What happened in May 1972?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1972, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1📜 Vatican Unveils Gospel Fragment – The Vatican presented a newly deciphered papyrus fragment from the Gospel of St. Mark, dating back to the 4th century.
- May 2🗳️ Cambodian Election Results – Cambodia's referendum shows overwhelming support for a new constitution, with some areas reporting a 100% 'yes' vote.
- May 3🌕 Moon Rocks Promise – Geologists found Apollo 16 moon rocks may contain a unique cross-section of the lunar crust, exceeding expectations.
- May 4🏛️ Hoover Lies in State – J. Edgar Hoover's body was carried through the rain to lie in state at the Capitol, marking the end of an era for the FBI.
- May 5🌍 New Constitution Approved – Cambodia's government reports that 96% of voters favored a new republican constitution in a recent referendum.
- May 6✈️ 115 Feared Dead – An Alitalia DC-8 jetliner crashed into a mountainside near Palermo, Sicily, with all 115 passengers presumed dead.
- May 7🏛️ Nixon Seeks Meal Funding – President Nixon announced plans to request additional funds from Congress for school meal programs for needy children.
- May 8🏆 Kostanecki's Boat Wins – Andy Kostanecki achieved a perfect score in the Tempest class, becoming an Olympic prospect with five firsts and a fifth place finish.
- May 9🚀 Soviet Space Test – Soviet scientists reported detecting antiprotons in space, hinting at the existence of antimatter.
- May 10🌧️ Rain Causes Displacement – Four days of rain in Chile left 15,000 people homeless and suspended railroad service across a third of the country.
- May 11🔬 Permanent Ice Cap Found – Scientists announced the discovery of a 200-mile-wide permanent ice cap at the south pole of Mars, revealing new insights into the planet's climate.
- May 12🌍 Ireland Approves EU Entry – Ireland overwhelmingly voted to join the European Common Market, enhancing prospects for EU expansion.
- May 13🌊 Major Flood in Texas – Heavy rains in central Texas caused flooding, resulting in at least 11 deaths and many evacuations.
- May 14🌌 Meteorite Hits Moon – A meteorite struck near the Apollo 14 landing site on the moon, providing scientists with valuable data since the Apollo missions began.
- May 15🇯🇵 Okinawa Returned to Japan – The return of Okinawa to Japan after 27 years of U.S. rule was celebrated, marking a new phase in Japan-U.S. relations.
- May 16🩺 Wallace Shooting Update – Governor George C. Wallace was shot while campaigning, with doctors predicting a good recovery after surgery.
- May 17🎥 Antonioni in Peking – Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni arrived in Peking with a crew to create a documentary film.
- May 18🌍 Berlin Wall Opened – Thousands of West Berliners reunite with family as East Germany opens the Berlin Wall for an eight-day visiting period.
- May 19🌊 Seabed Treaty Ratified – The U.S., Soviet Union, and Britain ratified a treaty banning nuclear weapons on the seabed, marking a significant step in international arms control.
- May 20🛳️ Queen Elizabeth II Threat – Investigators probe a threat to blow up the Queen Elizabeth II, linked to a short story read at a writing workshop.
- May 21🚀 Soviet Launches Satellite – The Soviet Union announced the launch of its second Molniya 2 communications satellite, possibly for Nixon's upcoming visit coverage.
- May 22🎉 Umbrella of Sunshine – Sunny weather graced two ethnic parades, defying predictions of rain, ensuring a festive atmosphere for participants.
- May 23🏛️ Nixon Visits Kremlin – President Nixon became the first American President to visit the Soviet capital, marking a significant moment in U.S.-Soviet relations.
- May 24🌍 Apollo 16 Findings – Apollo 16 astronauts detected two glowing Earth belts from the moon, possibly caused by electric currents in the night sky.
- May 25🚀 U.S.-Soviet Space Accord – President Nixon and Premier Kosygin signed an agreement for space cooperation, committing to a joint flight in 1975.
- May 26✈️ Concorde Purchase Announced – British Overseas Airways Corporation announced plans to buy five Concorde supersonic airliners for $299 million, set for service in 1975.
- May 27🕊️ Nixon-Brezhnev Agreements – Nixon and Brezhnev signed historic agreements limiting U.S. and Soviet nuclear arsenals, marking a significant step in arms control.
- May 28🌍 Moscow Summit Accords – The U.S. and Soviet Union signed significant arms control agreements, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War diplomacy.
- May 29📺 Nixon Addresses Soviets – President Nixon speaks directly to the Soviet people via television, promoting peace and friendship between the U.S. and the USSR.
- May 30🏅 Vitale Wins 5-Mile Race – John Vitale, 23, won the Greenwich Memorial Day 5-mile run, finishing in 24 minutes 38 seconds, defeating 284 competitors.
- May 31🌍 Soviet Telescope Mirror – The Soviet Union announced the installation of the world's largest telescopic mirror, nearly 20 feet in diameter, for an astronomical observatory.
Happy Birthday! 1972 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1972 in real headlines. See the 1972 book →