What happened in August 1970?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1970, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Aug 1🕊️ Israel Accepts Peace Plan – Israel's acceptance of U.S. peace proposals clears the way for renewed negotiations for a lasting Middle East settlement.
- Aug 2🏛️ Black Squatters Leave – A group of black squatters ended their 13-day occupation of Ellis Island, a significant event in civil rights history.
- Aug 3🏛️ Acropolis Preservation Campaign – A Greek-American organization launches a global campaign to protect the Acropolis from pollution damage.
- Aug 4🎸 Rock Fans Clean Up – About 1,000 young people stayed behind to clean up debris from the Powder Ridge Rock Festival that never occurred.
- Aug 5🌪️ Hurricane Celia Wanes – Hurricane Celia dissipated after causing significant damage in Texas, leaving many without gas or electricity and resulting in 31 fatalities.
- Aug 6🌊 Subterranean Hot Water Ocean – A California professor claims a vast underground ocean of hot water could provide pollution-free energy for Southern California.
- Aug 7🌍 Soviet-West Germany Accord – West Germany and the Soviet Union agreed on a draft treaty renouncing force and affirming European borders.
- Aug 8🕊️ Suez Cease-Fire – A cease-fire went into effect along the Suez Canal between Egypt and Israel, marking a significant step towards peace negotiations.
- Aug 9📜 House Votes on Equal Rights – The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a constitutional amendment prohibiting sex discrimination for the first time.
- Aug 10⛵ Schoonmaker Wins Sail – James Schoonmaker of the U.S. won the first race in the world Star Class yacht racing championships in Sweden.
- Aug 11🌍 New Sultan's Reforms – Sultan Qabus bin Said of Oman outlines sweeping reforms, invites exiles back, and denounces Communism.
- Aug 12🏅 U.S. Wins Track Events – Americans won seven events, five in men's and two in women's competitions, at a Cologne track meet before 20,000 spectators.
- Aug 13📬 Postal Service Reform – President Nixon signed a bill transforming the Post Office into an independent agency, ensuring better service and pay for employees.
- Aug 14📚 First Lady Visits Camps – Mrs. Nixon visited summer camps for underprivileged children, engaging with them on various topics during her tour.
- Aug 15🌊 Buchan Wins Sailing Title – William E. Buchan won the world Star Class yachting championship in Marstrand, Sweden, showcasing exceptional sailing skills.
- Aug 16🌍 Expo Sets Record – Over 692,000 visitors attended Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan, setting a daily record despite adverse weather conditions.
- Aug 17🎤 1,000 in Harlem Park – Over 1,000 gathered in Mount Morris Park for a program celebrating Marcus Garvey Day, featuring speeches and performances.
- Aug 18🇮🇩 Indonesia Celebrates Independence – Indonesia marked the 25th anniversary of its independence from the Netherlands with a grand parade showcasing economic progress.
- Aug 19🌍 Korea Unity Move Debated – President Park's speech on peaceful reunification of Korea sparks public debate in South Korea.
- Aug 20🌍 Mozart Work Rediscovered – A rare Mozart work for two pianos, likely never performed before, was featured at the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York.
- Aug 21🌊 Iceland Calls for Treaty – Iceland proposed an international conference to create a treaty aimed at preventing marine pollution.
- Aug 22🌪️ Caribbean Storm Fatalities – Tropical storm Dorothy caused at least 15 deaths and left hundreds injured or homeless in Martinique and Dominica.
- Aug 23🚀 Cosmos 359 Launched – The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 359, its fifth unmanned satellite of the month, into a high orbit for scientific purposes.
- Aug 24🏊 World Records Broken – John Kinsella, Mark Spitz, and Gary Hall broke world records at the Amateur Athletic Union's national swimming championships.
- Aug 25🎾 British Tennis Team Triumphs – Britain earns the chance to challenge the U.S. team for the Stevens Cup after defeating Canada 3-0 in the finals.
- Aug 26👩🎤 Women Seek Equality – Thousands march on Fifth Avenue for Women's Strike for Equality, celebrating the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage in the U.S.
- Aug 27🏳️🌈 Women March for Equality – Over 10,000 people celebrated the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage with a march down Fifth Avenue for equality.
- Aug 28🔬 Transplant Success Story – Louis B. Russell Jr. became the first man to live for two years with a transplanted heart, marking a significant medical milestone.
- Aug 29🏫 Giant Chimney to Ease Pollution – A giant chimney matching the height of the Empire State Building is being built to curb pollution at a Canadian smelter complex.
- Aug 30🚀 Soviet Union Launches Cosmos – The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 360, the sixth unmanned satellite this month, orbiting Earth every 89.5 minutes.
- Aug 31🏨 New Moscow Hotel Opens – Moscow's newest hotel, Intourist, welcomed foreign tourists, showcasing Russian hospitality in a modern setting.
Happy Birthday! 1970 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1970 in real headlines. See the 1970 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: