Space Shuttle Program
Authorizes a $5.5B space shuttle program. Approves the Space Shuttle Project
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1972 in United States of America
Explore 674 historical events and records for United States of America in 1972.
Historical records for United States of America in 1972
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 674 unique records.
674Unique records
1 of 17Page
32Named events on this page
10Named people on this page
8Places on this page
January
Invasion of Vietnam
Nixon announces an additional 72,000 troops will leave Vietnam
Negotiations
Nixon announce Kissinger has been secretly negotiating for peace in Paris
Negotiations
Nixon announce Kissinger has been secretly negotiating for peace in Paris
Peace
The 8 point peace proposal to north Vietnam is made public
First Intelligence Plan Presentation
Liddy presents John Mitchell, Jeb Magruder and John Dean with an intelligence plan costing about one million dollars that includes proposed electronic surveillance; Mitchell rejects it.
Operation Gemstone Planning
Hunt collaborated with G. Gordon Liddy as the broad Operation Gemstone political-intelligence plan was presented to senior Nixon campaign officials.
February
Government
The 6th round of the SALT talks begins in Vienna
Nuclear Arms Control
The sixth round of the SALT talks begins in Vienna
Revised Intelligence Plan Presentation
Liddy presents a revised intelligence proposal costing about half a million dollars and emphasizing electronic surveillance; Mitchell again declines to approve the plan.
Scaled Gemstone Proposal
Hunt continued working with Liddy as the expensive Gemstone proposal was reduced after senior officials rejected the original plan.
Agriculture Policy and Earl Butz
Reviews Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz's role, support among farmers and comparisons with former secretary Clifford Hardin.
China Trip Speech Preparation
Reviews speech preparation connected with the forthcoming China trip and the public presentation of administration foreign policy.
Congressional Leaders Meeting
Reviews the President's schedule for meetings with congressional leaders and Cabinet members.
Dock Strike
Discusses the dock strike and administration handling of the issue during a broader review of the President's schedule and domestic policy.
Environmental Program Message
Participates in discussion of Nixon's environmental program message, including signing arrangements and a planned photograph opportunity.
Food Price Discussion
Discusses food prices, including beef and retail costs, in the context of agricultural policy and public concerns.
McNamara Meeting Schedule
Reviews scheduling questions concerning Robert McNamara, Peter Flanigan and other officials during presidential preparations.
Vietnam Peace Proposal Speech
Discusses drafting and audience considerations related to Nixon's January 25 Vietnam peace proposal speech.
Election
Resigns to become Chairman of the Committee to re-elect the President
Meeting with Mao & Zhou En-Lai bringing the period
Meets Mao & Zhou En-Lai bringing the period of US hostilities toward China to an end
Visit to China
21-28 February, visits China to restore relations with its Government
Government
The murder trial of the black militant begins in San Jose
March
Pioneer 10 Launch
NASA launches Pioneer 10 on the first mission intended to make close observations of Jupiter.
Finance Committee Transfer
After reported conflicts with Jeb Magruder, Liddy leaves his CRP counsel position and becomes counsel to the campaign finance committee.
Easter
Hanoi refuses concessions & launches the Easter Offensive
Gemstone Operational Approval
A reduced campaign-intelligence program received approval, clearing the way for operations that eventually included illegal entry into Democratic offices.
Invasion of Vietnam
The Viet Cong strike Quang Tri province, Kontum-Pleiku & Binh Long province. JCS increase the monthly sortie rate to 1,800
Operation Arc Light
JCS increase the monthly sortie rate to 1,800
Reduced Intelligence Plan Approval
Magruder later testifies that Mitchell approved a reduced intelligence program developed by Liddy with a budget of about $250,000; Mitchell denies authorizing it.
White House Tape 697-015
H. R. Haldeman appears with Richard Nixon in the 25-minute White House recording numbered 697-015; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 697-015
Richard Nixon appears with H. R. Haldeman in the 25-minute White House recording numbered 697-015; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 697-029
Charles Colson appears with Richard Nixon and H. R. Haldeman in the 46-minute White House recording numbered 697-029; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 697-029
H. R. Haldeman appears with Richard Nixon and Charles Colson in the 46-minute White House recording numbered 697-029; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 697-029
Richard Nixon appears with H. R. Haldeman and Charles Colson in the 46-minute White House recording numbered 697-029; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 698-009
Charles Colson appears with Richard Nixon and H. R. Haldeman in the 3-minute White House recording numbered 698-009; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 698-009
H. R. Haldeman appears with Richard Nixon and Charles Colson in the 3-minute White House recording numbered 698-009; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
White House Tape 698-009
Richard Nixon appears with H. R. Haldeman and Charles Colson in the 3-minute White House recording numbered 698-009; the Watergate Special Prosecution Force later included the recording in its transcript collection.
Constant Guard
Launches an offensive against growing North Vietnamese activity
Just Another Band from L.A.
Releases Just Another Band from L.A., documenting the Flo and Eddie-era Mothers in live performance.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.