What happened in March 1972?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1972, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🌍 Japan Earthquake Damage – A strong earthquake struck central Japan, causing landslides and small fires, but no deaths were reported.
- Mar 2🌍 Moroccans Vote for Charter – Moroccans overwhelmingly approved a new constitution proposed by King Hassan II, transitioning him from absolute ruler to an arbiter.
- Mar 3🌌 Nuclear Heart Pump – First use of nuclear energy to power an artificial heart pump in a living animal announced by the National Heart and Lung Institute.
- Mar 4🚀 Pioneer 10 Launch – Pioneer 10 was launched from Cape Kennedy, starting a mission to explore Jupiter and beyond, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Mar 5🖼️ Drawing of Ramses Found – A wall drawing of Ramses III, dating back 3,000 years, was discovered near an Egyptian temple in Timna, Israel.
- Mar 6🚀 Pioneer 10 Maneuvers – Pioneer 10, the Jupiter-bound spacecraft, successfully completed two critical maneuvers, testing its thrusters and activating its earth-pointing system.
- Mar 7🌍 Flood Toll Rises – The Buffalo Creek flood death toll reached 107, with 57 still missing as National Guardsmen continue search efforts.
- Mar 8🔬 Human Cell Vaccine Approved – The government licensed a vaccine produced in human cells, reducing contamination risks associated with animal-derived vaccines.
- Mar 9📈 Senate Debt Limit Increase – The Senate approved a $20 billion increase in the Federal debt limit, raising it to $450 billion.
- Mar 10🌏 Nixon's Peking Visit – President Nixon's visit to China shifts Asian dynamics, with Japan being courted by the U.S., Russia, and China.
- Mar 11🏌️ Golf Championship Lead – Takashi Murakami of Japan and Hahn Chang-Sang of South Korea tie for the lead in the Malaysian Open golf championship with a score of 135.
- Mar 12📦 Nepal Buys First Ship – Nepal has purchased its first ship, a $1.5 million vessel built in West Germany, to operate under the Royal Nepal Shipping Corp.
- Mar 13🛰️ Big European Satellite Launched – Western Europe's largest scientific satellite was successfully launched into orbit from California, marking a significant achievement in space research.
- Mar 14🌍 U.S.-China Talks Begin – The U.S. and China initiated formal diplomatic contacts in Paris, marking a significant step in their relations.
- Mar 15🏛️ British Embassy Opens – Britain's first embassy in Communist China opened today, replacing a mission established 22 years ago.
- Mar 16🔭 Mammoth Radio Telescope Proposed – The U.S. government proposed plans for the world's largest radio telescope in New Mexico to explore the universe.
- Mar 17🎥 Eastman House Grant – George Eastman House receives $80,000 in grants to restore deteriorating silent films, preserving cinematic history.
- Mar 18🏛️ St. Patrick's Day Parade – 100,000 people joined the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City, celebrating Irish culture with festivities and banners.
- Mar 19🌊 Floods Strike Philippines – Heavy floods in the Philippines have left thousands homeless and caused millions in damages to crops and livestock, according to Red Cross reports.
- Mar 20🏛️ Eisenhower Bust Unveiled – A memorial bust of President Eisenhower was unveiled at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
- Mar 21🏔️ Blizzard Kills 10 – A blizzard on Mount Fuji resulted in at least 10 fatalities and eight missing persons among two mountaineering parties caught in severe weather.
- Mar 22🌍 Earth Day Tribute – WOR-TV aired a 12-hour ecology marathon called 'E-Day ‘72' in cooperation with the United Nations for International Earth Day.
- Mar 23🎶 Giulini Applauded After Mahler – Carlo Maria Giulini received enthusiastic applause after conducting Mahler's Ninth Symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
- Mar 24🌍 Common Market Accord – European Common Market ministers agreed on a deal for higher farm prices and modernization of agriculture.
- Mar 25🏛️ Japan Loans World Bank – The Bank of Japan agreed to lend the World Bank $325 million, marking the largest single borrowing transaction in its history.
- Mar 26🏇 Canonero II Comeback – Canonero II, the famous racehorse, is attempting a comeback despite suffering from a swollen ankle.
- Mar 27🚀 Soviet Mars Mission – The Soviet Union plans to land a robot life-detection laboratory on Mars, potentially in late 1973.
- Mar 28🚀 Soviet Venus Launch – The Soviet Union announced the launch of its eighth unmanned spacecraft for Venus exploration.
- Mar 29🌍 Kansas for Women's Rights – Kansas becomes the seventh state to ratify the constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights to women.
- Mar 30🏗️ G.M. Korean Venture – General Motors announced a $48 million joint venture with South Korea's Shinjin Motor Company to produce automobiles.
- Mar 31🛢️ Siberian Oil Pipeline Completed – The Soviet Union announced the completion of a strategic 500-mile oil pipeline extending from West Siberia to the Pacific.
Happy Birthday! 1972 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1972 in real headlines. See the 1972 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: