Nov 20,1942 - Present
THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
1975 A bomb blast at Samastipur, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, the Minister of Railways, during the opening of a new railway line.
1975 The United States Congress approves the Federal Rules of Evidence.
1975 A bug causes problems in TOPS-10 computer systems, leading to crashes and the need for an alternative format.
1975 The Tasman Bridge disaster in Tasmania, Australia, resulted from a collision with the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, claiming twelve lives.
1975 Ella T. Grasso made history by becoming the Governor of Connecticut, becoming the first woman to serve as a Governor in the United States.
1975 The Alvor Agreement is signed, ending the Angolan War of Independence and granting Angola independence from Portugal.
1975 The establishment of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary in 1975 marked a significant step in protecting underwater ecosystems in U.S. waters.
1975 The Haicheng earthquake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, strikes Haicheng, Liaoning, China, causing extensive damage and a significant loss of life in this seismic catastrophe.
1975 Riots erupt in Lima, Peru, as police strikes lead to military intervention, marking a turbulent chapter in national history.
1975 Tragedy strikes as Aeroflot Flight 3739, a Tupolev Tu-104, crashes during takeoff from Irkutsk Airport, claiming the lives of 24 individuals.
1975 A devastating fire engulfed One World Trade Center (North Tower) in New York, leaving a lasting impact on the city's skyline and collective memory.
1975 In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman were sentenced to prison in 1975, a chapter in American political history.
1975 In London, an underground train fails to stop at Moorgate terminus station and crashes into the end of the tunnel, killing 43 people.
1975 In the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, North Vietnamese forces attacked Ban Mê Thuột, a crucial step towards their eventual capture of Saigon and victory in the Vietnam War.
1975 The Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant's fire in Decatur, Alabama, results in a perilous reduction in cooling water levels, underscoring the importance of nuclear safety.
1975 Tragedy struck the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1975 when Faisal, a revered monarch, was tragically shot and killed by his own nephew, leaving the nation in mourning.
1975 The world takes a significant step towards peace and security as the Biological Weapons Convention comes into force, heralding a commitment to disarmament and preventing biological warfare.
1975 On March 27, 1975, the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System began, a monumental engineering project that would have a lasting impact on Alaska's economy and energy infrastructure.
1975 Vietnam War: Operation Babylift, a mass evacuation of children in the closing stages of the war begins.
1975 Bobby Fischer refuses to play in a chess match against Anatoly Karpov, giving Karpov the title of World Champion by default.
1975 Microsoft, the tech giant that would shape the digital age, took its first steps as Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, laying the foundation for the computer revolution.
1975 Tragedy struck during the Vietnam War when a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy, transporting orphans, crashed near Saigon, South Vietnam shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 172 lives.
1975 Frank Robinson's managerial debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1975 as the first African-American manager in major league baseball marked a historic moment for sports and civil rights.
1975 The Lebanese Civil War erupted on April 13, 1975, with an attack by the Phalangist resistance, claiming the lives of 26 militia members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and heralding a tumultuous 15-year conflict.
1975 The Cambodian Civil War reached its conclusion as the Khmer Rouge captured the capital, Phnom Penh, and government forces surrendered, altering Cambodia's fate.
1975 India takes a giant leap into the realm of space exploration as its first satellite, Aryabhata, is successfully launched into orbit from the Russian launch site at Kapustin Yar, marking a historic achievement in the nation's scientific progress.
1975 South Vietnam faces a pivotal moment as its forces reluctantly withdraw from Xuan Loc, marking the culmination of the Vietnam War's last major battle.
1975 President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu's flight from Saigon marked the fall of Xuân Lộc and the impending end of the Vietnam War, altering the course of a nation's history.
1975 General Cao Văn Viên's departure for the US marks a pivotal moment as North Vietnamese forces advance toward victory in the Vietnam War.
1975 Operation Frequent Wind marked the beginning of a poignant exodus as the U.S. initiated the evacuation of American citizens from Saigon, bringing a tumultuous chapter in U.S. history to a close.
