Study Tool: Chronological Events of the 1969-1980 Era 

Does not include issues on social history covered separately.

 

Date

Presidential Election/ Event

Beyond America

Foreign Policy

Government Institutions

US Economic Development

Issue/Organization Development

Political Party Development

1968-11

Richard M. Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey vs. George Wallace (American Independent)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1969

 

 

Kissinger NSC director[1]

 

 

La Raza

 

1969

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia Plan[2]

 

 

1969-01+

Vietnamization

 

 

 

 

 

 

1969-03

Bombing of Cambodia starts[3]

 

 

 

 

 

 

1969-05

 

 

 

 

 

Kent State, OH[4]

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hard-hat” demonstration[5]

 

1969-06

 

 

 

Warren Burger, new Chief Justice[6]

 

 

 

1969-07

 

 

 

 

 

Moon landing[7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stonewall Riot[8]

 

1969-08

 

 

 

 

 

Woodstock Art & Music Fair

 

1969-11

 

 

 

 

 

Mobilization Day
(Nov. 15)[9]

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Lai massacre in news[10]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcatraz Takeover[11]

 

1970-04

Announcement of bombing of Cambodia[12]

 

 

 

 

 

 

1970-06

 

 

 

OMB est.[13]

 

 

 

1970-10

 

 

 

EPA est.[14]

 

 

 

1971

 

 

 

 

 

Busing[15]

 

1971-04

 

Ping Pong Diplomacy[16]

 

 

 

 

 

1971-06

 

 

 

 

 

Pentagon Papers[17]

 

1971-09

“Plumbers” authorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

1972

 

 

 

 

 

Equal Rights Amendment proposed[18]

 

1972-02

Visit to China

 

 

 

 

 

 

1972-05

 

 

SALT[19]

 

 

 

George Wallace, assassination attempt[20]

1972-06

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watergate break-in[21]

1972-10

 

 

Kissinger—Le Duc To secret talks

 

 

 

 

1972-11

Richard M. Nixon vs. George S. McGovern

 

 

 

 

 

Democratic control of Congress

1973

 

 

CIA covert action: Chile[22]

Roe v. Wade

 

 

 

1973-01

 

 

 

Watergate trial[23]

 

Press: Washington Post

 

1973-05

 

 

 

Archibald Cox, special prosecutor

 

Wounded Knee occupied by AIM[24]

 

 

 

 

Sam Ervin (NC), Senate investigation[25]

 

 

 

1973-10

Agnew resigns[26]

Yom Kippur War[27]

 

“Saturday Night Massacre”[28]

OPEC embargo[29]

 

 

1973-11

 

 

War Powers Act[30]

 

 

 

 

1974-07

 

 

 

Impeachment articles[31]

 

 

 

1974-08

Resignation

 

 

 

 

 

 

1974-09

Pardon of Nixon

 

 

 

 

 

 

1974-10

 

 

 

Campaign Finance Law[32]

 

 

 

1974-11

 

 

 

Freedom of Information Act[33]

 

 

 

1975-04

 

Helsinki Accords[34]

 

 

 

 

 

1975-08

 

Saigon falls

 

 

 

 

 

1975-1979

 

 

 

Senate investigation of CIA[35]

 

 

 

1976-11

Gerald R. Ford vs. Jimmy Carter

 

 

 

 

 

 

1977-08

 

 

Panama Canal control ends[36]

 

 

 

 

1978

 

 

 

Bakke case[37]

 

 

 

1978-09

 

 

Camp David Accords[38]

 

 

 

 

1979-01

 

Iran Revolution[39]

 

 

 

 

 

1979-11

 

Iran: hostage crisis[40]

 

 

 

 

 

1979-12

 

Afghanistan: Revolution against USSR

 

 

 

 

 



 

Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2010

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

Contact Information:

281.239.1577 or cjb_classes@yahoo.com

Last Updated:

2010

WCJC Home:

http://www.wcjc.edu/

 

 



[1] NSC = National Security Council

[2] Required construction unions to hire blacks on federal projects.

[3] See 1970-04.

[4] Rocks and bottles thrown; National Guard fire into crowd; 4 dead, 9 wounded.

[5] Ayers on p. 831 describes this as beating demonstrators “with hammers, pipes, and fists.”

[6] Nixon also appoints:

§ Harry Blackmun

§ William Rehnquist

§ Lewis Powell

[7] Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Michael Collins

[8] Leads to Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activist Alliance.

[9] Boston, NY, San Francisco, Washington (250,000).  Other sources: October 15 = “Moratorium Day”; November 15 = “March Against Death”

[10] March 16, 1968, Lieutenant William Calley; life sentence in 1971.

[11] Native American; will pull out 1971-06.

[12] See 1969-03.

[13] OMB = Office of Management and Budget. Superseded Bureau of the Budget; oversees all cabinet departments’ budgets.

[14] EPA = Environmental Protection Agency

[15] Swann v. Charlotte – Mecklenburg Board of Education; South Boston violence.

[16] Chinese invitation

[17] Daniel Ellsberg; later published in New York Times; charges against him later dismissed; injunction to block publication rejected by Supreme Court.

[18] 34 states ratified; 3 more states needed; time limit was 6/30/1982.

[19] SALT = Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty; limits ICBMs (long-range missiles)

[20] Paralyzed; withdraws from race.

[21] Break-in of Democratic national headquarters includes the “Plumbers.”

[22] Support for military coup; $8M to oppose Salvador Allende after election. “The president … openly encouraged the CIA to undermine the democratically elected, left-wing government of Chilean president Salvatore Allende, who was overthrown and apparently murdered by right-wing militia forces in 1973. ‘I don’t see why we have to allow a country to go Marxist just because its people are irresponsible,’ Henry Kissinger argued.” (p. 808 in the 4th edition).

[23] Judge John J. Sirica, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of Washington Post instrumental in exposing case.

[24] AIM = American Indian Movement

[25] Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities; televised

[26] Nolo contendre on tax evasion; accepted payoff. Gerald Ford – see 25th Amendment – becomes President.

[27] Attack on Israel in 2-front war by Egypt, Syria.

[28] Cox persisted in demanding the White House tapes. Nixon orders the Attorney General to fire him; he refuses; he’s fired; his assistant refuses; he’s fired. Robert H. Bork becomes Attorney General; he fires Cox. Public response.

[29] US airlift of supplies to Israel in the Yom Kippur War led to Organization of Petroleum Exporting States cutting off oil.

[30] 60-day limit without Congress approval; notification within 48 hours.

[31] Ones passing:

§ Obstructed investigation

§ Abuse of authority

§ Contrary to his oath

§ Defiance of subpoenas

[32] Federal funds to candidates; accounting.

[33] Expanded 1966 act. Required government to prove item needed to be classified, ending of citizens having to prove it didn’t.

[34] Continuation of 1973 talks; signed by 33 nations, including US.

[35] In addition to Chile/Allende case, Laos secret war, probable assassinations, drug experiments.

[36] 13 years of negotiations. Effective 2000, US ends 1903 treaty; control to Panama.

[37] Supreme Court rejected quotas, supported use of race in admissions.

[38] Egypt (Anwar Sadat) recognizes Israel; Israel (Menachim Begin) returns Sinai.

[39] Shah flies; Ayatollah Khomeini returns. Reminder: 1953 CIA aid.

[40] Failed rescue 1980-04.