Year 1970 in History

Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League

Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.

Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nig

Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu flees Biafra into exile, leaving his deputy, Philip Effiong, to surrender to the Nigerian Army, effectively ending the Nigerian Civil War

Movie rating system modifies "M" rating to "PG"

Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy

Biographical film "Patton" directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott premieres in New York (Academy Awards Best Picture 1971)

South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official in

South Africa cricket team completes a 4-0 series drubbing of Australia in South Africa in the country's last official international cricket Test for 22 years

Canadian-American art student and future actor Phil Hartman (21) weds first wife Gretchen Lewis; divorce in 1972

Columbia Records releases jazz artist Miles Davis's influential double album "Bitches Brew"; it becomes his highest-char

Columbia Records releases jazz artist Miles Davis's influential double album "Bitches Brew"; it becomes his highest-charting title, wins a Grammy, and earns him his first gold record

Paul McCartney officially announces the breakup of The Beatles in a press release promoting his solo album

Sir James Paul McCartney is an English musician. He gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he was the bassist and keyboardist, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John…

Apollo 13 announces, "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here" after a Beech-built oxygen tank exploded en route to the

Apollo 13 announces, "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here" after a Beech-built oxygen tank exploded en route to the Moon

Paul McCartney releases his first solo album "McCartney"

McCartney is the debut solo studio album by the English rock musician Paul McCartney, released on 17 April 1970 by Apple Records.

Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Bobby Orr scores a famous OT winner as Boston beats the St. Louis Blues 4-

Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Bobby Orr scores a famous OT winner as Boston beats the St. Louis Blues 4-3 for a 4-0 series sweep; Bruins win their first title since 1941

American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (44) weds American entertainer Altovise Gore (26) in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania c

American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (44) weds American entertainer Altovise Gore (26) in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania courthouse, officiated by the Rev. Jesse Jackson:, his third marriage lasts until his death in 1990

7.75 Ancash earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 66,000-70,000 people and triggers the world's deadliest avalanche

FIFA World Cup Final, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City: Brazil and Pelé become the first team and player to win the World Cup

FIFA World Cup Final, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City: Brazil and Pelé become the first team and player to win the World Cup three times, defeating Italy 4-1 in front of 107,412 spectators

Casey Kasem's countdown radio program "American Top 40" debuts on Los Angeles radio

American Top 40 (abbreviated to AT40) is an internationally syndicated, independent song countdown radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs.

California passes the first no-fault divorce law in the United States

No-fault divorce is the dissolution of a marriage that does not require a showing of wrongdoing by either party.

American actress Shelley Duvall (21) weds American artist Bernard Sampson; divorce in 1974

Aswan High Dam opens in Egypt, enabling human control of the flooding of the Nile

Black Tot Day: the last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy, which started in 1740

Black September hijackings begin as three airliners are hijacked and destroyed by the Popular Front for the Liberation o

Black September hijackings begin as three airliners are hijacked and destroyed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

Sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" premieres on CBS

Mary and Rhoda is a 2000 American made-for-television comedy-drama film starring Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper reprising their roles as Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern from the 1970–1977...

US President Richard Nixon promises to gradually remove troops from Vietnam

Richard Nixon's tenure as the 37th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1969, and ended when he resigned on August 9, 1974, in the face of almost certain...

American "The Mamas & the Papas" singer Michelle Phillips (26) divorces American "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis

American "The Mamas & the Papas" singer Michelle Phillips (26) divorces American "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis Hopper (34) after only 8 days of marriage

Cyclone Bhola makes landfall in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), killing up to 500,000 people, making it the deadliest tr

Cyclone Bhola makes landfall in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), killing up to 500,000 people, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded

Stanford Research Institute scientist Douglas Engelbart receives the first patent for the computer mouse

General Hafez al-Assad becomes Prime Minister of Syria following a military coup known as the Corrective Revolution

Hafez al-Assad (6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who served as the president of Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000.

Dutch premiere of Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, and James Rado's hippie musical "Hair" opens in Amsterdam

Marxist government takes over in Congo

Weekly CBS documentary show "The Twentieth Century" hosted by Walter Cronkite ends

Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981.

23,000 Belgian mine workers strike

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono give a press conference in Aalborg, Denmark, revealing that they were only visiting

Australian boxer Johnny Famechon retains his WBC featherweight title with a 14th-round knockout of Fighting Harada in To

Australian boxer Johnny Famechon retains his WBC featherweight title with a 14th-round knockout of Fighting Harada in Tokyo; re-match of questionable 15-round decision in 1969 in his first title defense

Constitution of Singapore enacted

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore is the supreme law of Singapore. A written constitution, the text which took effect on 9 August 1965 is derived from the Constitution of the State of...

