Agnes Scott College - Silhouette Yearbook (Decatur, GA)

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In the future, the 1970 ' s will be remembered as the years when Atlanta became a Big city. During these years the Big Peach grew up and out. Construction increased both downtown and on the outskirts, with each new building either taller or more modern than the last. Highways, for example 1-285, were outgrown almost as soon as they were completed. Colony Square and the Omni International were examples of a trend that went one step further than the shopping center. These complexes included hotels, restaurants, specialty stores, and business offices. The newest and most spectacular of Atlanta ' s hotels was the Peachtree Plaza. Inevitably, all of this construction resulted in some destruction. The Fox Theatre was almost sold to Southern Bell, so Bell could tear it down and erect a new building there. But the public outcry was so great that a Save the Fox campaign was launched, resulting in a last minute rescue. Southern Bell proceeded to construct its office building in a nearby parking lot. The coming of MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) caused upheaval and inconveniences all along the construction route. Here in Decatur, MARTA brought many problems. Small businesses near the square lost customers because of a lack of parking, and many suffered from cracked walls and foundations. MARTA also disrupted residential areas. An example of this was Sycamore Street, an older area revitalized by younger couples and their families. The entry of MARTA resulted in the loss of this neighborhood atmosphere. Although changes in Atlanta had both positive and negative aspects, there was no doubt that the city grew by leaps and bounds, becoming more than ever the Capital of the South. 4 Changes

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Pattv Hearst. Karen Quinlan 1974 — the Watergate scandal continued. Patty Hearst was kidnapped in February, and in April she took part in a bank robbery with her captors, the Symbianese Liberation Army, Inflation was still increasing, and there was talk of impeaching the President. Finally, in mid-August, Richard Nixon resigned the presidency, and Gerald R. Ford became the first U.S. President who had not been elected as either president or vice president. Economic crises — 1975: inflation and unemployment were high and still rising, and the country had entered a recession. The Arab nations showed their economic power as they forced oil prices up and up. Communists took over both Cambodia and Vietnam. Women ' s rights took a step forward as liberalized abortion laws were passed. In 1976, the United States celebrated its 200th birthday. The yearlong celebration culminated on July 4. In the presidential election, Georgian Jimmy Carter (Dem.) defeated Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate. This was the first year that women were admitted into the U.S. Military Academies as students. In 1977, James E. Carter was inaugurated as President of the United States. The winter, one of the most severe the country had experienced in many years, was complicated by a fuel shortage. Bert Lance, Carter ' s budget director, resigned when a scandal was raised about his questionable banking practices. Inflation, the plague of the 70 ' s, continued in 1978, accompanied by the devaluation of the dollar on the world market. Peace in the Middle East seemed very near after Prime Minister Menahem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt met at Camp David with President Carter. In July, Louise Brown, the first test tube baby, was born in England. 1979, the seventies were coming to an end. In many ways, the public was much calmer and subdued. But once again the people were revolting — this time it was the middle classes rising against government spending and taxes. What a difference. Changes

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