World Events in 1974
Nixon resigns over Watergate
Facing almost certain impeachment, Richard Nixon became the first US president to resign on 9 August. Gerald Ford was sworn in and controversially pardoned Nixon a month later, telling the nation 'our long national nightmare is over.'
Two UK general elections
Edward Heath called a snap election in February asking 'Who governs Britain?' — and the electorate answered 'not you,' returning a hung parliament. Harold Wilson formed a minority Labour government and won a slim majority in a second election in October.
The Rumble in the Jungle
Muhammad Ali defeated the seemingly invincible George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, using his famous 'rope-a-dope' strategy to knock out Foreman in the eighth round. The fight, promoted by Don King, was one of the greatest sporting events of the twentieth century.
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in July following a Greek-backed coup that aimed to unite the island with Greece. The island was partitioned, displacing around 200,000 people, and remains divided to this day.
Revolution in Portugal
The Carnation Revolution on 25 April overthrew the Estado Novo dictatorship that had ruled Portugal for 48 years. Soldiers placed carnations in their rifle barrels, and the largely bloodless coup restored democracy to western Europe's oldest fascist state.
IRA pub bombings in Birmingham
Bombs planted by the IRA in two Birmingham pubs killed 21 people and injured 182 on 21 November. The attacks were the deadliest on the British mainland during the Troubles and led to the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Music in 1974
"Tiger Feet"
Mud
This glam rock anthem spent four weeks at UK number one in early 1974 and became the best-selling single of the year, with its stomping beat making it a perennial party favourite.
"The Way We Were"
Barbra Streisand
The nostalgic ballad from the film of the same name topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and became one of Streisand's signature songs.
#1 Film of 1974
Blazing Saddles
Box Office: $119 million
Mel Brooks' riotously funny Western parody pushed boundaries of taste and political correctness while becoming the year's highest-grossing film alongside The Sting's continued run.
Born in 1974
Leonardo DiCaprio
Oscar-winning actor (Titanic, The Revenant, The Wolf of Wall Street)
Christian Bale
Welsh actor known for transformative roles (The Dark Knight, American Psycho)
Robbie Williams
Britain's best-selling solo artist (Angels, Let Me Entertain You)
Victoria Beckham
Singer (Spice Girls), fashion designer, and cultural icon
Penelope Cruz
Oscar-winning Spanish actress (Volver, Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Lost in 1974
Duke Ellington
Legendary jazz composer and bandleader
Age 75
Charles Lindbergh
Aviator who made the first solo transatlantic flight
Age 72
Ed Sullivan
Broadcaster and host of The Ed Sullivan Show
Age 73
Jack Benny
Comedian and radio/TV star
Age 80
Technology in 1974
The first programmable pocket calculators appeared, and Hewlett-Packard's HP-65 could store programs on tiny magnetic cards. Ceefax launched on BBC television, giving Britons their first taste of on-demand information. General Motors fitted the first airbags in production cars.
- ● BBC launches Ceefax, the world's first teletext service
- ● Hewlett-Packard HP-65 — first programmable pocket calculator
- ● General Motors offers airbags in production cars for the first time
- ● Barcodes scanned at a checkout for the first time (Wrigley's gum in Ohio)
Cost of Living in 1974
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £10,990 | $35,900 |
| Average salary | £2,580 | $11,400 |
| Pint of milk | 6p | $0.41 |
| Loaf of bread | 15p | $0.28 |
| Dozen eggs | 33p | $0.78 |
| Pint of beer | 17p | $0.85 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 45p | $0.53 |
| Cinema ticket | 45p | $1.87 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1974
Disco was emerging from New York's underground clubs while prog rock and glam still dominated album charts. Streaking became a bizarre craze, most memorably when a man ran naked across the pitch during the Five Nations rugby at Twickenham. Fashion leaned into earthy tones, denim everything, and wrap dresses. Muhammad Ali shocked the world by defeating George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle.
In the News in 1974
Lord Lucan disappeared after the murder of his children's nanny, becoming one of Britain's most enduring mysteries. Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army and later joined her captors. A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed near Paris, killing all 346 aboard in the worst air disaster to that date.