Preview Center opens at Walt Disney World, Florida - first building to open

Irish republican political party Sinn Féin party splits between those in favor of abstentionism (of not taking any seats

Irish republican political party Sinn Féin party splits between those in favor of abstentionism (of not taking any seats won in the parliaments) and those where against

Royal Ulster Constabulary officers patrol the Falls Road area of Belfast for the first time since 1969

AAU player Steve Myers makes a basketball field goal of 92'3½" from out of bounds, Tacoma-it shouldn't have counted, but

AAU player Steve Myers makes a basketball field goal of 92'3½" from out of bounds, Tacoma-it shouldn't have counted, but was allowed

baseball players are available in the free-agent draft

Hasse Borjes skates world record 500m in 38.9 sec

Eight Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands say there should be room in the church for both married pr

Eight Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands say there should be room in the church for both married priests and celibate priests

First commercial Boeing 747 flight, Pan American World Airways flies from New York City to London in 6½ hours

The Boeing 747 is a long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2023. After the introduction of the 707 in October...

Australia's 1st amateur radio satellite (Oscar 5) launched (California)

Valeri Muratov skates world record 500m (38.99 sec)

"Bridge Over Troubled Water", the 5th and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel is released (Grammy Award Album of the

"Bridge Over Troubled Water", the 5th and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel is released (Grammy Award Album of the Year, Best Engineered Non-Classical Album 1971)

Lubomír Strougal succeeds Cernik as premier of Czechoslovakia

Lubomír Štrougal (19 October 1924 – 6 February 2023) was a Czech politician who was the prime minister of Czechoslovakia from 1970 to 1988.

USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan

Grateful Dead members and entourage busted, down on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on LSD charges [1]

1st Test Cricket ton of Barry Richards, 126, 164 balls, 20 fours 1 six

Graeme Pollock completes 274 v Australia at Durban

Robert Graeme Pollock is a former cricketer for South Africa, Transvaal and Eastern Province.

Guyana becomes a republic (National Day)

This is a list of the heads of state of Guyana, from the independence of Guyana in 1966 to the present day. From 1966 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1966 was the queen of Guyana,...

29 Swiss Army officers die in avalanche (Reckingen, Switzerland)

The Beatles release "Hey Jude" compilation album in US (originally to be titled "Beatles Again")

Hey Jude (original title: The Beatles Again) is a 1970 collection of non-album singles and B-sides by the Beatles.

NY Times (falsely) reports US army has ended domestic surveillance

Bicycles permitted to cross Golden Gate Bridge

American Airlines begins their first service using a Boeing 747, between New York's JFK International Airport and Los An

American Airlines begins their first service using a Boeing 747, between New York's JFK International Airport and Los Angeles International

French submarine "Eurydice" explodes off Cape Camarat in the Mediterranean, all 57 crew lost

A Catholic man is shot dead by British soldiers in Belfast, North Ireland

Ice Dance Championship at Ljubljana won by Pakhomova & Gorshkov (URS)

WTCI TV channel 45 in Chattanooga, TN (PBS) begins broadcasting

US lowers voting age from 21 to 18

A legal voting age is the minimum age that a person is allowed to vote in a democratic process.

year Beehive anniversary ends in brawl in Amsterdam

Expo '70 opens in Osaka, Japan

The Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970 (日本万国博覧会, Nihon Bankoku Hakuran-kai) or Expo '70 was a world's fair held in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, between 15 March and 13 September 1970.

Oxford University Press and Cambridge University press co-publish The Old Testament of the New English Bible, and Comple

Oxford University Press and Cambridge University press co-publish The Old Testament of the New English Bible, and Complete New English Bible, incorporating the New Testament first published in 1961

Peter O'Malley becomes CEO of LA Dodgers

Peter O'Malley is an American former owner (1979–98) and president (1970–98) of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He currently is a part-owner of the San Diego Padres since 2012.

Cambodia military coup under General Lon Nol, Prince Sihanuk flees

West German Chancellor Willy Brandt and East German Premier Willi Stoph meet in Erfurt, East Germany, for the first time

West German Chancellor Willy Brandt and East German Premier Willi Stoph meet in Erfurt, East Germany, for the first time since the division of Germany in 1949

Vinko Bogataj crashes during a ski-jumping championship in Germany; his image becomes that of the "agony of defeat guy"

Vinko Bogataj crashes during a ski-jumping championship in Germany; his image becomes that of the "agony of defeat guy" in the opening credits of ABC's Wide World of Sports.

"Blood Red Roses" opens & closes at John Golden Theater NYC

Dutch cartoonist Frans Piet ends "Sjors & Sjimmie" strip

Concorde makes its 1st supersonic flight (700 MPH/1,127 KPH)

th nuclear explosion announced by the US since 1945

1,086 die when 7.4 quake destroys 254 villages in Gediz Turkey

American television soap opera "Another World in Somerset" premieres on NBC, runs until 1976

Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit

Federal Bankruptcy Referee Sidney Volinn declares MLB's Seattle Pilots bankrupt; car dealer Bud Selig buys franchise for

Federal Bankruptcy Referee Sidney Volinn declares MLB's Seattle Pilots bankrupt; car dealer Bud Selig buys franchise for $10.8 million and moves club to Milwaukee (Brewers)

2 men begin ascent of south face of Annapurna I, highest final stage in a wall climb in world

As part of a new 'get tough' policy in Northern Ireland, Ian Freeland of the British Army, warned that those throwing pe

As part of a new 'get tough' policy in Northern Ireland, Ian Freeland of the British Army, warned that those throwing petrol bombs could be shot dead

Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Don Johnson

WSNS TV channel 44 in Chicago, IL (IND) begins broadcasting

Senate rejects Nixon's nomination of Judge G. Harrold Carswell to US Supreme Court

George Harrold Carswell (December 22, 1919 – July 13, 1992) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and a United States district judge of the...

