Category Archives: 1970s

Nixon vs. Dan Rather: ‘Are you running for something?’ 40 years ago tonight (Mar 19 1974)

1970s, Television 1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Dan Rather vs. Richard Nixon, 1974'

(Tuesday, March 19, 1974, evening; during the Watergate scandal) — At a news conference at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Houston this evening, U.S. President Richard Nixon fielded a question from CBS White House correspondent Dan Rather, who said, “Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather, of CBS News.”

The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, “Are you running for something?” Rather replied, “No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?”

Nixon wows ’em in Ole Opry land opening 40 years ago tonight (Mar 16 1974)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate

(Saturday, March 16, 1974; during the Watergate scandal) — The Grand Ole Opry House opened in Nashville tonight with a concert attended by President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat (click here to watch video; Mar. 16, 1974, at 2:31:42 and click here for more video options).

Lennon ‘riot’ in Hollywood night club 40 years ago this hour (Mar 12 1974)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s

(Tuesday, March 12, 1974, 12:20 a.m. PST) — Ex-Beatle John Lennon got into a fight with a photographer outside a club this morning in Los Angeles. Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been heckling comedian Tommy Smothers and had been thrown out of the club.

Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashes, killing all 346 people on board 40 years ago this hour (Mar 3 1974)

1970s


Video: 'Plane Crash Turkish Airlines flight 981 Dc 10'

(Sunday, March 3, 1974, at around 12:30 p.m. CET) — A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris today, killing all 346 people on board. A faulty cargo door had blown open, resulting in sudden decompression that caused part of the jetliner’s floor to collapse, severely damaging the plane’s control cables

Flack, Wonder are Grammy stars 40 years ago this hour (Mar 2 1974)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: '16th Grammy Awards 1973' (7 videos)

(Saturday, March 2, 1974, 10:00 p.m. EST) — Stevie Wonder, the blind young singer-songwriter who survived a near-fatal auto accident in the summer of 1973, capped his recording career tonight winning four times at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Innervision.

Singer Roberta Flack shared with Wonder the top honors, winning the Song of the Year category with her popular “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

Annual American Music Awards debuts 40 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1974)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'AMAs 1974' (17-video playlist; second and third videos are from 1976)

(Tuesday, February 19, 1974, 8:30 p.m. EST) — Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards tonight as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” by Tony Orlando and Dawn won for favorite pop single that year.

Last Skylab astronauts land in the Pacific 40 years ago this hour (Feb 8 1974)

1970s, space exploration


Video: 'Radio News Coverage: Skylab 3 Part 6' (splashdown coverage at 35:37)

(Friday, February 8, 11:16:53 a.m. EDT; part of NASA’s Skylab program) — The last three-man crew of the Skylab space station, consisting of Jerry Carr, Bill Pogue and Edward Gibson, returned to Earth today after spending 84 days in space, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean some 176 miles southwest of San Diego. Skylab remained in orbit another five years before plunging to its destruction in 1979.

Nixon vows to stay on job in State of Union address 40 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1974)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Richard Nixon: State of the Union Address - Speech to the U.S. Congress (January, 27 1974)'

(Wednesday, January 30, 1984, 9:00 p.m. EST) — Declaring that “one year of Watergate is enough,” U.S. President Richard Nixon challenged Congress tonight in his State of the Union address to focus instead on solving the energy crisis and inflation. Continue reading Nixon vows to stay on job in State of Union address 40 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1974) →