Jan 22
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Constitution protected a woman's right to an abortion. It was the most consequential — and most debated — ruling since Brown v. Board.
controversial ruling
🇺🇸United States · 70s
Gas Lines and Watergate
Roe v. Wade, the oil crisis, and Watergate unravels on live TV.
What happened
5 milestones of 1973
May-Aug
Watergate Hearings
The Senate Watergate hearings riveted the nation on live TV. John Dean testified that Nixon knew about the cover-up. 'What did the president know and when did he know it?' became the question.
Oct 17
Oil Crisis — OPEC Embargo
Arab OPEC nations imposed an oil embargo on the US for supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Gas prices quadrupled. Lines stretched for blocks. America discovered it was addicted to oil.
Mar 29
US Withdraws from Vietnam
The last American combat troops left Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords. After 58,000 American dead, the longest war in US history (at the time) was over — at least for Americans.
war
Oct 20
Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon ordered the firing of the Watergate special prosecutor. The Attorney General and his deputy resigned rather than comply. The 'Saturday Night Massacre' turned public opinion decisively against Nixon.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Exorcist
William Friedkin — People fainted in theaters. The scariest film ever made.
The Sting
George Roy Hill — Newman and Redford pull the ultimate con. Won Best Picture.
American Graffiti
George Lucas — Cruising in 1962. Lucas's love letter to rock & roll and youth. Made for $777,000, grossed $140 million.
Enter the Dragon
Robert Clouse — Bruce Lee's final masterpiece. Martial arts entered the mainstream.
Serpico
Sidney Lumet — Al Pacino as the honest cop. Based on a true story of NYPD corruption.
What was on TV
An American Family
1973 — PBS aired the first reality TV show — the Loud family unraveled on camera.
Schoolhouse Rock!
1973-1985 — 'I'm Just a Bill' and 'Conjunction Junction' taught a generation.
The Six Million Dollar Man
1973-1978 — 'We can rebuild him.' Lee Majors was the bionic man.
All in the Family
1971-1979 — #1 show for the third straight year. Archie Bunker was inescapable.
Kojak
1973-1978 — 'Who loves ya, baby?' Telly Savalas' lollipop-sucking detective.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.36
Gallon of gas$0.39
New house (median)$32,500
New car (average)$3,500
Loaf of bread$0.27
Movie ticket$1.77
Inflation: 6.2%
The oil embargo sent gas prices soaring. Inflation jumped to 6.2%. The era of cheap energy was over.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1973 (USD)
$1.36
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1973 (USD)
$0.39
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1973 (USD)
$32,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1973 (USD)
$3,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1973 (USD)
$0.27
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1973 (USD)
$1.77
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Ethernet invented
Bob Metcalfe at Xerox PARC invented Ethernet, the technology that networks computers.
Mobile phone call
Martin Cooper at Motorola made the first handheld mobile phone call.
Skylab
America's first space station launched. Astronauts lived in orbit for months.
MRI concept
Paul Lauterbur published the principles behind MRI imaging.
Sears Tower completed
The tallest building in the world rose in Chicago — 1,451 feet of American ambition.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Platform shoes peakedWide-collar disco shirtsDenim everything
Slang
Jive turkey— A dishonest or untrustworthy person
Can you dig it?— Do you understand?
Stone cold fox— Very attractive person
Behavior
- Gas station lines became a defining image of the decade
- Bruce Lee's death made him a legend and martial arts a craze
- The Watergate hearings turned Americans into political junkies
Share
Download or share cards from this year
1200×630 · WhatsApp/Facebook