Apollo 13 launched to Moon; unable to land, returns in 6 days

Apollo 13 (April 11–17, 1970) was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and would have been the third Moon landing.

Libyan leader Gadaffi launches "Green Revolution"

70 die in a snow crush (France)

Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help

24th Tony Awards: "Borstal Boy" (play) & "Applause" (musical) win

The 24th Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by NBC television on April 19, 1970, from the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. Hosts were Julie Andrews, Shirley MacLaine and Walter Matthau.

Bruno Kreisky becomes 1st socialist chancellor of Austria

Bruno Kreisky was an Austrian social democratic politician who served as foreign minister from 1959 to 1966 and as chancellor from 1970 to 1983.

Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 batters, Braves counter with 3 HRs, 6 for one team & 9 different batters for two teams, all tie or

Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 batters, Braves counter with 3 HRs, 6 for one team & 9 different batters for two teams, all tie or set records

First Earth Day celebrated, founded by Gaylord Nelson

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states, referred to as Commonwealth countries.

Buddha Records releases Melanie's breakthrough single "Lay Down"

US and South Vietnamese forces launch an incursion into Cambodia, expanding the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and their allies.

MLB Chicago Cubs Billy Williams is 1st National League player to appear in 1,000 consecutive games

Billy Leo Williams is an American former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs.

KOAI (now KNAZ) TV channel 2 in Flagstaff, Arizona (NBC) 1st broadcast

Trans-Arabian Pipeline delivery from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean interrupted in Syria, driving oil tanker rates to

Trans-Arabian Pipeline delivery from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean interrupted in Syria, driving oil tanker rates to all time highs

National Guard kills 4 student anti-war protesters at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio

The Kent State shootings (also known as the Kent State massacre) were the killing of four and wounding of nine unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on the Kent State University campus...

US performs nuclear test at Nevada test Site

The Nevada National Security Sites (N2S2 or NNSS), popularized as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010, is a reservation of the United States Department of Energy located in the southeastern portion...

Construction workers break up an anti-war rally in NYC's Wall Street

"The Long and Winding Road" becomes Beatles' last American single release

"You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles released initially as the B-side of the single "Let It Be" on 6 March 1970.

Elizabeth Hoisington and Anna Mae Mays named 1st female US generals

Anna Mae Violet Hays was an American military officer who served as the 13th chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps.

Beatles' last released LP, "Let It Be", released in US

Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles.

,000 march in NY supporting US policies in Vietnam

Arab terrorists kill 9 children & 3 adults on a school bus

A fire breaks out in the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits in north Wales contributing to its partial destruction

A fire breaks out in the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits in north Wales contributing to its partial destruction and causing approximately £1,000,000 worth of fire damage

British guitarist Peter Green quits Fleetwood Mac to join a religious cult

The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2

The Tupolev Tu-144 (Russian: Tyполев Ту-144; NATO reporting name: Charger) is a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner designed by Tupolev that operated commercially from 1975 to 1983, including...

British expedition climbs south face of Annapurna I in the Himalayas in north-central Nepal, 10th highest mountain

Arms Trial Begins: several men are charged in a Dublin court with conspiracy to illegally import arms for use by the Iri

Arms Trial Begins: several men are charged in a Dublin court with conspiracy to illegally import arms for use by the Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Soviet dissident Zhores Medvedev is arrested and taken to a psychiatric hospital in Kaluga sparking protests

Baseball All-Star voting is returned to fans

The 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 41st midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League...

First artificial gene is synthesized

43rd National Spelling Bee: Libby Childress wins spelling croissant

The 43rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Mayflower Hotel on June 3–4, 1970, sponsored by the E.W.

Chile becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty

22nd Emmy Awards: Marcus Welby, Robert Young & Susan Hampshire win

The 22nd Emmy Awards, later known as the 22nd Primetime Emmy Awards, were handed out on June 7, 1970. The ceremony was hosted by David Frost and Danny Thomas.

MLB players union and management end labor dispute, raising minimum salary to $12,000

Argentine military junta under Juan Carlos Lanusse ousts President Juan Carlos Onganía

Juan Carlos Onganía Carballo was President of Argentina from 29 June 1966 to 8 June 1970.

US leaves Wheelus AFB Libya

MLB Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Doc Ellis no-hits the Padres, 2-0 at San Diego Stadium; he later claimed to be under the

MLB Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Doc Ellis no-hits the Padres, 2-0 at San Diego Stadium; he later claimed to be under the influence of LSD at the time [1]

"In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry hits #1 in UK

"In the Summertime" is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry, released in 1970.

