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Period: to
1970s-1980s
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The First "Earth Day" is Observed
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26th Amendment Ratified
Legal voting age is now 18. -
Apollo 17 Flies to the Moon
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First Cell Phone Call Made
Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer and executive, made the first mobile telephone call from handheld subscriber equipment in front of reporters, placing a call to Dr. Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs. The prototype handheld phone used by Dr. Martin Cooper weighed 2.5 pounds and measured 9 inches long, 5 inches deep and 1.75 inches wide. The prototype offered a talk time of just 30 minutes and took 10 hours to re-charge. -
America's First Space Station Launched
Skylab, a science and engineering laboratory, was launched into Earth orbit by a Saturn V rocket on 14 May 1973. Three crews of 3 men each visited the station, with their missions lasting 28, 59, and 84 days. Circling 50 degrees north and south of the equator at an altitude of 435 km, Skylab had an orbital period of 93 minutes. There were a plethora of UV astronomy experiments done during the Skylab lifetime, as well as detailed X-ray studies of the Sun. -
President Nixon Resigns
When the scandal of Watergate escalated and the House of Representatives were talking about impeaching him, Nixon felt that it would be best for the country and his party to step down. Vice President Ford would take office the next day. -
Gerald Ford Presidential Inauguration
Gerald Ford in sworn in as the 38th president of the United States. -
"Disco" Music Becomes Mainstream
Though the Disco genre existed before 1975, the funky music became popular during the year of 1975. And exact date, song, or artist can be pinpointed, but artists such as Donna Summers, The Trammps, and Van McCoy had a large influence on the music. -
Jimmy Carter Presidential Inauguration
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"Star Wars" Movie Debuts
The first movie of the Star Wars trilogy premeired on the twenty fifth of May in 1977. The movie grossed $215 million in the United States, and $337 million overseas, making it one of the most successful films of all time. -
Elvis Presley Found Dead
Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock n' Roll" dies at the age of 42. He was found dead on the floor of his bedroom's ensuite (bathroom). He died of a heart attack. -
Skylab Space Station Falls From Orbit
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Mt. St Helens Eruption
Mt. St. Helens, and active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, approximately 96 miles from Seatlle, erups on the 18th of May, 1980, killing 57 people. -
John Lennon Assassinated
John Lennon is shot four times in the back by Mark David Chapman. Chapman later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. He is still in prison, 27 years since his arrest, having been denied parole five times. -
Ronald Reagan Presidential Inauguration
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Space Shuttle Columbia is Launched
This launch marked America's first return to space since 1975. -
Sandra Day O'Conner Appointed First Woman on U.S. Supreme Court
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"E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial" is Debuted.
"E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial" is released in June of 1982 in over 1,000 screens across the U.S.A. and Canada. It grossed nearly $12 million in it's opening weekend. -
President Reagen's Second Presidential Inauguration
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Tax Reform Act of 1986
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 curbed tax shelters, lowered corporate tax rates, and eliminated special treatment for capital gains. -
Wrigley Field Adds Lights to Field
Located in Chicago, Illinois, Wrigley Field is the last Major League Babeball field to install lights for night games -
George Bush Sr. Presidential Inauguration
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Hurricane Hugo Strikes East Coast
The storm caused $9 billion in damage and resulted in 107 total fatalities. -
Debut of "The Simpsons"
The animated comedy debuts on Fox.
