1975. Doctors saved her life, but she suffered brain damage and lapsed into a "persistent vegetative state." Her family fought to remove her life support and won, but it was revealed she could still breath and remained in a coma until she died in 1985. -
Entebbe Air Raid
On June 27th 1976, a mixed group of German and Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France Airbus A300 which was travelling from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens. The plane was diverted to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, after a refueling stop in Benghazi, Libya. Over the next few days, many of the hostages were released, but over 100 Israeli and Jewish passengers remained in the hands of the hijackers. However, they were all rescued except for four people wha had died. -
North and South Vietnam Join to Form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
In early 1975, North Vietnamese regular military forces began a major offensive in the south, inflicting great damage to the south's forces. The communists took Saigon on April 30, 1975, and announced their intention to reunify the country. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (north) absorbed the former Republic of Vietnam (south) to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 2, 1976. -
West Pint Admits Women
On the morning of July 7, 1976, 119 women joined the Corps of Cadets, establishing the first class of females at The United States Military Academy at West Point. Of those, 62 women walked across Michie Stadium to graduate in May 1980, becoming second lieutenants in the Army, and making history in the process. -
Legionnaire's Disease Strikes 182; Kills 29
(Exact Date Unknown)
In late July 1976, American Legionnaires returning from a state convention in Philadelphia began to fall ill with mysterious symptoms: pneumonia and fevers topping 107 degrees. By early August, news organizations across the country were reporting that 6 to 14 of the men in Pennsylvania had died. Others were in hospitals fighting for their lives. No laboratory tests could determine the cause of their illness, which quickly became known as Legionnaires’ disease. No one knew th -
Mao Tse-Tung Dies
Mao Tse-tung died of a heart attack on September 9, 1976 in Beijing, China. Some sources state that he died of Parkinson disease. Mao was 82 when he died. Tiananmen Square is the home of his mausoleum. This led to a power struggle that ultimately led to reforms in the policies of china that we see today. -
President Carter Pardons Vietnam Draft Dodgers
On Jan. 21st, President Jimmy Carter pardoned thousands of Vietnam Draft Dodgers on his first day as president, primarily those who fled the country or did not register, a way to mend what was left of the war, unlike Ford’s conditional amnesty. However, deserters and those who protested violently were excluded from Carter’s pardon, showing the importance of both the military and internal peace. -
Roots Miniseries Airs
Adapted from Alex Haley’s novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Roots started airing on Jan. 23rd and ended on the thirtieth. It goes over the history of an African-American family and sparked interest in oral and genealogical history. Most of all, the finale is still the third-highest rated U.S. program of all time. -
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
Carlo Maria Giulini and producer Gunther Breest jointly received this Grammy for the performance of Mahler's Symphony #9 in D. -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1977
Roger Guillemin and Andrew V. Schally, "for their discoveries concerning the peptide hormone production of the brain", received the first half of the prize whilst Rosalyn Yalow received the other half "for the development of radioimmunoassays of peptide hormones". Both made advances in stumped areas due to their discoveries pertaining to hormone production and concentration, respectively. -
Star Wars Movie Released
The famous franchise all started in May 25th, when George Lucas released the first of the Star Wars movies, the fourth one, to be exact. It sparked the intensely popular movie series that would capture the attention of millions today and expand its franchise to all sorts of product areas. -
Alaskan Pipeline Completion
The Alaskan Pipeline was completed on May 31st after construction began in the wake of the oil crisis of 1973, with construction starting in ’75. The oil fields in the area could be transported and shipped off, providing economically feasible oil during the crisis. -
NYC Blackout
On July 13th, a mass blackout affected New York City, and while several people had helped each other, it had instigated rioting, looting, and other such events, just as the city was going through a financial crisis. Over $300 million dollars of damage and looting were sustained and there were so many arrests that the prisons overflowed. -
First Black Miss Universe
Janelle Commissiong, representing Trinidad and Tobago, had become the first black Miss Universe sometime near July 16th, a truly historic moment for the world and black rights. She went on to be an advocate for black rights and peace, a truly inspirational way of giving after her crowning. -
Neutron Bomb Funding Begins
At around July 18th, President Carter allowed funding, reluctantly though, for the neutron bomb which would show technological and military superiority over the U.S.S.S.R during the Cold War. The destructive power of such a bomb could destroy human life while keeping buildings and technology undamaged, a truly deadly weapon. -
Elvis Found Dead
Elvis Presley was found dead by his girlfriend in the bathroom on August 16th. This was a shock to the nation of America, much like the break-up of the Beatles. The cause of death can be argued, but was deemed by his physician chronic constipation that had actually been persisting before, though it was not known at the time. -
Best Orchestral Classical Performance
(All Grammy dates are unknown)
Herbert von Karajan, conductor, and Michel Glotz, producer, got this Grammy for the performance of Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete). -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1978
Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans and Hamilton O. Smith, "for the discovery of restriction enzymes and their application to problems of molecular genetics", were awrded the prize. They made breakthroughs in modern genetics, as well as discovering an enzyme responsible for blocking invading viruses, a defensive mechanism that doctors could reference. -
Atlantic City Permits Gambling
The first legal casino in Atlantic City opened on May 26th in order to revitalize tourism, a main source of income for the city. However some were against this, saying it only made urban problems worse because of impoverished, working-class neighborhoods right near the rich and tourist attracting casinos. It also marked the first the East Coast casino as well. -
First Test Tube Baby Born
Louise Joy Brown gained attention when she was born on July 25th as the world’s very first test-tube baby. The event was an incredible breakthrough in medical science, but many were concerned about the possible side effects or negative effects that could occur just for being outside the womb. However, Louise was born healthy and had no apparent illnesses, causing this method to be commonplace for infertile couples. -
Love Canal Federal Disaster
On August 7th, President Carter declared that the 15 acre neighborhood of the Love Canal was a federal disaster and emergency, as it was built on top of a toxic chemical landfill with over 21 tons of chemical waste that led to birth defects, a high miscarriage rate, and deformities that would affect the rest of the afflicted one’s life. -
Camp David Accords for Middle Eastern Peaces
On Sept. 17th, 1978, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords that would help set the standard and framework for peace in the Middle East. The events beforehand were a shock to many nations when peace talks started ensuing, but President Carter had pushed for a peace agreement between the two nations during negotiations in Camp David, ultimately leading to the accords. -
John Paul II Becomes Pope
Born as Karol Jozef Wojtyla, John Paul II became the pope on October 16th and would stay pope for almost 27 years, one of the longest pontificates in history. The pope would be an influential figure in the world until his death on April 2, 2005. -
Jonestown Massacre
The Jonestown “People’s Temple” cult committed a mass suicide of over 900 people on November 18th, willingly followed by the those under James Warren Jones after his guards had killed Congressman Leo Ryan and 4 cult members wishing to leave. It was incredibly disturbing that they gave their lives willingly just because their cult would not continue to function since survivors of the shooting escaped. -
Ayatollah Khomeini Returns as Iran's Leader
While Ayatollah Khomeini was gone, another leader stepped up to the plate as a leader and took his position. Half of the people were ecstatic but the other half were very angered. Ayatollah returned the power after the shah in his place went "on vacation". A crowd of over 5 million joyfully greeted him. -
Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident
What caused this was trouble within the cooling system in the plant. The lack of heating caused a core meltdown. Some radioactive gas was released a couple of days after the accident, but not enough to cause any dose above background levels to local residents. Three Mile Island is located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the USA. -
Best Classical Orchestral Recording
Georg Solti, conductor, and James Mallinson, producer, jointly received this Grammy for the recording of Brahms: Symphonies (1-4). -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1979
Allan M. Cormack and Godfrey N. Hounsfield were awarded this "for the development of computer assisted tomography", an aid in the modern world we have today. Without it, we would have harder times locating threats to any body, a task made easy with the CT Scan. -
Margaret Thatcher Become Great Britain's First Female Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher was the first lady prime minister ever, although she was not the first female prime minister or president in the world. In the end, she ended up holding office for 11 years, but held a very low approval rating of 40%, which she shrugged off, saying her election record mattered more. Her personality and power would eventually lead to discord in her party and her resignation. -
Jerry Falwell begins Moral Majority
The Moral Majority's stated mission was to "reverse the politicization of immorality in our society." It stressed Christian-based political lobbying. By the 1980s, Falwell's group claimed 6.5 million members, raising $69 million for conservative politicians and helping to elect Ronald Reagan president in 1980. -
Sony Introduces the Walkman
Sony’s Walkman was a music player first and foremost but it had no record function. This had been invented before, but the 1979 version was the most up to date version. Basically, what the Walkman was a portable caste player called the Walkman. It revolutionzied the way people could listen to music since you could carry it and listen through light headphones. -
ESPN Starts Broadcasting
EPSN was, back then, just starting to take its rise above the sport channels. ESPN features an abundant amount of different sports all on one channel brought to you at home. For people back then, this was new for them, and very exciting for sport lovers, just as it is today, watched by millions in the U.S. -
Greensboro Massacre
When the Klan/Nazis arrived, they pulled up to the curb in a group, alighted from the cars, calmly went to the trunks, removed their weapons, and began firing into the crowd of demonstrators. No police intervention was forthcoming. Only five people died in this tragedy. Survivors converted to the Communists Workers Party, which had resulted in acquittals during the Klan members’ murder trial. -
Iran Takes American Hostages
52 American hostages held at the US embassy in Tehran for more than 14 months have arrived in West Germany on their way home to the United States. A group of radical Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran. They were all released after 444 days.