Kenneth A. Gibson elected 1st black mayor of Newark, New Jersey

Kenneth Allen Gibson (May 15, 1932 – March 29, 2019) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who was the 36th mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1970 to 1986.

British rock band Led Zeppelin begin their last European tour

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham.

Detroit's Cesar Gutierrez goes 7-for-7 to tie a record set in 1892

Irish socialist, republican and Member of Parliament, Bernadette Devlin, loses her appeal against a 6-month prison sente

Irish socialist, republican and Member of Parliament, Bernadette Devlin, loses her appeal against a 6-month prison sentence imposed for taking part in riots in Derry

"Red Skelton Show" last airs on CBS-TV, moved to NBC-TV

"Catch 22" opens in movie theaters

Frank Robinson hits 2 grand slams as Baltimore Orioles beat Washington Senators 12-2

Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. (May 18, 1937 – September 26, 2023) was an American baseball player who played his entire 23-year career in Major League Baseball as a third baseman for the Baltimore...

Around 500 Catholic workers at the Harland and Wolff shipyard are forced to leave their work by Protestant employees as

Around 500 Catholic workers at the Harland and Wolff shipyard are forced to leave their work by Protestant employees as serious rioting continues in Belfast

US ends 2 month military offensive into Cambodia

Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium opens as the visiting Atlanta Braves beat Reds, 8-2; demolished 2002

Riverfront Stadium, also known as Cinergy Field from 1996 to 2002, was a multi-purpose stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling visits N. Ireland and is reported as saying: "For God's sake bring me a large S

British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling visits N. Ireland and is reported as saying: "For God's sake bring me a large Scotch. What a bloody awful country!"

First Boeing 747 lands in Amsterdam and Brussels

injured in race rioting in Asbury Park, NJ

Air Canada DC-8 crashes 7 miles from Toronto's airport killing 109

In Atlanta, Chief-No-ka-homa is joined by cousin Chief Round-the-Horn

Tanzania signs contract with China for building Tanzam-railway between Tanzania and Zambia

Building of Amsterdam metro begins

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area.

Denmark defeats Italy 2-0 in the first Women's World Cup

The Italy women's national football team (Italian: Nazionale di calcio femminile dell'Italia) has represented Italy in international women's football since their inception in 1968.

9th British Commonwealth Games open in Edinburgh, Scotland

30,000 attend Randall's Island Rock Festival, NYC

Arthur Brown arrested for stripping on stage in Palemo Sicily

Dodgers Bill Singer no-hits the Phillies 5-0, giving up no walks

A ban on parades and public processions until January 1971 is announced by the Stormont government (Northern Ireland Par

A ban on parades and public processions until January 1971 is announced by the Stormont government (Northern Ireland Parliament)

International Lawn Tennis Association institutes 9-point tiebreak rule

Expos beat White Sox 10-6 in the annual Hall of Fame game

Six days of race riots in Hartford, Connecticut

30,000 people arrive to attend the Powder Ridge Rock Festival in Middlefield, Connecticut, despite its cancellation due

30,000 people arrive to attend the Powder Ridge Rock Festival in Middlefield, Connecticut, despite its cancellation due to local residents' opposition

37th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: Kansas City 24, All-Stars 3 (69,940 attendees)

EAA Convention moves from Rockford, IL, to Oshkosh, WI

France performs a nuclear test at Fangataufa Island

Christopher Hampton's "Philanthropist" premieres in London

Sir Christopher James Hampton is a British playwright, screenwriter, and translator.

Robert Morley's "How the Other Half Loves" premieres in London

Peruvian Airlines LANSA Flight 502 explodes, killing 101 people, including 45 US exchange students

British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling threatens to impose direct rule on Northern Ireland if the agreed reform measur

British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling threatens to impose direct rule on Northern Ireland if the agreed reform measures are not carried out

Cincinnati Reds slugger Tony Perez becomes the first hitter to launch a home run into the red seats at Riverfront Stadiu

Cincinnati Reds slugger Tony Perez becomes the first hitter to launch a home run into the red seats at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

Pamphlet bombs that scatter revolutionary African National Congress propaganda leaflets explode in Cape Town, Johannesbu

Pamphlet bombs that scatter revolutionary African National Congress propaganda leaflets explode in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and Port Elizabeth, South Africa

City University of New York inaugurates open admissions

Patricia Palinkas becomes the first woman professional football player (Orlando)

Patricia Palinkas was the first woman to have played American football professionally in a predominantly male league.

Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 is launched towards Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" among the planets of the Solar System for its orbit being the closest to Earth's, both being terrestrial...

The Chinese community in South Africa is granted "white" status

Hurricane Dorothy kills 42 in Martinique

The 1970 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30.

Roberto Clemente compiles his record second consecutive 5-hit game

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walkerwalˈkeɾ]; August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh...

