WORLD EVENTS
President Nixon makes unprecedented eight day visit to Communist China and meets
with Mao Zedong.Britain takes over direct rule of Northern Ireland in bid for peace.
Eleven Israeli athletes at Olympic Games in Munich are killed after eight members of
an Arab terrorist group invades the Olympic village; five guerrillas and one policeman are also killed.Nixon orders "Christmas bombing" of North Vietnam.
World population: 3.860 billion
U.S. EVENTS
Gov. George C. Wallace of Alabama is shot by Arthur H. Bremer at Laurel, MD
political rally. Five men are apprehended by police in attempt to bug Democratic National
Committee headquarters in D.C.'s Watergate complex--start of Watergate scandal.U.S. Supreme Court rules that death penalty is unconstitutional.
President: Richard M. Nixon
Vice President: Spiro T. Agnew
Population: 209,896,021
Life Expectancy: 71.2 years
ECONOMICS
US GDP (1998 dollars): $1,237.30 billion
Federal spending: $230.68 billion
Federal debt: $435.9 billion
Median Household Income (current dollars): $9,697
Consumer Price Index: 41.8
Unemployment: 5.9%
Minimum Wage: $1.60
Average Income: $12,625 per year
ENTERTAINMENT
Events
Time Inc. transmits HBO, the first pay cable network.
Women dominate the 1971 Grammy Awards, taking all four top categories. Carole
King won Record, Album and Song of the Year, while Carly Simon takes the Best New Artist award. The National Institute of Mental Health and the Surgeon General issue a report that
claims exposure to violence on television fosters aggression in children. Gloria Steinem's MS magazine debuts.
M*A*S*H premieres on CBS.
Atari introduces the arcade version of Pong, the first video game.
Movies
The Godfather
Deliverance
Cabaret
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Academy Award Winners in 1973:
Best Picture: The Godfather
Best Actor: Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Best Actress: Lisa Minelli in Cabaret
Academy Award Winners in 1972:
Best Picture: The French Connection
Best Actor: Gene Hackman in The French Connection
Best Actress: Jane Fonda in Klute
Books
The Great Bridge by David McCullough
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Three Poems by John Ashberry
The Sunlight Dialogues by John Gardner
Up Country by Maxine Kumin
Braving the Elements by James Merrill
The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Top Songs
A Horse with No Name -- America
I Can See Clearly Now -- Johnny Nash
American Pie -- Don McLean
The Candy Man -- Sammy Davis, Jr.
Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me -- Mac Davis
Alone Again (Naturally) -- Gilbert O'Sullivan
Me and Mrs. Jones -- Billy Paul
Lean on Me -- Bill Withers
SCIENCE
CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) scanning is developed in England.
The compact disc is developed by RCA.
The antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) is developed by Bryan B. Malloy and
Klaus K. Schmiegel.The video disk is introduced by Philips Company.
Electronic mail is introduced. Queen Elizabeth will send her first email in 1976.
Apollo XVII, the last manned moon landing to date, returns to Earth with 250 pounds
of lunar samples. SPORTS
Super Bowl - Dallas defeats Miami (24-3)
World Series - Oakland A's defeat Cincinnati (4-3)
NBA Championship - LA Lakers defeat New York (4-1)
Stanley Cup - Boston defeats NY Rangers (4-2)
Wimbledon:
Women: Billie Jean King defeats E. Goolagong (6-3 6-3) Men: Stan Smith defeats I. Nastase (4-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 7-5) Kentucky Derby Champion - Riva Ridge
NCAA Basketball Championship - UCLA defeats Florida State (81-76)
NCAA Football Champions - USC (12-0-0)
DEATHS
Gil Hodges J. Edgar HooverHarry S. Truman
J. Edgar HooverHarry S. Truman Source of Information: "1972." 20th Century Year by Year. Factmonster.com. Copyright 2001 Learning Network.
