What happened in February 1970?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1970, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🌊 Experts Confer on Seabed – Scientists and legal experts from various regions discussed national rights over the seabed and ocean floor at a conference in Rhode Island.
- Feb 2💉 Smallpox Vaccine Campaign – Health authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia plan to vaccinate 100,000 people due to a smallpox epidemic causing two deaths.
- Feb 3📚 Bertrand Russell Dies – Earl Russell, the renowned British philosopher and mathematician, passed away at his home in Wales at the age of 97.
- Feb 4📜 Japan Signs Non-Nuclear Pact – Japan signed the treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, reinforcing global non-proliferation efforts.
- Feb 5🌍 Rumania Joins Nuclear Ban – Rumania became the 26th country to ratify the international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
- Feb 6🚢 Queen Elizabeth 2 Docks – Queen Elizabeth 2 successfully navigated through thick ice in the Hudson River to dock unassisted, showcasing her capabilities.
- Feb 7🏛️ Mississippi Schools Integrated – Mississippi's largest school district peacefully integrated its 55 schools, marking a significant step in desegregation efforts.
- Feb 8🏃 Clarke Wins 3-Mile Race – Ron Clarke lapped the field to win the three-mile run in Oakland but fell short of regaining the world indoor record.
- Feb 9🏭 Turbine Factory Planned – Brown Boveri Corporation will build a $15 million turbine component-assembly plant near Richmond, Virginia.
- Feb 10🏎️ Granatelli Joins Racing – Andy Granatelli announces plans to compete on the international Grand Prix circuit, marking a new chapter in his career.
- Feb 11🚀 Japan Launches Satellite – Japan successfully placed an artificial satellite into orbit on its fifth attempt, marking a significant achievement in its space program.
- Feb 12🌍 Uranium Ore Body Found – United Nuclear Corporation announced a significant discovery of uranium ore in New Mexico, estimated at 1 million tons.
- Feb 13🚀 Japan's First Satellite – Japan's first space satellite, a 50-pounder, successfully orbits Earth as scientists debate future space policies.
- Feb 14🎨 U.S. Shifts Biennale Role – The United States plans a significant change in its exhibition approach for this June's Venice Biennale, the prestigious international art fair.
- Feb 15🚀 Apollo 11 Tour Begins – Apollo 11, the first spacecraft to land humans on the moon, starts a year-long tour of state capitals in mid-April.
- Feb 16🚀 Japan Orbits Satellite – Japan became the fourth space power by successfully orbiting its first satellite, a 51-pound scientific instrument package.
- Feb 17🚀 Rocket-Lightning Studied – Research on lightning hazards to rockets is underway at the Environmental Science Services Administration in Boulder, Colorado.
- Feb 18🏀 West Leads NBA Scoring – Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers topped the NBA scoring charts, leading by a significant margin in the latest statistics.
- Feb 19🚀 Cosmos Landing Reported – West German Space Research Center confirmed the soft landing of Cosmos 323 in the Soviet Union, launched on February 10.
- Feb 20🎨 Wyeth Show Opens – Andrew Wyeth's first one-man exhibition at the White House opens, showcasing 21 of his paintings in the East Room.
- Feb 21🚀 Molniya Satellite Launched – The Soviet Union launched another Molniya satellite, enhancing its communications capabilities.
- Feb 22🌍 Expo '70 in Japan – Japan prepares for Expo '70, the first world's fair in Asia, set to open on March 15, showcasing innovations and culture.
- Feb 23🌍 Thant Visits Burma Shrine – UN Secretary General Thant visited the Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma, meditating at the historic site before family visits.
- Feb 24🌌 Moon's Earth-Like Crust – Scientists report evidence suggesting the moon has a crust similar to Earth's, indicating it is not a homogeneous body.
- Feb 25🏗️ New Tubing Developed – Union Carbide announced a new tubing that is four times more effective in transferring heat for commercial air conditioners.
- Feb 26🎨 Rothko Found Dead – Mark Rothko, a leading abstract expressionist artist, was found dead in his studio, ruled a suicide at age 66.
- Feb 27🏔️ Rhodesia Becomes Republic – Rhodesia, having declared independence from Britain in 1965, officially becomes a republic at 12:01 A.M. on Tuesday.
- Feb 28🏃 McGrady Sets Record – Martin McGrady shattered the world indoor record in the 600-yard run at the Amateur Athletic Union championships.
Happy Birthday! 1970 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1970 in real headlines. See the 1970 book →