Bomb kills one at University of Wisconsin's Army Math Research Center in Madison

Minister of Home Affairs Robert Porter resigns from the Stormont government (Northern Ireland parliament)

Black Panthers confront police in Philadelphia; one officer is killed

The Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was an American Marxist–Leninist and black power political and militant organization founded by college students Bobby...

Lonnie McLucas, a Black Panther activist, convicted of conspiracy to commit murder

Failed assassination attempt on Jordanian king Hussain

After playing a NL record 1,117 consecutive MLB games, Chicago Cubs outfielder Billy Williams asks to sit out

29.0 cm of rainfall at Workman Creek, Arizona (state record)

Estimated 15 cm (6 inches) of rainfall in Bug Point, Utah (state record)

Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Palestinians seize three airliners

Donald Boyles sets a record for the highest parachute jump from a bridge by leaping off the 956 ft (291 m) Royal Gorge B

Donald Boyles sets a record for the highest parachute jump from a bridge by leaping off the 956 ft (291 m) Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado

Jerry Lewis's 5th Muscular Dystrophy telethon

Feyenoord wins soccer's Club World Cup

Feyenoord Rotterdam is a Dutch professional football club based in Rotterdam, which plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football.

MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for carrying a gun

Dennis Dale McLain is an American former professional baseball player. He played for ten seasons in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, most prominently as a member of the Detroit...

Palestinian terrorists blow up three hijacked airliners in Jordan and continue to hold the passengers hostage in various

Palestinian terrorists blow up three hijacked airliners in Jordan and continue to hold the passengers hostage in various undisclosed locations in Amman

Palestine guerillas conquer Irbid Jordania

Economic Council for Northern Ireland holds its first meeting

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been variously described as a country, province or region.

King Hussein of Jordan forms military government

Hussein bin Talal al-Hashimi (14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999.

American TV variety program "The Flip Wilson Show" debuts on NBC-TV and runs for four seasons, winning two Emmy Awards

Oakland A's Vida Blue no-hits Minnesota Twins, 6-0

Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. (July 28, 1949 – May 6, 2023) was an American professional baseball player.

Abdul Razak bin Hussain becomes Prime Minister of Malaysia

Soviet space probe Luna 16 lands on Earth after the first unmanned round trip to the Moon

A group of Protestant youths attacks the Catholic Unity Flats as rioting continues in the Protestant Shankill Road area

Ken Boswell sets second baseman record of 85 games without an error

"NET Festival" last aired

A Protestant man is shot and killed by Loyalists in Belfast, North Ireland

63 arrested in a riot to buy Rolling Stones tickets in Milan, Italy

Detroit general manager Jim Campbell gives controversial Billy Martin a 2-year deal (1971-72) to manage the Tigers at a

Detroit general manager Jim Campbell gives controversial Billy Martin a 2-year deal (1971-72) to manage the Tigers at a well above MLB average annual salary of $65,000

First umpires' strike in MLB history lasts one day during League Championship Series; AL and NL presidents recognize new

First umpires' strike in MLB history lasts one day during League Championship Series; AL and NL presidents recognize newly formed MLB Umpires Association and negotiate labor contract

Herbert Schmidtz makes the highest parachute jump from a tower by leaping from a 1,984 ft (604.7 m) TV mast in Tulsa, Ok

Herbert Schmidtz makes the highest parachute jump from a tower by leaping from a 1,984 ft (604.7 m) TV mast in Tulsa, Oklahoma

American fiddle player "Papa" John Creach joins Jefferson Airplane

John Henry Creach (May 28, 1917 – February 22, 1994), better known as Papa John Creach, was an American blues violinist who also played classical, jazz, R&B, pop and acid rock music.

Khmer Republic (Cambodia) declares independence

The history of Cambodia, a country in mainland Southeast Asia, begins with the earliest evidence of habitation around 5000 BCE.

Fiji gains independence from Britain (National Day)

The Colony of Fiji was a Crown colony that existed from 1874 to 1970 in the territory of the present-day nation of Fiji. London declined its first opportunity to annex Fiji in 1852.

Rock Memorabilia Auction at Filmore East

2 future Basketball Hall of Famers debut; guard Calvin Murphy for San Diego Rockets in 111-96 loss in Chicago; forward D

2 future Basketball Hall of Famers debut; guard Calvin Murphy for San Diego Rockets in 111-96 loss in Chicago; forward Dave Cowens for Boston Celtics in 114-107 loss in New York

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Buffalo Braves in their 1st game 107-92

The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known simply as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1970.

Sachio Kinugasa begins a 2,215 consecutive game streak for Hiroshima Carp

Amdahl Corp forms in Sunnyvale, California

American agronomist Norman Borlaug is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to world food supply

The 1970 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the American agronomist Norman Borlaug (1914–2009) "for having given a well-founded hope - the green revolution." He is the thirteenth American recipient of...

couples from around the world wed in a mass wedding ceremony hosted by the Unification Church in Seoul, South Korea

The Unification Church, officially the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU; 세계평화통일가정연합) is an Abrahamic monotheistic new religious movement, whose members are called...

