19 Highlight Reel Moments from the 1970s

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 01/22/2025 in Trending

From the Vietnam War, to Watergate, to the nation's bicentennial, the 1970s was a decade filled with highs and lows.

Living through the 1970s meant living through protests and conflicts, but also some of the best times this country has ever seen.

Although there's plenty we didn't get to here, check out these 20 highlight, (and lowlight) reel moments from the 1970s.

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1. Under Construction
The Twin Towers, well underway in 1971.
2. Kent State
Kent State activist Alan Canfora confronts National Guardsmen just before the deadly shooting in 1970.
3. Message to Soldiers
A black U.S. soldier reads a message left by the Việt Cộng during the Vietnam War. The message reads, "U.S. [black] armymen, you are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home." 1970.
4. Three Mile Island
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.
5. Watergate
Woodward and Bernstein watching Nixon’s first TV speech on Watergate in 1973. The two journalists did much of the initial reporting that brought the presidential scandal to light.
6. Nixon Resigns
Richard Nixon waves goodbye as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency earlier that day. August 9, 1974.
7. The Munich Massacre
Photographers gather after the Munich Massacre, during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. West Germany, 1972.
8. Star Wars
People wait in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977.
9. IRA
A female IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast. 1970s.
10. Elvis
Elvis performs his last show on June 26, 1977.
11. Pinball
Roger Sharpe demonstrating to the NYC council that pinball is a game of skill, not luck, by calling a shot. This lifted the ban on pinball, saving it throughout the country. 1976.
12. Crackdown
A South Korean soldier forcibly cuts a young man's hair in front of others during a nationwide crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts in South Korea.
13. Bodybuilders
Franco Columbu doing his bat act while Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on.
14. Protest
Members of the Japanese "Marxist Youth League" in a protest, 1970s.
15. Coming Home
Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, is greeted by his family, returning home after more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. 1973.
16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial
July 4th, 1976.
17. Iranian Hostage Crisis
Imam's Line activists invade the U.S. Embassy, beginning the hostage crisis. Tehran, Iran. November 4, 1979.
18. Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes.”
19. Cold War
A Soviet bomber crewman takes a photo of an F-4 Phantom with its RIO taking a picture of the Tu-142 Bear F over the Atlantic, 1970s.

1. Under Construction
The Twin Towers, well underway in 1971.
2. Kent State
Kent State activist Alan Canfora confronts National Guardsmen just before the deadly shooting in 1970.
3. Message to Soldiers
A black U.S. soldier reads a message left by the Việt Cộng during the Vietnam War. The message reads, "U.S. [black] armymen, you are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home." 1970.
4. Three Mile Island
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.
5. Watergate
Woodward and Bernstein watching Nixon’s first TV speech on Watergate in 1973. The two journalists did much of the initial reporting that brought the presidential scandal to light.
6. Nixon Resigns
Richard Nixon waves goodbye as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency earlier that day. August 9, 1974.
7. The Munich Massacre
Photographers gather after the Munich Massacre, during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. West Germany, 1972.
8. Star Wars
People wait in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977.
9. IRA
A female IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast. 1970s.
10. Elvis
Elvis performs his last show on June 26, 1977.
11. Pinball
Roger Sharpe demonstrating to the NYC council that pinball is a game of skill, not luck, by calling a shot. This lifted the ban on pinball, saving it throughout the country. 1976.
12. Crackdown
A South Korean soldier forcibly cuts a young man's hair in front of others during a nationwide crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts in South Korea.
13. Bodybuilders
Franco Columbu doing his bat act while Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on.
14. Protest
Members of the Japanese "Marxist Youth League" in a protest, 1970s.
15. Coming Home
Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, is greeted by his family, returning home after more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. 1973.
16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial
July 4th, 1976.
17. Iranian Hostage Crisis
Imam's Line activists invade the U.S. Embassy, beginning the hostage crisis. Tehran, Iran. November 4, 1979.
18. Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes.”
19. Cold War
A Soviet bomber crewman takes a photo of an F-4 Phantom with its RIO taking a picture of the Tu-142 Bear F over the Atlantic, 1970s.

