Jun 17
Watergate Break-In
Five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex. It seemed like a minor crime. It would destroy a presidency.
🇺🇸United States · 70s
Watergate Begins
Nixon goes to China, Watergate breaks open, and The Godfather makes an offer.
What happened
5 milestones of 1972
Feb 21
Nixon Visits China
Richard Nixon became the first US president to visit the People's Republic of China. The anti-Communist hawk shook hands with Mao Zedong. The Cold War geopolitics shifted overnight.
Jun 23
Title IX Passed
Title IX prohibited sex discrimination in federally funded education programs. It would transform women's sports — from 300,000 female high school athletes to over 3 million.
Sep 5
Munich Olympics Massacre
Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics. All 11 hostages were killed in a botched rescue. Jim McKay told America: 'They're all gone.'
terrorism
Nov 7
Nixon Wins Reelection in Landslide
Nixon crushed George McGovern, winning 49 of 50 states. He won 60.7% of the popular vote. In less than two years, he would resign in disgrace.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola — 'I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.' The greatest American film.
Cabaret
Bob Fosse — Liza Minnelli in Weimar Berlin. Won 8 Oscars but lost Best Picture to The Godfather.
Deliverance
John Boorman — Burt Reynolds in the woods. 'Squeal like a pig.' Survival horror before the genre existed.
The Poseidon Adventure
Ronald Neame — The ship flips over. The disaster movie era began.
Jeremiah Johnson
Sydney Pollack — Robert Redford alone in the Rockies. The mountain man myth.
What was on TV
M*A*S*H
1972-1983 — A Korean War comedy that was really about Vietnam. Alan Alda became America's conscience.
The Bob Newhart Show
1972-1978 — Bob Newhart as a Chicago psychologist. Deadpan comedy perfection.
Sanford and Son
1972-1977 — Redd Foxx in the junkyard. 'I'm coming, Elizabeth!' Black comedy gold.
The Waltons
1972-1981 — 'Good night, John-Boy.' Depression-era family values for the 70s.
All in the Family
1971-1979 — #1 show for the second year. Archie Bunker was the most discussed character on TV.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.33
Gallon of gas$0.36
New house (median)$27,600
New car (average)$3,500
Loaf of bread$0.25
Movie ticket$1.70
Inflation: 3.2%
Nixon's price controls held inflation down temporarily. The economy grew but trouble was brewing.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1972 (USD)
$1.33
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1972 (USD)
$0.36
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1972 (USD)
$27,600
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1972 (USD)
$3,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1972 (USD)
$0.25
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1972 (USD)
$1.70
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Pong
Atari released Pong, the first commercially successful video game. Arcades were born.
HP-35 calculator
HP released the first scientific pocket calculator. Engineers threw out their slide rules.
Apollo 17
The last Moon mission. No human has returned since. Gene Cernan was the last to walk on the Moon.
Landsat 1
The first Earth observation satellite launched, beginning the era of satellite imagery.
CT scanner
The first clinical CT scanner was installed at a London hospital.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Platform shoesWide lapels and polyester suitsHot pants and halter tops
Slang
Boogie— To dance
Bummer— A bad experience
Far out— Amazing, awesome
Behavior
- The Godfather made everyone talk like a Corleone
- Pong arrived — families gathered around the TV to play a video game
- Anti-war protests continued as the draft lottery terrorized young men
Share
Download or share cards from this year
1200×630 · WhatsApp/Facebook