World Events

  • Biafra surrenders after 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria (Jan. 12).
  • Rhodesia severs last tie with British Crown and declares itself a racially segregated republic (March 1).
  • US troops invade Cambodia (May 1). Background: Vietnam War
  • A Palestinian revolt erupts in Jordan. Forces loyal to King Hussein suppress the revolt and expel the PLO from the country.
  • Earthquake kills more than 50,000 in Peru (May 31).
  • Egyptian President Nasser dies and is replaced by Anwar el-Sadat.
  • Tonga (June 4) and Fiji (Oct. 10) gain independence from Britain.
U.S. Events
  • Kent State University in Ohio slain by National Guardsmen at demonstration protesting incursion into Cambodia (May 4).
  • Senate repeals Gulf of Tonkin resolution (June 24).
Economics

US GDP (1998 dollars):   $1,035.60 billion
Federal spending:   $195.65 billion
Federal debt:   $380.9 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars):  $8,734
Consumer Price Index:   38.8
Unemployment:   3.5%
Cost of a first-class stamp:   $0.06

Sports

Super Bowl
Kansas City d. Minnesota (23-7)

World Series
Baltimore d. Cincinnati (4-1)

NBA Championship
New York d. LA Lakers (4-3)

Stanley Cup
Boston d. St. Louis (4-0)

Wimbledon
Women: Margaret Court d. B.J. King (14-12 11-9)
Men: John Newcombe d. K. Rosewall (5-7 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1)

Kentucky Derby Champion
Dust Commander

NCAA Basketball Championship
UCLA d. Jacksonville (80-69)

NCAA Football Champions
Nebraska (AP, FW) (11-0-1); Texas (UPI, NFF-tie), (10-1-0) & Ohio St. (NFF-tie), (9-1-0)

World Cup
Brazil d. Italy (4-1)

Entertainment

Events

  • The Beatles break up. By the end of the year, each member had released a solo album.
  • George C. Scott gives one of film’s most memorable performances in Patton. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his turn as the title character, but refused the gold statuette.
  • Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both die drug-related deaths at age 27.
  • FCC regulations require separate ownership of television networks and studios.
  • Monday Night Football debuts on ABC, with Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith giving play-by-play.

Movies

  • M*A*S*H, Patton, Love Story, Airport

Books

  • Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
  • John Berryman, Love and Fame
  • Nikki Giovanni, Black Talk/Black Judgement
  • Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
  • Gail Godwin, The Perfectionist
  • John Updike, Bech: A Book
Science
  • Biochemist Hamilton O. Smith (US) discovers a restriction enzyme that will allow biologist Daniel Nathans (US) to map a complete viral genome. Background: genetic engineering
  • IBM introduces the floppy disk. Background: Computers and Internet
  • Bar codes (computer-scanned binary signal code) are introduced for retail and industrial use in England.
  • The LCD (liquid crystal display) is invented by Hoffmann-La Roche (Switzerland).
  • The Food and Drug Administration warns that birth control pills may cause blood clots. Background: Birth & Contraception
  • Lithium is approved by the FDA for the treatment of manic-depression.
Deaths
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Janis Joplin
  • Sonny Liston

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The TV Comedy MASH first started
(staring Alan Alda & Loretta Swit)