Charles Haughey and two others are found not guilty of illegal arms importation by a Dublin jury; the 'Arms Trial' began

Charles Haughey and two others are found not guilty of illegal arms importation by a Dublin jury; the 'Arms Trial' began on 28 May 1970

Austrian driver Jochen Rindt wins F1 World Drivers Championship by 5 points from Jacky Ickx after Mexican GP; only seaso

Austrian driver Jochen Rindt wins F1 World Drivers Championship by 5 points from Jacky Ickx after Mexican GP; only season World Championship awarded posthumously, after Rindt's death in Italian GP practice at Monza

Tanzania begins building railway Lusaka-Drone ash Salaam

NBA Cleveland Cavaliers lose to San Diego 110-99 in their first home game

The Electoral Reform Society calls for the introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) in elections in Northern Ire

The Electoral Reform Society calls for the introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) in elections in Northern Ireland

English metal band Black Sabbath make US concert debut at Glassboro State College in Glassboro, New Jersey; show interru

English metal band Black Sabbath make US concert debut at Glassboro State College in Glassboro, New Jersey; show interrupted twice when they blow out the power

Jim Morrison is sentenced to six months in jail and a $500 fine for indecent exposure and open profanity, though remains

Jim Morrison is sentenced to six months in jail and a $500 fine for indecent exposure and open profanity, though remains free on a $50,000 bond pending appeal

Fire at Club Cinq-Sept Discotheque in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, France, kills 146, as all emergency exits were padlocked

Future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson wins his second NL Cy Young Award (23-7 record, 274 strikeouts and 3.12

Future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson wins his second NL Cy Young Award (23-7 record, 274 strikeouts and 3.12 ERA)

Genie, a 13-year-old feral child is found in Los Angeles, California, having been locked in her bedroom by her father fo

Genie, a 13-year-old feral child is found in Los Angeles, California, having been locked in her bedroom by her father for most of her life

Twins Jim Perry wins AL Cy Young Award

James Evan Perry Jr. is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1959 to 1975 for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and...

Tom Dempsey of New Orleans Saints kicks NFL record 63 yard field goal

The 1970 New Orleans Saints season was the team's fourth as a member of the National Football League.

Comedy troupe "The Goodies" make their television debut on the BBC

Luna 17, with unmanned self-propelled Lunokhod 1, is launched

Baltimore Oriole Boog Powell wins American League MVP

John Wesley "Boog" Powell is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder from 1961 through 1977, most prominently as a...

Cleveland Cavaliers notch 1st NBA victory, in their 16th game, beating the Trail Blazers 105-103, in Portland, Oregon

US Vice President Spiro Agnew calls TV executives "impudent snobs"

Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the 39th vice president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1973 under President Richard Nixon.

Marshall U football team wiped out in DC-9 air crash at Kenova, West Virginia, killing 75

Paul Brown, as head coach of the expansion Cincinnati Bengals, defeats his former team the Cleveland Browns, a moment he

Paul Brown, as head coach of the expansion Cincinnati Bengals, defeats his former team the Cleveland Browns, a moment he calls his "greatest victory"

South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky defends operations in Cambodia because communist forces could overrun Sout

South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky defends operations in Cambodia because communist forces could overrun South Vietnam "within 24 hours" if troops operating there were withdrawn

British newspaper Sun puts 1st pinup girl on page 3 (Stephanie Rahn)

Golden Gate Park Conservatory becomes a California state historical landmark

Island Records releases "Emerson, Lake & Palmer", the debut album by progressive rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer, in th

Island Records releases "Emerson, Lake & Palmer", the debut album by progressive rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer, in the UK; featuring the hit single "Lucky Man", its US release comes two months later

36th Heisman Trophy Award: Jim Plunkett, Stanford (QB)

In Japan, author Yukio Mishima and two compatriots commit ritualistic suicide after an unsuccessful coup attempt

In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of rain falls in a single minute, the heaviest recorded rainfall in his

In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of rain falls in a single minute, the heaviest recorded rainfall in history [1]

England cricket batsman Colin Cowdrey reaches 22 on Day 3 of the drawn 1st Test against Australia in Brisbane to become

England cricket batsman Colin Cowdrey reaches 22 on Day 3 of the drawn 1st Test against Australia in Brisbane to become Test Cricket's leading run scorer; passes countryman Wally Hammond's world Test-record aggregate of 7,249 runs

Independent People's Republic of South Yemen renames itself as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen

South Yemen, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY), abbreviated to Democratic Yemen, was a country in South Arabia that existed in what is now southeast Yemen from 1967 until...

British composer Michael Tippett's opera "The Knot Garden" premieres at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, En

British composer Michael Tippett's opera "The Knot Garden" premieres at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, England

Claude Ruel resigns as coach of the NHL Montreal Canadiens; replacement Al MacNeil leads Habs to a Stanley Cup champions

Claude Ruel resigns as coach of the NHL Montreal Canadiens; replacement Al MacNeil leads Habs to a Stanley Cup championship 5 months later

Unemployment in US increases to 5.8%

Unemployment is the state of not being in paid employment or self-employment but rather currently available for work.

