World Events in 1972
Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland
British paratroopers shot dead thirteen unarmed civil rights marchers in Derry on 30 January (a fourteenth victim died later). The massacre inflamed the Troubles, boosted IRA recruitment, and cast a long shadow over Anglo-Irish relations for decades.
Munich Olympics massacre
Palestinian terrorist group Black September took eleven Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics. A botched rescue attempt at the airport left all the hostages, five of the eight terrorists, and a German police officer dead.
Watergate break-in
Five men were arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex on 17 June. The scandal would slowly unravel over the next two years, ultimately bringing down President Nixon.
Nixon visits China
President Nixon made a historic week-long visit to the People's Republic of China in February, meeting Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai. The visit ended 25 years of diplomatic isolation and reshaped the Cold War balance of power.
Ceylon becomes Sri Lanka
The island nation of Ceylon adopted a new republican constitution and renamed itself Sri Lanka on 22 May. The change marked a symbolic break from British colonial rule and a reassertion of Sinhalese cultural identity.
Music in 1972
"Amazing Grace"
The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
A military band's arrangement of the classic hymn spent five weeks at UK number one and became one of the most unlikely best-sellers of the decade.
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
Roberta Flack
Originally recorded in 1969, the song surged to number one after featuring in Clint Eastwood's film Play Misty for Me, topping the chart for six weeks.
#1 Film of 1972
The Godfather
Box Office: $135 million
Francis Ford Coppola's Mafia epic starring Marlon Brando became a cultural landmark, won Best Picture at the Oscars, and redefined the gangster genre for generations.
Born in 1972
Eminem
Best-selling rapper of all time (The Slim Shady LP, 8 Mile)
Cameron Diaz
Actress (The Mask, There's Something About Mary, Shrek)
Zinedine Zidane
French football legend and World Cup winner
Ben Affleck
Actor and filmmaker (Good Will Hunting, Argo)
Notorious B.I.G.
Hugely influential East Coast rapper
Lost in 1972
J. Edgar Hoover
Director of the FBI for 48 years
Age 77
Harry S. Truman
33rd President of the United States
Age 88
Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII)
King who abdicated for Wallis Simpson
Age 77
Maurice Chevalier
French actor and music-hall entertainer
Age 83
Technology in 1972
Hewlett-Packard released the HP-35, the first handheld scientific calculator, making the slide rule obsolete overnight. Home entertainment meant three TV channels in the UK, and Pong brought video gaming into arcades. Landsat 1, the first Earth-observation satellite, launched.
- ● HP-35 scientific calculator goes on sale
- ● Atari founded; Pong becomes the first commercially successful video game
- ● Landsat 1 satellite launches for Earth observation
- ● Magnavox Odyssey becomes the first home video game console
Cost of Living in 1972
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £7,374 | $27,600 |
| Average salary | £1,920 | $10,200 |
| Pint of milk | 5p | $0.36 |
| Loaf of bread | 11p | $0.25 |
| Dozen eggs | 28p | $0.52 |
| Pint of beer | 14p | $0.75 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 35p | $0.36 |
| Cinema ticket | 35p | $1.70 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1972
Glam rock exploded with David Bowie, T. Rex, and Slade bringing sequins and platform boots to Top of the Pops. The Munich Olympics were overshadowed by terrorism but also showcased Mark Spitz's seven gold medals. In fashion, flares grew wider and colours grew bolder, while The Godfather set a new standard for cinema.
In the News in 1972
Five burglars were arrested at the Watergate complex in Washington, the beginning of the end for Nixon's presidency. Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in the most famous chess match ever played. The Tutankhamun exhibition at the British Museum drew record crowds.