Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

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20 Decaqualional

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Decade: Inter- natlonal The international scene was marked by many memorable events in the past decade. Americans had become disillusioned with the Vietnam War. particularly when former President Nixon stepped up the effort early in 1970 with a Cambodian invasion. Hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the battle, were held prisoner or were classified as miss- ing-in-action. The war was opposed more strongly than any other before in our history. American troops pulled out of Vietnam after all parties to the conflict agreed to a cease-fire. and our involvement was ended in 1973 by the signing of a peace treaty in Paris. The decade witnessed two sets of Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the 1972 games turned into tragedy at the hands of eight Pal- estinian terrorists who broke into the Israeli teamis quarters just before dawn and killed eleven athletes. In 1977. the bitter 29-year hostility between Egypt and Israel was ended. Egyptian Presi- dent Anwar Sadat announced he was prepared to visit Israel in the interests of peace; Premier Menachem Begin agreed to welcome him in Tel Aviv. The peace talks ended with the sign- ing of the treaty after just 13 days. Also in 1977, Leonid I. Brezhnev became head of the Russian state. At the age of 70. Brezhnev ousted 74-year-old Nikolai V. Pod- gorny from the presidency and took the title for himself. thus becoming the first Soviet rul- er to hold the titles of both head-of-state and general secretary of the Communist Party. On July 25. 1978. the worlds first test tube baby was born in Oldham. England. The baby was conceived in a dish in an English laborato- ry. and implanted in her motheris womb two days later. Catholics of the world were governed by three different popes in 1978. Paul V1 and John Paul I both passed away. and John Paul II took over papal rule. John Paul II traveled 11.500 miles across the United States. offering prayers. greetings and homiles to thousands. It will be a long while before the world for- gets the terror and tragedy of Guyana. where the Reverend Jim Jones talked all 914 mem- bers of his TTPeople's Temple into killing themselves and their children in their jungle settlement. Jones squeezed the fortunes out of the insecure and smooth-talked Guyanese om- eials into leasing him 27,000 acres to found a socialist settlement. e Wendy Zoldas DecadeHnternational 19

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Decade: National When Richard Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia in April 1970. more and more Americans became disillusioned with the war in Vietnam. A series of riots broke out at Ohiois Kent State University, where National Guardsmen ended up killing four students and woulding nine more. At least some of the young guardsmen had apparently panicked and fired in the face of jeering students who threw only rocks and spent tear-gas canisters. The tragic incident was quickly followed by strong protests at 441 other colleges. By May 1971. 60 percent of all Americans were op- posed to the Vietnam War. Public confusion and anger over Kent State were heightened when a federal judge ordered the dismissal of charges against eight guardsmen for violating students' rights. Kent State became 21 symbol of national frustration and grief over the war and of the gap between AmericaTs youth and their government. In 1971. 25 million l8eyear-olds became eliv gible to vote for the first time in US. history. The measure took the form of the Twenty- sixth Amendment to the Constitution. ratified on June 30. The 1972 election saw George McGovern challenging Richard Nixonls strong national support. As most of the polls predicted, Nixon won, but by a bigger margin than anyone had thought possible; he earned all but 17 of the nationls 538 electoral votes. Until John Dean testified in the Senate Wa- tergate hearings, most Americans were simply confused by the growing uproar surrounding the break-in at Democratic National Head- quarters. But in the dramatic hours ofhis testiv mony, Dean startled millions of television viewers by accusing the president himself of complicity in the cover-up. The former White House lawyer told senators he had discussed Watergate with Nixon during a time in which the president has been resolutely denying any involvement in the affair. However, when Nix- onTs own taped discussions demonstrated his involvement in the cover-up from the begin- ning. a congressional committee voted to im- peach him. In August. he became the first president ever to resign. Later, many Ameri- cans were startled and enraged when Gerald Ford issued his predecessor a presidential par- don. The year 1976 was a red. white and blue year for the United States as it celebrated its 200th birthday. The year-long festivities cul- minated on July 4 with patriotic events taking place all over the country. W Scott Smith DccudelNational 21