NFL Los Angeles Rams running back Willie Ellison sets NFL record of 247 yards rushing

William Henry Ellison (November 1, 1945 – March 11, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a running back for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los...

Cleveland Cavaliers 1st NBA home victory, beating Buffalo Braves 108-106

The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland.

Taizan Maezumi Roshi, head of LA Zen Center, receives dharma

Head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal William Conway publishes a pamphlet on the topic of segregation in educa

Head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal William Conway publishes a pamphlet on the topic of segregation in education in Northern Ireland

Dutch Antilles: government of Petronia falls

North American Soccer League awards NY & Toronto franchises

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario.

Soviet novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn chooses not to claim his Nobel Prize in Literature for fear that the USSR would p

Soviet novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn chooses not to claim his Nobel Prize in Literature for fear that the USSR would prevent his return afterwards. Accepts in 1974 after he was deported.

Start of the 1st Test match at the WACA, Australia v England

The Australia men's national cricket team represents Australia in international cricket.

Polish government proclaims price rise

Greg Chappell scores 108 on Test debut v England at the WACA

The WACA Ground () is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium's name derives from the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA). The...

Neil Simon's play "The Gingerbread Lady" starring Maureen Stapleton (Tony Award Best Actress), premieres on Broadway in

Neil Simon's play "The Gingerbread Lady" starring Maureen Stapleton (Tony Award Best Actress), premieres on Broadway in NYC

Illinois State Constitution is adopted at a special election

The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions, with the fourth version adopted in 1970.

"Love Story" film based on the novel by Erich Segal, directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali McGraw i

"Love Story" film based on the novel by Erich Segal, directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali McGraw is released

US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

Polish uprising fails

Edward Gierek succeeds Wladyslaw Gomulka as Poland's communist party leader

Edward Gierek was a Polish communist politician who served as the de facto leader of the Polish People's Republic between 1970 and 1980.

Treblinka SS commander Franz Stangl sentenced to life imprisonment

Franz Paul Stangl was an Austrian police officer and commandant of the Nazi extermination camps Sobibor and Treblinka in World War II. Stangl, an employee of the T-4 Euthanasia Program and an SS...

A Protestant man is shot dead at his home in Belfast, North Ireland

Nine Jews are convicted in Leningrad of attempting to hijack a plane

Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) adopts constitution

North Yemen is a term used to describe the Kingdom of Yemen (1918–1962), the Yemen Arab Republic (1962–1990), and the regimes that preceded them and exercised sovereignty over that region of Yemen.

The financial cost of the disturbances and riots in Northern Ireland during 1969 and 1970 are today estimated to be £5.5

The financial cost of the disturbances and riots in Northern Ireland during 1969 and 1970 are today estimated to be £5.5 million

Famous Births

Shonda Rhimes is born

Shonda Rhimes, American television producer and screenwriter, known for american television producer and screenwriter, was born on 1970-01-13.

Glenn McGrath is born

Jennifer Aniston is born

Jennifer Aniston, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1970-02-11. Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress.

Wang Dan is born

Javier Bardem is born

Javier Bardem, Spanish actor, known for spanish actor, was born on 1970-03-01. Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem is a Spanish actor.

Terrence Howard is born

Terrence Howard, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-03-11. Terrence Dashon Howard is an American actor performing on film and television.

Mariah Carey is born

Mariah Carey, American musician, known for american singer-songwriter, was born on 1970-03-27.

Secretariat is born

Ajay Devgan is born

Ajay Devgan, Indian film actor, director and producer, known for indian film actor, director and producer, was born on 1970-04-02.

Mellody Hobson is born

Mellody Hobson, American businesswoman, known for american businesswoman, was born on 1970-04-03.

Ben Mendelsohn is born

Ben Mendelsohn, Australian actor, known for australian actor, was born on 1970-04-03. Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn is an Australian actor.

Paul Rudd is born

Paul Rudd, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-04-06. Paul Stephen Rudd is an American actor.

Renée Zellweger is born

Renée Zellweger, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1970-04-25. Renée Kathleen Zellweger ( rə-NAY ZEL-weg-ər; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress.

Brian Lara is born

Brian Lara, Trinidadian athlete, known for trinidadian cricketer, was born on 1970-05-02.

Cate Blanchett is born

Cate Blanchett, Australian actor, known for australian actor, was born on 1970-05-14. Catherine Élise Blanchett is an Australian actor and producer.

Emmitt Smith is born

Emmitt Smith, American athlete, known for american football player, was born on 1970-05-15.

Tucker Carlson is born

Tucker Carlson, American political activist, known for american political activist, was born on 1970-05-16.

Peter Dinklage is born

Peter Dinklage, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-06-11. Peter Hayden Dinklage is an American actor.

