Category Archives: 1970s

‘Little House on the Prairie’ series debuts on NBC-TV 40 years ago this hour (Sep 11 1974)


Video: 'Little House On The Prairie [1974] - Opening and Ending Videos'

(Wednesday, September 11, 1974, 8:00 p.m. EDT)Little House on the Prairie, a Western drama about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s, debuted tonight as a regular television series on NBC. It starred Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle and Melissa Sue Anderson.

Snake River Canyon defies daredevil Evel Knievel 40 years ago this hour (Sep 8 1974)


Video: 'Snake River Canyon jump 1973-EVEL KNIEVEL Awesome video!!'

(Sunday, September 8, 1974, 3:36 p.m. MDT) — With much media fanfare, daredevil Evel Knievel tried and failed to leap the mile-wide chasm of the Snake River Canyon today on his specially engineered rocket motorcycle.

His drogue parachute malfunctioned and opened on take-off. Evel and his contraption floated to the bottom of the canyon, landing on the riverbank directly below his launch ramp.

Former President Nixon declares ‘we’re home’ upon arrival in California 40 years ago this hour (Aug 9 1974)


Video: '"AIR FORCE ONE: THE PLANES AND THE PRESIDENTS" (1991)' (Nixons arrive in California on Aug. 9, 1974, at 41:23)

(Friday, August 9, 1974, 11:56 a.m. PDT; during the Watergate scandal) — Former U.S. President Richard Nixon declared “we’re home” today as he addressed 5,000 people who came out to greet him and his wife, former First Lady Pat Nixon, upon their arrival at El Toro Marine Base in California.

A helicopter then whisked the Nixons to La Casa Pacifica, their sprawling seaside villa near San Clemente. Nixon’s term of office had officially expired three hours, 21 minutes before, having become the first president to resign in disgrace.

President Nixon gives V sign as he departs White House 40 years ago this hour (Aug 9 1974)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - The End of the Tunnel [11/11]' (Aug. 9, 1974, at 17:33)

(Friday, August 9, 1974, 10:00 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, having been escorted by Vice President Gerald Ford, his wife Betty and Nixon’s wife Pat, mounted the steps of a waiting helicopter this morning on the South Lawn of the White House. Continue reading President Nixon gives V sign as he departs White House 40 years ago this hour (Aug 9 1974)

CBS reports Nixon will resign tonight, Ford will be sworn-in tomorrow 40 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1974)


Video: 'Walter Cronkite announces President Nixon's resignation1974'

(Thursday, August 8, 1974, 5:30 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — “Good evening. President Nixon will reportedly will announce his resignation tonight and Vice President Ford will become the nation’s 38th President tomorrow,” said anchorman Walter Cronkite, opening tonight’s edition of the CBS Evening News.

Pop singer Cass Elliot, 32, dies of a heart attack 40 years ago today (July 29 1974)


Video: 'Death by Excess - Mama Cass'

(Monday, July 29, 1974) — Singer Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen), 32, was found dead today in a London apartment where she was staying. It was rumored that the former Mamas and Papas lead singer choked on a ham sandwich, but a coroner ruled she had suffered a heart attack in her sleep overnight. Continue reading Pop singer Cass Elliot, 32, dies of a heart attack 40 years ago today (July 29 1974)

Bipartisan majority vote for Nixon impeachment indicated during debate 40 years ago today (July 25 1974)


Video: 'B Jordan impeachment speech' (July 25, 1974)

(Thursday, July 25, 1974; during the Watergate scandal) — A large, bipartisan majority of the House Judiciary Committee signaled its readiness today to adopt a resolution formally proposing the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

House committee begins debate on Nixon impeachment 40 years ago this hour (July 24 1974)


Video: 'Impeachment Hearings July 1974' (opening remarks by committee chairman Rep. Peter Rodino)

(Wednesday, July 24, 1974, 7:00 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — The House Judiciary Committee began historic final deliberations tonight on the possible impeachment of President Richard Nixon without waiting to determine whether new evidence might emerge as a result of a Supreme Court judgment earlier today. Continue reading House committee begins debate on Nixon impeachment 40 years ago this hour (July 24 1974)

Greek military bids civilians take over; Karamanlis returns, sworn in as premier 40 years ago today (Jul 23 1974)

(Tuesday, July 23, 1974) — The military rulers of Greece announced today that they had decided to turn the nation back to civilian political leaders. Konstantinos Karamanlis, the former conservative Premiere who governed from 1955 to 1963 before his self-imposed exile in Paris, returned to Athens and was sworn in as head of a new government of national unity.