What happened in May 1975?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1975, 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🎉 Hanoi Celebrates Victory – Hanoi erupted in celebration as North Vietnam marked its victory over South Vietnam, signaling the end of the Vietnam War.
- May 2🌍 Vietnam Takeover Complete – Communist rulers of South Vietnam announced the completion of their takeover following the surrender of Saigon.
- May 3🏠 South Africa Eases Curb – The South African government restored urban blacks' right to own homes, marking a significant policy change.
- May 4🏇 Foolish Pleasure Wins – Foolish Pleasure triumphed in the 101st Kentucky Derby, covering the distance in 2:02 and returning $5.80 for a $2 bet.
- May 5🏆 Nadia Comaneci Wins – Thirteen-year-old Nadia Comaneci becomes the 1975 European gymnastics queen, winning four gold medals at the championships in Norway.
- May 6❤️ Second Heart Implanted – A second heart was successfully implanted in a South African patient during an all-night operation at Groote Schuur Hospital.
- May 7🌍 Saigon Normal Again – Saigon radio reports that life has returned to normal, with functioning telephone lines and well-stocked markets.
- May 8🌍 Saigon Restores News Links – International communications with Saigon reopened for the first time since the Communist takeover, allowing Western journalists to file reports.
- May 9🏛️ Avery Brundage Dies – Avery Brundage, former president of the International Olympic Committee, passed away at age 87 in West Germany.
- May 10🏛️ Kennedy Library Approved – Amherst, Massachusetts, votes to endorse the construction of a John F. Kennedy library-museum complex at the University of Massachusetts.
- May 11🏰 Ticonderoga Falls Seized – A reenactment of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga took place, blending Revolutionary history with modern technology.
- May 12🏛️ Supreme Court Chamber Restored – The Old Supreme Court Chamber, once a dusty storeroom, is restored and set to open to the public, marking a historical preservation effort.
- May 13🌏 Himalayan Peak Climbed – Two Austrians and a West German reached the summit of Yalungkang, a 27,625-foot Himalayan mountain, marking only its second ascent.
- May 14🔬 New Star Discovered – Astronomers at UC Berkeley announced the discovery of a new star forming within a dense cloud of ice crystals.
- May 15⚓ U.S. Frees Mayagüez – U.S. forces recaptured the American merchant vessel Mayagüez from Cambodian Communists, President Ford announced.
- May 16🌍 Sikkim Becomes State – India formally annexed Sikkim today, making it the country's 22nd state, ending its monarchy.
- May 17🏔️ First Woman Climbs Everest – A woman has conquered Mount Everest for the first time, as announced by the Nepalese Foreign Ministry.
- May 18🏆 Bayi Sets World Record – Filbert Bayi of Tanzania broke the world mile record with a time of 3:51 during the International Freedom Games in Jamaica.
- May 19⚡ Electricity in Fluid – Scientists at UC Berkeley captured the first photograph showing electricity in a fluid droplet form, marking a significant scientific breakthrough.
- May 20🦕 Dinosaur Prints Halt Work – Construction on a nuclear power plant in Texas was stopped to allow archeologists to excavate dinosaur footprints found on the site.
- May 21👶 Quintuplets Progressing Well – Three Lvy quintuplets are gaining weight and doing well at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after their birth on April 22.
- May 22🎉 Bicentennial Celebration Begins – Church bells ring, a 50-gun salute is fired, and a gala of patriotic music and fireworks marks the start of the city's 18-month bicentennial celebration.
- May 23🚀 Apollo-Soyuz Link-Up – U.S. and Soviet space officials approved the link-up of Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft in orbit, scheduled for July 17.
- May 24🌕 Lunar Eclipse Tonight – A lunar eclipse will occur at midnight, visible in the U.S. and Canada, with no special precautions needed for viewers.
- May 25🚀 Soviet Space Mission – The Soviet Union launched a manned Soyuz spacecraft for a linkup with the Salyut 4 space research station.
- May 26🚀 Soviet Astronauts Dock – Soviet astronauts successfully docked their Soyuz 18 spacecraft with the Salyut 4 space station, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- May 27🌍 Powerful Atlantic Quake – A powerful earthquake was reported in the Atlantic between Portugal and the Azores, felt in nearby regions.
- May 28🌍 China Climbs Everest – Nine Chinese climbers, including a woman, reached the summit of Mount Everest from the northern slope, marking a significant achievement in mountaineering.
- May 29🌍 South Vietnamese Refugees Arrive – The first of about 15,000 South Vietnamese refugees arrived in Pennsylvania, greeted by local officials and a welcoming band.
- May 30🎾 Evert Advances in Rome – Chris Evert, the defending champion, reached the semifinals of the Italian Open tennis championships in Rome.
- May 31🚀 Western Europe Forms NASA – Western Europe established a coordinated civilian space agency similar to NASA, ending over a decade of confusion in space collaboration.
Happy Birthday! 1975 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1975 in real headlines. See the 1975 book →