1975 As the Vietnam War neared its end, the North Vietnamese army triumphantly completed its capture of all parts of South Vietnamese-held Trường Sa Islands, signaling a momentous shift in regional power dynamics.
1975 Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon, officially ending the Vietnam War with the unconditional surrender of South Vietnamese President Dương Văn Minh.
1975 Amidst a pause in conflict, over 100,000 Armenians gathered in Beirut for the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian genocide, paying solemn tribute to the victims of history's dark days.
1975 Sony's groundbreaking introduction of the Betamax videocassette recorder revolutionizes home entertainment, forever altering how people record and watch their favorite programs.
1975 In 1975, the Indochina Wars took a maritime turn as Democratic Kampuchea naval forces captured the SS Mayaguez, an American merchant ship, triggering a tense international standoff in the waters of Southeast Asia.
1975 Junko Tabei from Japan scales the heights of Mount Everest, becoming the first woman to conquer the world's highest peak, a testament to human determination.
1975 The Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, North Yorkshire, in 1975 claimed the lives of 33 individuals, a heart-wrenching tragedy etched in local memory.
1975 The Treaty of Lagos, signed by fifteen West African countries on May 28, 1975, led to the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a significant step in regional cooperation.
1975 The establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA) signifies a new era of international cooperation in space exploration and scientific research.
1975 The year 1975 witnessed a historic moment for labor rights as the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, signed the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law, granting farmworkers collective bargaining rights.
1975 The Suez Canal, closed since the Six-Day War, finally reopened, facilitating global trade and symbolizing a new era of cooperation in the region.
1975 The United Kingdom conducted its first country-wide referendum on membership in the European Economic Community (EEC), a pivotal moment in the nation's relationship with Europe.
1975 A significant decision was made in 1975 when a British referendum resulted in continued membership in the European Economic Community, with 67% of votes in favor. This choice had far-reaching implications for the UK's relationship with Europe.
1975 Sony ushers in a new era of home entertainment as it launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format, revolutionizing how people watch and record television.
1975 In 1975, India grappled with political turmoil as Judge Jagmohanlal Sinha ruled that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had used corrupt practices to win her parliamentary seat, sparking a complex and contentious chapter in Indian politics.
1975 The release of the film "Jaws" in 1975 in the United States heralds the era of "summer blockbusters," becoming the highest-grossing film of its time and a cultural phenomenon.
1975 Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 faces a deadly encounter with severe wind shear during its final approach to New York's JFK Airport, resulting in a tragic crash that leaves 113 passengers out of 124 on board perishing. This accident triggers extensive research into downburst and microburst phenomena, reshaping aviation safety protocols.
1975 Mozambique's long-fought struggle for independence culminated in a historic achievement as it finally broke free from the clutches of Portuguese colonial rule.
1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's declaration of a state of internal emergency in India sent shockwaves through the nation, leading to a tumultuous period of political upheaval and controversy.
1975 Tragedy strikes as two FBI agents and a member of the American Indian Movement are killed in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, leading to Leonard Peltier's controversial conviction.
1975 Arthur Ashe, a trailblazer in the world of tennis, achieved a historic milestone as the first black man to win the prestigious Wimbledon singles title, breaking barriers and inspiring generations.
1975 Cape Verde, long under Portuguese rule, celebrated its independence, marking a momentous chapter in African decolonization and the birth of a new nation.
1975 The Comoros' declaration of independence from France represented the aspirations of its people for self-determination and sovereignty.
1975 The Space Race reaches new heights as Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit, symbolizing international cooperation in space exploration during the height of Cold War tensions.
1975 A historic moment in space exploration occurs as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project brings together American and Soviet spacecraft in a remarkable joint mission.
1975 In 1975, a tragic incident unfolded as Mayor Alfred Duraiappah, a former MP, was shot dead. This act of violence had far-reaching implications and left a significant impact on the political landscape and society in Jaffna.
1975 The mysterious disappearance of Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa from a restaurant parking lot, a puzzling unsolved case.
1975 The Troubles in Northern Ireland took a deadly turn as three members of a popular cabaret band and two gunmen lost their lives during a botched paramilitary attack, adding to the region's turmoil.
