TIMELINE OF EVENTS
| 1970 | Nixon orders invasion of Cambodia |
| Four students shot by National Guardsmen at Kent State University | |
| Congress repeals Gulf of Tonkin Resolution | |
| 1971 | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created |
| New York Times and Washington Post publish the Pentagon Papers | |
| 1972 | Nixon visits China |
| U.S. and Soviet Union sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) | |
| Watergate break-in | |
| 1973 | Endangered Species Act passed |
| Congress passes the War Powers Act | |
| U.S. supports Israel in Yom Kippur War | |
| U.S. agrees to withdraw from Vietnam | |
| 1973–1974 | OPEC oil embargo against the United States creates gas shortages |
| 1974 | Nixon resigns |
| 1975 | North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam |
| 1977 | Department of Energy created |
| 1978 | Proposition 13 passed in California |
| Allan Bakke wins his affirmative action case | |
| 1979 | Divorce rate peaks at 23 divorces per 1,000 married couples |
| Moral Majority founded | |
| Three Mile Island nuclear accident | |
| 1981 | Reagan fires striking air traffic controllers |
| Reagan survives assassination attempt | |
| 1982 | Ratification period expires for Equal Rights Amendment |
| 1991 | Senate confirmation hearing for Clarence Thomas |