Flashback Friday 1972
Hello and welcome to my third installment of Flashback Friday where I present a few things from history that caught my eye and tweaked my memory on my search.
News Headlines and History
- Since China is so much in the news today and this week, flashback to: February 21–28 – U.S. President Richard M. Nixon makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the People's Republic of China and meets with Mao Zedong.
This was the trip that has made famous in popular culture "Only Nixon could go to China", Made popular in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). I do not know if that is where it started as an old Vulcan saying or if it was being used in general before the movie, but there you have my take on it.
- June 23 – Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and White House chief of staff H. R. Haldeman are taped talking about using the C.I.A. to obstruct the F.B.I.'s investigation into the Watergate break-ins.
The beginning of the downfall of an American President. When the Media used to be the fourth branch of the american peoples politics, it is unfortunate that the Media has lost its direction in helping to maintain freedom, law and order, and protection to the American people from what could be an abusive government.
- July – U.S. actress Jane Fonda tours North Vietnam, during which she is photographed sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.
What can I say about this. I have always found this to be in poor taste and...well I won't go into to it further. It is a piece of history from the hollywood elite that should not be forgotten or white washed, nor taken out of context as to why this occurred.
- September 1 – Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in a chess match at Reykjavík, Iceland, becoming the first American chess champion (see Match of the Century).
This really was big news back in the day, I know a lot of people do not care now, the American Media and the Hollywood elite would rather have Americans be dumbed down and talked down to than to have any one look toward an intelligent American capable of thinking and having a brain.
- November 14 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 1,000 (1,003.16) for the first time.
That was a long time ago. Are we as Americans better off financially today than we were in 1972? hard to say.
Music
the number one song for the year was "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", by Roberta Flack
Flack's slow and sensual version was used by Clint Eastwood in his 1971 directorial film debut: Play Misty for Me to score a love scene featuring Eastwood and actress Donna Mills. source: wikipage
For me personally not my style, but enough people liked it to make it the number one song in 1972. 1972 was a fantastic year for the top 100 singles here is the List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1972 as presented by wiki.
- Brand New Key- anyone have a roller skate key, I loved this song, so upbeat and happy.
- American Pie - anyone up for driving their chevy to the levee?
- A Horse with No Name - Anyone on a journey today?
- Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Do we remember when we leave someone behind, do we see the people that are left behind.
The year ended on a rather soulful note:
The Cars
The fastest four-door production ever built was the Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase 4, at 175mph. Due to a public outcry at the time, the scheduled production run of 200 was stopped after 4 were built.
Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question53649.html
That was the fastest, what about cheap? What could the average person afford to buy, what was the cheapest car to buy brand new in 1972? Well I found the answer, and yes it was mentioned last week for the newly released cars of 71. It is the car many remember:
According to the consumer reports in 1972 the sticker price was an astounding $2161.00 for a 2 door sedan with an automatic transmission and a - - - - Get this - - - - are you ready - - - an AM radio! No doubt a top of the line Am radio, but a radio and it only added $60.00 to the price tag. A fully stripped Pinto sold for $1931.00. Today you can buy a bashed up tricked out 1972 pinto for anywhere from $5000.00-$8,000. It is so fun sometimes to search stuff. That's what anywhere from 250% to 400% increase in value
Conclusion
Let's start with: A lot of government overreach and intervention in lives everywhere for the government. Political oversteps, restriction of products (only 4 built because of whiney asshats). The politicalization of Hollywood and true colors showing through. Revenge on McCarthyism, I don't know, but it was not good. On the good note, a heck of a lot of good music. One thing I did not mention in the music section, was Pink Floyd, it would take a year for an album, but the music was from Jan. Enjoy the search.