1975 A privately chartered Boeing 707 aircraft tragically collides with a mountain peak near Agadir, Morocco, resulting in the loss of 188 lives and substantial damage.
1975 The Japanese Red Army seizes over 50 hostages at the AIA Building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their demands lead to the release of imprisoned comrades and their escape to Libya, causing an international crisis.
1975 East Timor plunges into chaos as Governor Mário Lemos Pires abandons Dili, leading to a fierce civil war between the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) and Fretilin.
1975 A pivotal moment in Japanese history occurred in 1975 as Prime Minister Takeo Miki made the first official pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of World War II's end, sparking debates and controversy.
1975 The crash of SAETA Flight 232 into Ecuador's Chimborazo volcano in 1975 had tragic consequences, as all 59 people on board lost their lives. The wreckage remained undiscovered until its eventual revelation in 2002.
1975 Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically cedes land to the Gurindji people following their eight-year Wave Hill walk-off, a landmark event in Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated through art and celebration.
1975 NASA launched the Viking 1 planetary probe toward Mars on this day as part of the Viking program. This marked a significant step in the exploration of the Red Planet.
1975 Tragedy struck when ČSA Flight 540 crashed on approach to Damascus International Airport in Syria, resulting in the loss of 126 lives.
1975 The Wave Hill walk-off, a significant event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, began on August 23, 1975. Gurindji people initiated this eight-year-long protest, which culminated in changes to land ownership and rights in the country.
1975 The Pontiac Silverdome, an iconic stadium located in Pontiac, Michigan, opened its doors on August 23, 1975, becoming a prominent sports and entertainment venue in the Detroit metropolitan area.
1975 The Governor of Portuguese Timor abandons the capital, Dili, fleeing to Atauro Island, leaving control in the hands of a rebel group, marking a pivotal moment in Timor's history.
1975 El Tacnazo: Peruvian Prime Minister Francisco Morales Bermúdez carries out a coup d’état in Tacna, reshaping Peru's leadership.
1975 The Sinai Interim Agreement charts a path to peace in the Middle East, sowing the seeds of hope amid the complex tapestry of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
1975 Lynette Fromme's attempt to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California in 1975 was a chilling moment in American history, highlighting the challenges of protecting high-profile public figures.
1975 Tech Sergeant Leonard Matlovich's appearance on the cover of Time magazine marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in the US military.
1975 The canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton as the first American saint by Pope Paul VI was a significant event in American Catholicism.
1975 A significant administrative change occurred as the French department of Corsica was divided into Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica) and Corse-du-Sud (Southern Corsica), reshaping the island's political landscape.
1975 A chorus of nations grows as Cape Verde, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe join the United Nations, reinforcing the global community.
1975 The skies become more secure as the first prototype of the Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor takes flight, marking a milestone in aerial defense technology.
1975 A heroic act of courage unfolds as Armenian champion swimmer Shavarsh Karapetyan rescues 20 people from a trolleybus submerged in a Yerevan reservoir, a testament to human valor.
1975 Sara Jane Moore's unsuccessful assassination attempt on U.S. President Gerald Ford.
1975 The Southwest Face expedition reaches the summit of Mount Everest via a new route, a historic mountaineering achievement.
1975 The last use of capital punishment in Spain sparked worldwide protests on September 27, 1975. This event marked a turning point in the global discourse on the death penalty and contributed to evolving international human rights standards.
1975 The Spaghetti House siege, where nine people are taken hostage, unfolds in London.
1975 WGPR became the first black-owned-and-operated television station in the United States in 1975, marking a historic moment in media diversity and representation in the broadcasting industry.
1975 Malév Flight 240 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea while approaching Beirut International Airport, killing 60.
1975 Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier engage in the "Thrilla in Manila," an epic boxing match in the Philippines that becomes a legendary moment in sports history, captivating audiences worldwide.
1975 Papua New Guinea, on October 10, 1975, proudly joined the United Nations, gaining international recognition and asserting its place on the global stage.
