Top Events of the Top Events of the 2020thth Century Century

1970s1970s

Event 67Event 67On On June 17, 1972June 17, 1972, Washington police catch five , Washington police catch five men men breaking intobreaking into the headquarters of the the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Democratic National Committee in the Watergate apartment complex in Washingtonapartment complex in Washington. It becomes . It becomes clear that the Committee to Re-elect President clear that the Committee to Re-elect President Richard NixonRichard Nixon, and the White House itself, , and the White House itself, played a role in an played a role in an attempt to spy on the attempt to spy on the DemocratsDemocrats. It also becomes clear . It also becomes clear that the White House is involved that the White House is involved in an attempt to in an attempt to cover upcover up that role. that role. In 1973, Senate hearings begin.In 1973, Senate hearings begin.Public ranked this event 88Public ranked this event 88

Event 38Event 38The The Supreme CourtSupreme Court rules in rules in 19731973 that women that women have a have a right to abort a fetusright to abort a fetus during the first during the first trimester of pregnancy. The trimester of pregnancy. The Roe vs. Wade Roe vs. Wade decisiondecision gives rise to opposing groups: gives rise to opposing groups: "right-"right-to-life"to-life" organizations attempt to limit or deny organizations attempt to limit or deny abortions; abortions; "pro-choice""pro-choice" groups groups defend and preserve women's defend and preserve women's rights to abortions. The abortion rights to abortions. The abortion issue remains one of the most issue remains one of the most divisive in Americadivisive in America..Public ranked this event 26 Public ranked this event 26 

Event 73Event 73In January In January 19731973, the United States and , the United States and North Vietnam announce a North Vietnam announce a cease-fire, cease-fire, ending America's direct role in the Vietnam ending America's direct role in the Vietnam WarWar. The last U.S. troops leave in March. . The last U.S. troops leave in March. In Vietnam, the In Vietnam, the war continues for another war continues for another two yearstwo years. . It ends with It ends with North Vietnam's North Vietnam's capture of Saigon capture of Saigon in April 1975in April 1975..

Public ranked this event 60 Public ranked this event 60 

Event 14Event 14On On Aug. 9, 1974Aug. 9, 1974, , Richard Nixon resigns his Richard Nixon resigns his presidency in disgracepresidency in disgrace, brought down by the , brought down by the Watergate scandalWatergate scandal of political spying and of political spying and sabotage. He is the sabotage. He is the first American president to first American president to leave officeleave office. He is immediately . He is immediately succeeded by succeeded by Vice President Gerald FordVice President Gerald Ford, who tells the nation , who tells the nation that "the long national nightmare (of that "the long national nightmare (of Watergate) is over." Nixon and his family Watergate) is over." Nixon and his family return home to San Clemente,return home to San Clemente, Calif.Calif.

Public ranked this event 39Public ranked this event 39  

Event 14

Nixon resigns the presidency in disgrace

August 9, 1974

Event 63Event 63Communists reunite Vietnam and occupy SaigonCommunists reunite Vietnam and occupy Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) without a fight following (now Ho Chi Minh City) without a fight following April 30, 1975 surrender of South VietnamApril 30, 1975 surrender of South Vietnam. The last . The last U.S. personnel escape by helicopter from the roof of U.S. personnel escape by helicopter from the roof of the U.S. Embassy, leaving behind a throng of frantic the U.S. Embassy, leaving behind a throng of frantic non-communist Vietnamese. Many flee as communist non-communist Vietnamese. Many flee as communist forces gained ground since President Nixon's forces gained ground since President Nixon's "Vietnamization" "Vietnamization" policy began in 1968 after policy began in 1968 after the Tet Offensive and bitter the Tet Offensive and bitter U.S. opposition to the war.U.S. opposition to the war.

Public ranked this event 99Public ranked this event 99

• U.S. troops served: 3,403,100

• U.S. casualties: 58,000

• Cost to U.S.: $150,000,000,000

• Results: First foreign war in which U.S. failed to achieve victory, or its goals; country was deeply divided; North Vietnamese and communist forces controlled all of Vietnam by 1975; War Powers Resolution passed in 1973 to stipulate president to check with congress before putting troops into action.

Event 97Event 97Bill GatesBill Gates and his college friend Paul Allen and his college friend Paul Allen launch Microsoft Corp., to develop softwarelaunch Microsoft Corp., to develop software for for the fledgling "Altair 8800" personal computer. the fledgling "Altair 8800" personal computer. The company eventually dominates the PC The company eventually dominates the PC software market with its MS DOS and Windows software market with its MS DOS and Windows operating systems operating systems and other software and other software innovations.innovations. - - 19751975

Public ranked this event 58 Public ranked this event 58 

Event 31Event 31American students Stephen P. Jobs and Stephen G. American students Stephen P. Jobs and Stephen G. Wozniak found the Wozniak found the Apple Computer Co. and Apple Computer Co. and introduce the Apple II personal computer in 1977introduce the Apple II personal computer in 1977. . The Apple II is much less expensive than computers The Apple II is much less expensive than computers up to that time and up to that time and sells successfully for sells successfully for business and even business and even some home use. some home use. IBM joins the field in IBM joins the field in 19811981. .

Public ranked this event 71Public ranked this event 71  

Event 95Event 95Louise Brown, the world's first "test-tube Louise Brown, the world's first "test-tube baby," is born July 25, 1978baby," is born July 25, 1978 in Lancashire, in Lancashire, EnglandEngland. She's a healthy 5 pounds, 12 . She's a healthy 5 pounds, 12 ounces. It's the ounces. It's the first authenticated birth of a first authenticated birth of a baby "conceived" outside a baby "conceived" outside a mother's bodymother's body. An egg cell is . An egg cell is removed surgically from the removed surgically from the mother and fertilized with the mother and fertilized with the father's sperm in a petri dish.father's sperm in a petri dish.

Public ranked this event 67 Public ranked this event 67