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NEXT GALLERY The 48 Funniest Tweets from the Last 48 Hours

1. Under Construction The Twin Towers, well underway in 1971.

2. Kent State Kent State activist Alan Canfora confronts National Guardsmen just before the deadly shooting in 1970.

3. Message to Soldiers A black U.S. soldier reads a message left by the Việt Cộng during the Vietnam War. The message reads, "U.S. [black] armymen, you are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home." 1970.

4. Three Mile Island William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.

5. Watergate Woodward and Bernstein watching Nixon’s first TV speech on Watergate in 1973. The two journalists did much of the initial reporting that brought the presidential scandal to light.

6. Nixon Resigns Richard Nixon waves goodbye as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency earlier that day. August 9, 1974.

7. The Munich Massacre Photographers gather after the Munich Massacre, during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. West Germany, 1972.

8. Star Wars People wait in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977.

9. IRA A female IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast. 1970s.

10. Elvis Elvis performs his last show on June 26, 1977.

11. Pinball Roger Sharpe demonstrating to the NYC council that pinball is a game of skill, not luck, by calling a shot. This lifted the ban on pinball, saving it throughout the country. 1976.

12. Crackdown A South Korean soldier forcibly cuts a young man's hair in front of others during a nationwide crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts in South Korea.

13. Bodybuilders Franco Columbu doing his bat act while Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on.

14. Protest Members of the Japanese "Marxist Youth League" in a protest, 1970s.

15. Coming Home Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, is greeted by his family, returning home after more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. 1973.

16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial July 4th, 1976.

17. Iranian Hostage Crisis Imam's Line activists invade the U.S. Embassy, beginning the hostage crisis. Tehran, Iran. November 4, 1979.

18. Battle of the Sexes Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes.”

19. Cold War A Soviet bomber crewman takes a photo of an F-4 Phantom with its RIO taking a picture of the Tu-142 Bear F over the Atlantic, 1970s.

1. Under Construction

2. Kent State

3. Message to Soldiers

4. Three Mile Island

5. Watergate

6. Nixon Resigns

7. The Munich Massacre

8. Star Wars

9. IRA

10. Elvis

11. Pinball

12. Crackdown

13. Bodybuilders

14. Protest

15. Coming Home

16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial

17. Iranian Hostage Crisis

18. Battle of the Sexes

19. Cold War

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eBaum's Picks

1. Under Construction
The Twin Towers, well underway in 1971.

2. Kent State
Kent State activist Alan Canfora confronts National Guardsmen just before the deadly shooting in 1970.

3. Message to Soldiers
A black U.S. soldier reads a message left by the Việt Cộng during the Vietnam War. The message reads, "U.S. [black] armymen, you are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home." 1970.

4. Three Mile Island
William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.

5. Watergate
Woodward and Bernstein watching Nixon’s first TV speech on Watergate in 1973. The two journalists did much of the initial reporting that brought the presidential scandal to light.

6. Nixon Resigns
Richard Nixon waves goodbye as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency earlier that day. August 9, 1974.

7. The Munich Massacre
Photographers gather after the Munich Massacre, during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. West Germany, 1972.

8. Star Wars
People wait in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977.

9. IRA
A female IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast. 1970s.

10. Elvis
Elvis performs his last show on June 26, 1977.

11. Pinball
Roger Sharpe demonstrating to the NYC council that pinball is a game of skill, not luck, by calling a shot. This lifted the ban on pinball, saving it throughout the country. 1976.

12. Crackdown
A South Korean soldier forcibly cuts a young man's hair in front of others during a nationwide crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts in South Korea.

13. Bodybuilders
Franco Columbu doing his bat act while Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on.

14. Protest
Members of the Japanese "Marxist Youth League" in a protest, 1970s.

15. Coming Home
Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, is greeted by his family, returning home after more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. 1973.

16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial
July 4th, 1976.

17. Iranian Hostage Crisis
Imam's Line activists invade the U.S. Embassy, beginning the hostage crisis. Tehran, Iran. November 4, 1979.

18. Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes.”

19. Cold War
A Soviet bomber crewman takes a photo of an F-4 Phantom with its RIO taking a picture of the Tu-142 Bear F over the Atlantic, 1970s.