1975 Tragedy unfolds over Żabbar, Malta, as an RAF Avro Vulcan bomber explodes and crashes after an aborted landing, claiming the lives of five crew members and an innocent bystander on the ground.
1975 Indonesian troops' killing of the Balibo Five, a group of Australian journalists, in Portuguese Timor in 1975, remains a tragic chapter in journalism history.
1975 Three-year-old Rahima Banu, the last known case of naturally occurring smallpox, in Bangladesh in 1975, marked the end of a deadly disease era.
1975 The Australian Coalition's decision to defer funding for the government's annual budget in 1975 sparked a constitutional crisis and political turbulence.
1975 The Soviet space program achieves a historic milestone with the unmanned Venera 9 mission successfully landing on Venus, expanding humanity's cosmic knowledge.
1975 In a powerful display of unity, 90% of Icelandic women participated in a national strike, demanding gender equality and making history.
1975 Spain experiences a pivotal transition as Prince Juan Carlos I assumes the role of acting head of state, stepping in for the ailing dictator, Gen. Francisco Franco.
1975 Tragedy strikes the skies as Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 450 crashes into Suchdol, Prague, while on approach to Prague Ruzyně Airport (now Václav Havel Airport Prague) in Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic), claiming the lives of forty-five passengers.
1975 Syed Nazrul Islam, A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman, Tajuddin Ahmad, and Muhammad Mansur Ali, Bangladeshi politicians and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman loyalists, are murdered in the Dhaka Central Jail.
1975 An uprising in Bangladesh on November 7, 1975, led by Colonel Abu Taher resulted in the ousting and death of Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history.
1975 A tempestuous storm on Lake Superior claims the 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, tragically ending the lives of all 29 crew members, an event memorialized in song and etched into maritime history.
1975 A defining moment in geopolitics, the United Nations General Assembly passes Resolution 3379, characterizing Zionism as a form of racism, igniting intense debates and reflections on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
1975 The Australian constitutional crisis of 1975, characterized by Governor-General Sir John Kerr's dismissal of Gough Whitlam's government.
1975 Angola's declaration of independence, a significant milestone in the nation's history.
1975 The Comoros officially becomes a member of the United Nations, gaining recognition on the global stage.
1975 The signing of the Madrid Accords signifies Spain's historic decision to relinquish control over Western Sahara, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of North Africa.
1975 In the aftermath of the death of Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was declared King of Spain in 1975. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a new era for Spain, as it transitioned from authoritarian rule to a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos.
1975 Suriname attains its long-awaited independence from the Netherlands, heralding a new era in the nation's history.
1975 The Provisional IRA carries out a brazen assassination, targeting Ross McWhirter in England, sparking a nationwide manhunt and raising questions about security and terrorism.
1975 East Timor boldly proclaims its independence from Portuguese colonial rule, embarking on a journey toward self-governance and sovereignty, with historical implications for the region.
1975 The Pathet Lao's capture of Vientiane, the abdication of King Sisavang Vatthana, and the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic reshaped Laotian history.
1975 Amidst The Troubles in Northern Ireland, a Provisional IRA unit embarks on a six-day siege in London, holding a British couple hostage, sparking a tense standoff with the authorities.
1975 Facing an energy crisis, U.S. President Gerald Ford takes decisive action by creating the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a strategic move to safeguard the nation's energy security.
1975 The Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, achieving speeds surpassing Mach 2, entered into service, marking a significant milestone in aviation history.
1975 A devastating explosion shattered the peace at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, claiming the lives of 11 individuals and causing injuries to more than 75 others, leaving scars on the nation's aviation history.
1975 In a historic television moment, the Zapruder film of John F. Kennedy's assassination is broadcast in motion to a national audience, providing new insights into the tragic event.
1975 The Algiers Accord emerges as Iran and Iraq announce a settlement of their border dispute, bringing a glimmer of hope in a region marked by conflict.
1975 São Tomé and Príncipe declared independence from Portugal, marking a historic moment in the African nation's struggle for self-determination.
1975 The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is founded by prominent leaders such as Jalal Talabani, Nawshirwan Mustafa, and Fuad Masum, playing a pivotal role in Kurdish politics.