Steffi Graf is born

Steffi Graf, German athlete, known for german former tennis player, was born on 1970-06-14.

Ice Cube is born

Ice Cube, American rapper and actor, known for american rapper and actor, was born on 1970-06-15.

Cedric Pioline is born

Sanath Jayasuriya is born

Joe Sakic is born

Joe Sakic, Canadian athlete, known for canadian ice hockey player and executive, was born on 1970-07-07.

José Andrés is born

José Andrés, American spanish-american chef, known for spanish-american chef, was born on 1970-07-13. José Ramón Andrés Puerta is a Spanish-American chef and restaurateur.

Ken Jeong is born

Ken Jeong, American comedian and actor, known for american comedian and actor, was born on 1970-07-13.

Jennifer Lopez is born

Jennifer Lopez, American singer and actress, known for american singer and actress, was born on 1970-07-24. Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman.

Triple H is born

Triple H, American business executive, professional wrestling promoter and wrestler, known for american business executive, professional wrestling promoter and wrestler, was born on 1970-07-27.

Christian Slater is born

Christian Slater, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-08-18. Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor.

Edward Norton is born

Edward Norton, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-08-18. Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor and filmmaker.

River Phoenix is born

River Phoenix, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-08-23. River Jude Phoenix (né Bottom; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American actor.

Catriona Matthew is born

Sheryl Sandberg is born

Sheryl Sandberg, American business executive, known for american business executive, was born on 1970-08-28. Sheryl Kara Sandberg is an American technology executive, philanthropist and writer.

Pierre Turgeon is born

Pierre Turgeon, Canadian athlete, known for canadian ice hockey player, was born on 1970-08-28. Pierre Julien Turgeon is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is born

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Welsh welsh actress, known for welsh actress, was born on 1970-09-25. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress.

Kelly Robbins is born

Gwen Stefani is born

Gwen Stefani, American musician, known for american singer-songwriter, was born on 1970-10-03.

Brett Favre is born

Brett Favre, American athlete, known for american football player, was born on 1970-10-10.

Nancy Kerrigan is born

Nancy Kerrigan, American athlete, known for american figure skater, was born on 1970-10-13. Nancy Ann Kerrigan is an American former figure skater.

Ernie Els is born

Ernie Els, South African athlete, known for south african professional golfer, was born on 1970-10-17. Theodore Ernest Els is a South African professional golfer. A former World No.

Trey Parker is born

Trey Parker, American actor, animator, and filmmaker, known for american actor, animator, and filmmaker, was born on 1970-10-19.

Samantha Bee is born

Petteri Orpo is born

Matthew McConaughey is born

Matthew McConaughey, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1970-11-04. Matthew David McConaughey ( mə-KON-ə-hay; born November 4, 1969) is an American actor.

Puff Daddy is born

Puff Daddy musician, known for american rapper and producer, was born on 1970-11-04. Sean John Combs, also known professionally as Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy and P.

Ellen Pompeo is born

Ellen Pompeo, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1970-11-10. Ellen Kathleen Pompeo is an American actress. She is best known for playing Dr.

Gerard Butler is born

Gerard Butler, Scottish actor and film producer, known for scottish actor and film producer, was born on 1970-11-13. Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor and film producer.

Ken Griffey Jr. is born

Ken Griffey Jr. athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1970-11-21.

Jay-Z is born

Jay-Z, American musician, known for american rapper, was born on 1970-12-04. Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, currently stylized as JAŸ-Z is an American rapper, businessman, and…

Lei Jun is born

Lei Jun, Chinese billionaire entrepreneur, known for chinese billionaire entrepreneur, was born on 1970-12-16. Lei Jun is a Chinese billionaire entrepreneur and computer engineer.

DMX is born

DMX, American musician, known for american rapper, was born on 1970-12-18. Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper, songwriter, and…

Richard Hammond is born

Richard Hammond, English journalist, television presenter, and author, known for english journalist, television presenter, and author, was born on 1970-12-19.

Linus Torvalds is born

Linus Torvalds, American american software engineer, known for finnish and american software engineer, was born on 1970-12-28.

Notable Deaths

Bertrand Russell dies

Abe Attell dies

Abe Attell, American boxer, known for american boxer, died on 1970-02-07. Abraham Washington Attell (February 22, 1883 – February 7, 1970), often referred to by newspapers as "The Little Hebrew", was…

Erle Stanley Gardner dies

Erle Stanley Gardner, American writer and lawyer, known for american writer and lawyer, died on 1970-03-11.

Nelly Sachs dies

Nelly Sachs, German jewish german-swedish writer, holocaust survivor and nobel laureate, known for jewish german-swedish writer, holocaust survivor and nobel laureate, died on 1970-05-12.

Leslie Groves dies

Leslie Groves military officer, known for american military officer, died on 1970-07-13. Leslie Richard Groves Jr.

António de Oliveira Salazar dies

Jimi Hendrix dies

Jimi Hendrix, American guitarist, known for american guitarist, died on 1970-09-18. James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.